PAST EVENTS
 

CONGRESS WORKING OF COTONOU 2008
 

REPORT OF THE MISSIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN WATER ASSOCIATION FROM MAY to OCTOBER 2008

Meeting of the Ad hoc Committee
08 May 2008 in DAKAR
A meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee was held on May 8th 2008 in order to prepare the next meeting of the Executive Board, to make an assessment of the Congress, to define the assignment of the very new Vice-Presidents and to carry out some reflections on the main issues of the Association. The following items were on the agenda :

1. Financial assessment of the AfWA 2008 Cotonou Congress
2. Missions of the AfWA Regional Vice Presidents
3. New prospects in the relationships among the AfWA and the IWA (International Water Association) in Africa
4. Analysis of the AfWA/WBI 2008 Activity Agreement as regard the Non Revenue Water and Contractualization Workshops in Kampala on May and June 2008.
5. Report related to the installation of the WOP (Water Operators Partnership) at RAND WATER in South Africa
6. Reflection on the creation of the African Water Academy
7. Other business

AfWA/IWA meeting
09 May 2008 in DAKAR
On last May 9th 2008, the AfWA and the IWA held an important meeting in Dakar with the following basic objective: how could the forces of the two organisations join their forces together in order to develop the African populations’ water and sanitation services while taking into account the prevailing diversified contexts within the 53 African countries. Further to that meeting, a list of 10 major decisions that could lead the ESAR-IWA to fully integrate the AfWA by 2010 was first made so that there could be only one pan African organisation of the water and sanitation sector in Africa, and secondly the preparation of the IWA and the AfWA Agreement that will define the partnership actions among the Institutions.

Scientific and Technical Council
19 -23 May 2008 in Tunis
The African Water Association held its first 2008 Scientific and Technical Council meetings from May 19th to 23rd 2008 at the Tunis El Mouradi Gamarth Hotel under the effective Chairmanship of Mr Mohamed Ali KHOUAJA, Chairman and Managing Director of the SONEDE (Tunisia National Water Operation Utility).
The object of these meetings was to think over the following main items: the organisation of the next AfWA Kampala Congress, the International Cooperation on the various projects with the WBI, OIeau, Pro Invest and the PMD, and the identification by the SCs of the themes for the papers.
Concerning the participation of the AfWA in the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul from March 16th to 22nd 2009, some themes related to the call for paper were identified by the SCs for contribution purposes.
Prelude to the 2008 STC meetings, the AfWA Days with the theme « Regulation and Remote Management » was animated with 5 presentations for the benefit of the AfWA members and the Tunisian public. This AfWA Days was also heightened with a hydraulic equipments exhibition.

Workshop on the Non Revenue Water
27 - 28 May 2008 in Kampala
The first workshop on the Non Revenue Water was organised in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania from September 16th to 21st 2007 with the objective to raise decision makers’ awareness about this item. At the end of that workshop, each participant should set up an action programme. The second phase of this workshop took place in Kampala from May 27th to 28th 2008 with the participation of the Anglophone Africa water utilities, and animated by participants with presentations dealing with the action plans. The third workshop will be held in early 2009.

3rd 2iE Business Days
29 - 30 May 2008 in Ouagadougou
The AfWA participated in the third edition of the Business Days of the International Engineering Institute for Water and Sanitation (2iE) from May 29th to 30th 2008. These days were animated with experience sharing, creation of partnerships, forum, conferences and « business stands » animation. The aim of these kind of gathering is to favour a regular exchange environment with the firms, to promote the 2iE students and their know how as regards vocational training, expertise and research in the fields of water, environment, energy and infrastructures. Web site: 2ie-edu.org.
The 4th 2iE Business Days will take place from May 14th to 15th 2009.

Workshop on Contractualization
2 - 4 June 2008 in Kampala
After the workshop organised in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from April 16th to 18th 2007 for the benefit of the Francophone countries’ utilities and administrations, the AfWA organised a similar workshop in Kampala, Uganda from June 2nd to 4th 2008 on reflection over contractualization for the benefit of the Anglophone countries. This workshop aimed at putting at the disposal of the participants the methodological means and tools that could help them to have a common understanding of the notion of contractualization, to analyse the phases of the Water and Sanitation Utilities’ contractualization (diagnosis of the situation, mobilisation of the stakeholders, follow up and assessment of the contracts), to analyse the potentials and limits of the contractualization, the successful factors, and finally to grasp the interest and risks they can face with the contractualization.

Workshop on the African Water Academy
5 - 6 June 2008 in Kampala
A reflection related to setting up of an African Water Academy in Kampala was held before the members of the AfWA, water utilities, WBI, WSP and financial and development partners. The Academy will be devoted to Leadership Development and Management Change.
The meeting ended with some recommendations and the elaboration of a road map to be submitted to the AfWA Executive Board.

