The joint 21st AfWASA International Congress and Exhibition and the 7th International Faecal Sludge Management Conference was held from February 19 to 23, 2023 with the theme of: Acting for sustainable resource management and access to water and sanitation services for all in Africa.

More than 3000 delegates from all over the world are gathered in Abidjan, the administrative capital of Côte d’Ivoire for this event. The opening ceremony took place Monday, February 20, 2023, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Patrick Achi.

During the event, the African Water Association, also officially unveiled their new name, the African Water and Sanitation Association, now known as AfWASA (in English).

At the closing ceremony of the congress, the following declaration was made by the Ministry of Hydraulics, Sanitation, and Health, now known as the Abidjan Declaration:

We, the Ministers in charge of water and sanitation issues present at the 21st Congress of the African Water Association and the 7th International Conference on Sludge Management,

1. Guided by the principles and ideals of the United Nations Charter;
2. Recognizing that access to safe drinking water and sanitation is essential for economic and social development;
3. Recognizing the need to implement integrated water resource management to ensure the use of water for all present purposes and the preservation of water for future purposes;