"Accelerating access to sanitation and water for all in Africa amidst the challenges of climate change" ; it is on this theme that the 19th International Congress and Exhibition of the African Water Association was held from February 11 to 16, 2018 in Bamako, Mali. Around 1200 participants from 42 countries from four continents (Africa, Europe, Asia and America) of the world, took part in this important event. Fora of mayors, young water professionals, women professionals, symposium, plenary and parallel sessions, side event were the highlights of the meetings. For five days, sanitation and water industry professionals, consultants, experts from sectoral organisations, discussed the issue of sanitation and water that the world in general and Africa in particular are facing. Indeed, the decline of water resources in several parts of the continent, its unequal distribution in the regions and the degradation of fresh water are some of the concerns that African policymakers and water professionals should address. Water is among the natural resources most affected by climate change. The impact of climate change on the water sector is evident through the scarcity of resources, the worsening of the unequal distribution of resources over time and in the countries as well as the multiplication of extreme events such as floods and droughts. Hence, the congress in Bamako served as a springboard for once again sounding the alarm of the gravity and urgency of the case. It has also been a framework to share experiences, good practices and sustainable approaches among the actors. The congress ended with recommendations on advocacy actions with governments, capacity building for water and sanitation sector operators and young professionals, the development of scientific and technical research, support from financial and technical partners, and networking especially for knowledge sharing between mayors and local authorities, between women, young professionals and training centers.

On the sidelines of the congress, 90 water companies and solutions providers in the field of water and sanitation exhibited on a 1200 m2 accomodated in-house and air conditioned.