OIeau General Assembly
11 June 2008 in Paris
The AfWA participated in the OIeau General Assembly in Paris.
Mr GIOVANI CHERSOLA, an Individual Member of the AfWA, represented the Association to that meeting and submitted a Report.

Regional Workshop
19 - 20 June 2008 in Kampala
The WOP regional Workshop for the Eastern and Central Africa was held from June 19th to 20th 2008 in Kampala, Uganda and gathered 59 participants from 26 water utilities. The objective of that workshop was to present the findings of the enquiry on the water utilities within the WOP framework and to identify the ways for a partnership among the utilities in order to elaborate the WOP Africa actions programme.

Launching of the Arab Water Academy
7 - 8 July 2008 in Abu Dhabi
The AfWA was represented at the launching workshop of the Arab Water Academy in Abu Dhabi by its Secretary General and the Vice President for the Eastern zone.

Extraordinary Executive Board
12 July 2008 in Rabat
An Extraordinary meeting of the AfWA Executive Board was jointly organised with the World Bank Institute on July 12th in Rabat, with 3 main items on the agenda: The setting up of the African Water Academy, the assignments of the Vice Presidents, the relationships with the IWA and the statement of progress of the AfWA 2010 Kampala Congress preparations. The EB approved of the establishment of the African Water Academy in Kampala, Uganda and elaborated a road map for the ACADEMY. A clearer definition of the assignments of the Vice Presidents was adopted and the EB decided on the following theme for the KAMPALA 2010 CONGRESS: “Water and Sanitation: Which prospects facing the energy stakes and climate change”.

Visio conference
5 August 2008 in Côte d’Ivoire
The World Bank Institute (WBI) organised in collaboration with the African Water Association (AfWA), the National Secretariat for Governance and Capacity Building and the Cote d’Ivoire Centre for Remote Education (GDLN) at the ENA (Normal Administration School) a visio Conference on Tuesday 5th August 2008 within the framework of the Zaragoza-Spain Water Exhibition on the following theme : « Values for a durable Water/Life civilisation : Lessons and Communications to change the Society », with the follwing sub themes :
1 – Values for a durable water/life civilisation, related to the change in behaviours as regards wastage, pollution and corruption in the water sector.

2 – Accelerate Apprenticeship of the younger generation for a better management of the water resources.
3 – Innovative Communications for an efficient strategy in order to change for good the relations between people, water and the society.

This session was held simultaneously with the GDLN of Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Tunisia which attended the Water Tribune of the ZARAGOZA WATER EXHIBITION.
Some recommendations are available in the archives of the AfWA web site.

8-9 August 2008 in Tunis
From August 8th to 9th 2008, the ADB organised a meeting in order to prepare the African representation during the 5th World Water Forum on March 2009. The Secretary General was invited to take part in that meeting where the AfWA undertook to participate in the committees in charge of preparing the technical sessions with the following themes:
- Governance and management
- Capacity Building (Education and knowledge)
- Finance
The AfWA was entrusted with the organisation of the African exhibition of the African stand during the 5th Water Forum in March 2009.

World Water Week
17-23 August 2008 in Stockholm
The AfWA took part in the World Water Week in Stockholm from August 17th to 23rd 2008 with its members from the NWSC of Uganda and SAAWU of South Africa. Some workshops, panels and seminars were organised during that Week, and Sanitation was one of the major items developed during that great event related to the water issues worldwide

World Water Congress
7-12 September 2008 in Vienna
About 3000 international experts and professionals of the water sector participated in the World Water Congress in Vienna on the treatment of waste waters, the conception of the water supply systems, the management of the hydraulic resources and sanitary services, water, health and environment in the world. The AfWA participated in the IWA World Water Congress from September 7th to 12th 2008. (web site : www.iwahq.org)

WOP Piloting Committee
16 September 2008 in Dakar
The WOP Executive Board held a meeting on September 16th 2008, and one of the main items was the practical feasibility for the establishment of the WOP Secretariat at RAND WATER. A statement of progress of the Global WOP was presented by Faraj El Awar, Program Manager of the Global WOP.

WOP Meetings
17-19 September 2008 in Dakar
From September 17th to 19th 2008, the 2nd WOP Africa Regional Workshop for the Western and Northern regions of Africa was organised at the Dakar NGOR Hotel.
The objective of that workshop, just like the one organised in Kampala, was to present the findings of the WOP Africa enquiry for the utilities of the region in order to identify the needs in capacity building of the water and sanitation operators and to prepare the WOP Africa programme.

Board meeting of the African Ministers in charge of Water Affairs
7 – 9 October in Addis-ABEBA
From October 7th to 9th 2008, there was the Board Meeting of the African Ministers in charge of Water Affairs under the Chairmanship of Mr Bruno Jean Richard ITOUA, Ministry of Energy and Hydraulic of the Congo. The AfWA took part in that meeting and presented its interest in participating in the African water and sanitation sector related political discussions.

