Agenda 2063 and the Right to Water as a Human Right: An Assessment of the Legal Perspectives and Trajectory Toward Sustainable Water Access in Africa

This paper critically assesses the intersection of Agenda 2063 and the human right to water, exploring the legal frameworks and practical pathways to achieving sustainable water access across Africa. The purpose is to examine how the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions inclusive development and human rights protection, aligns with the legal recognition and implementation of water as a fundamental right. Employing a doctrinal research methodology, the paper reviews relevant international, regional, and national legal instruments, alongside case studies from African countries, to evaluate existing challenges and opportunities in realizing the right to water. The findings reveal significant gaps in legal enforcement, institutional capacity, and socio-economic equity, which hinder the fulfillment of water rights despite broad legal recognition. The study discusses successful models of community-driven water management and technological innovations that have improved water access in countries like Uganda, Ghana, and South Africa. Recommendations include constitutionalising the right to water across African states, strengthening institutional frameworks, promoting regional cooperation, and enhancing community participation in water governance. Conclusively, aligning water governance with Agenda 2063’s objectives can transform water access from a theoretical right into a lived reality, contributing to sustainable development, health equity, and poverty reduction. This research contributes to scholarship by providing a legal and policy-oriented framework for integrating human rights into Africa’s development agenda, highlighting the right to water as essential to achieving the continent’s long-term aspirations.