IWA Africa Regional Office

Building Africa's Water and Sanitation Know-how

To improve water and sanitation facilities in Africa, water professionals in the region are pioneering new approaches to service delivery, technical innovations and partnerships between different providers. With many African nations remaining ‘off-track’ in coverage figures for service delivery, experts are exploring opportunities that exist to address these challenges.

The International Water Association – the world’s leading international professional association in the sector - is taking the lead in supporting water professionals in Africa. A new office, established in 2009, provides the coordination hub for projects, events and initiatives that support existing programmes led by African water professionals.

The thrust of the Africa work plan, led by Ugandan staff member Sarah Tibatemwa, is to help facilitate, connect and unite African water professionals in addressing Africa’s challenges – ‘one voice’ for the Continent, which will influence both technical professionals and their work, and policy makers who set the investment agenda. In practice, this means support for water professionals involved in water safety planning, operation & maintenance, and utility operations.

The focus of the IWA Africa Regional office is to:

• Build relationships between IWA and existing/potential Governing Members (GM) and manage the development of relevant GM plans
• Build IWA membership in the region
• Work with IWA HQ to coordinate and implement IWA global programmes at the regional level
• Work with IWA HQ to implement events in the region
• Coordinate the merger of IWA-ESAR in 2009 to the African Water Association.