Solution-based discussions at AfWASA 2023 STC

“The CSIR Water Research Centre’s envisaged impact is to ensure reliable, efficient and functional water and wastewater service delivery in the interest of economic development through the development and refinement of smart water use and infrastructure technologies for public and private sectors. I believe that this room is filled with people who have great solutions, and it is high time that African water problems are solved by Africans for our beautiful Africa.” – Dr Rembu Magoba, CSIR Water Research Centre manager.

The African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA), in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Water Research Commission, Rand Water and Development Bank of Southern Africa, co-hosted the 91st meeting of its Scientific and Technical Council (STC) from 3 to 5 July 2023 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg.

These meetings are held in the context of restructuring the STC and are marked by the effective establishment of the New Strategic and Technological Council, focusing on addressing pressing water and sanitation challenges in Africa via specialist committees.

The CSIR’s involvement in this meeting was befitting and aligned to the strategic objectives of the CSIR Water Research Centre, which is to provide water-based solutions via the development of software tools that will improve water resources resilience, thus ensuring the availability of good quality water against the backdrop of the impact of climate change and other stressors such as trade-offs within the food-water-energy nexus.

The CSIR Water Research Centre’s strategic objective is to improve water management systems through the contribution towards policy review and the development of modern tools and techniques that will generally enhance water sanitation services and develop fit for purpose technologies for the development and optimisation of smart and robust water and wastewater infrastructure with improved operation and maintenance.

Delegates from across Africa shared their ideas on various water and sanitation topics through the established working groups (WG), which included WG1: Development and management of competences in water sanitation utilities; WG2: Water quality management; WG3: Non-revenue water; WG4: Citywide inclusive sanitation; WG5: Financing and investment management; and WG6: Young water professional. The delegates resolved to form sub-committees to continue addressing water challenges in Africa in between the conferences.

The CSIR Water Research Centre was seen as the obvious choice when it comes to technical and research support in Africa. Capacity building, infrastructure management and the financing of water projects were key to the discussions. Dr Magoba gave a presentation on the role and capabilities of the CSIR Water Research Centre, which attracted attention from the podium. The CSIR Water Research Centre will further explore the possibility of securing AfWASA membership to get maximum benefits through potential collaborations with African counterparts.

“Our overarching aim is to initiate and nurture a culture of collaboration and symbiotic exchange specifically geared towards improving our future sales in the Southern African Community Development Community and Africa. Indeed, this was a greater platform to reposition the CSIR Water Research Centre for growth and financial sustainability, as well as assuming a key and strategic role in water issues in the country and in Africa,” says Dr Magoba.

The second day of the meeting was wrapped up with a gala dinner, giving everyone a chance to connect.