3rd WOP Africa Regional Meeting
8 - 10 october in Lesotho
The 3rd WOP Africa Regional Workshop for the Southern African region was organised from October 8th to 10th 2008 in Maseru, Lesotho.
Just like the two other workshop of Kampala and Dakar, the objective was to present the findings of the WOP Africa enquiry for the utilities of the region in order to identify the needs in capacity building of the water and sanitation operators and to prepare the WOP Africa programme.

Water and Sanitation Sector Training Workshop
21 – 23 October in Niamey
The AfWA Secretary General was invited by the AFUR (African Forum for Regulation Utilities) to participate in a workshop dealing with the theme on « Collection and treatment of the information ».
About fifteen regulation institutions participated in this workshop
which objective was to train and get the regulators used to the various means of information collection with the water and sanitation sector operators and on the information various treatment aspects. Some case studies from various regions of the planet were presented as well as the best practices. The SG seized this opportunity to exchange with the AFUR officials as regards collaboration among the two institutions. www.afurnet.org.

NOV 07 - 9 2006 BAMAKO , MALI : CONFERENCE « PARTNERSHIP ON THE INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES SECTORS AND THE E.BUSINESS SERVICES IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA «  NOVATECH 2006

More than 450 people from 18 Western and Central Africa countries and 10 countries from the EU.

The President of Mali, one delegation from Europe (France Prime Minister and a European Member of the Parliament)

The Secretary General participated in the Bamako workshop on the theme « e.governance and CIT public markets in Western and Central Africa  », and he made a presentation on the following topic « The SDE supervision Cockpit », a successful example implementing the CIT to the management of maintenance within the African Water Utilities. 15 countries were represented in this Forum.

NOVATECH 2006 is a regional meeting on investment in the Communication and Information Technologies (CIT). NOVATECH permits public and private actors from Africa and Europe to meet, exchange experiences, ideas and develop concrete collaboration projects.

During the plenary sessions and workshop, important themes were dealt with namely the CIT infrastructures building in Africa, the allocation of public markets, the sector regulation and good governance, the projects financing, the development of human resources, especially the integration of the young graduates in the sector.

Thanks to NOVATECH 2006, African and European firms had access to information on the investments and financing opportunities in the regions concerned.

web : www.novatech2006-proinvest.org/fr

NOV 13 –17 2007 : RABAT, MOROCCO REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON «  THE REFORM OF THE DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION SECTOR (AEPA) IN THE FRENCH SPEAKING AFRICA  »

35 from Ministries, Government Agencies or Utilities in charge of Reforms (AEPA) and 16 African countries as follows : Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Malagasy, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, RDC, Rwanda, Senegal, Chad, Togo, Tunisia.

AfWA/WUP, World Bank, Water Solidarity Programme , UNESCO Water Chair

The ONEP MD, Mr Ali Fassi Fihri, presided over the opening and closing ceremonies of the workshop. In his opening speech, he presented the characteristics and challenges of his company in the presence of his Central Managers: perpetuation of the existing means, access of all to drinking water, and sanitation development. He also mentioned ONEP overture to cooperation with sub-Saharan African Water and Sanitation Utilities under various forms (training, service provisions etc). The exchanges were fruitful with the active and good level participation of all the senior managers representing a great variety of situations. For the majority of participants, Burkina Faso , Morocco , Senegal and Tunisia are examples that could help the French speaking Africa AEPA (Drinking Water and Sanitation) sector in its way towards progress. For all, we can not get away from the reforms if we want to ensure a Drinking Water and Sanitation quality service to all. The drinking water supply is extremely insufficient: at least some tens of thousands connections for an average population of 15 to 20 million inhabitants per African country. Sanitation has been highly backward.

NOV 22 - 23 2006 : LYON , FRANCE : WATER AND ENERGY IN AFRICA – FINANCING – TECHNOLOGIES – SMES AND SMIS PARTNERSHIPS

PARTICIPANTS :

European Union, Ministers from the following countries : Gabon , Congo , Burkina Faso , Gabon , Mali , Congo , Cameroon (SG), Niger , Guinea , RDC, EIER, SETRA, Morocco

Official opening of the forum in the presence of all the African delegations and Ministers from five countries. The opening speech was made by Mr Abdoulaye KANTE, the ADEA Manager and Jean philippe BAYON, Vice President of the region in charge of decentralized cooperation. Tow main topics were mentioned, to wit: the strategies and African policies in the water and energy sector, and the international financing in this sector water fields within the framework of the NEPAD.

During these days, Mr. Claude JAMATI, member of the AfWA Executive Board made a presentation on the stake of drinking water in Africa , and he also presided over a round table. Mr JAMATI seized the opportunity of his presentation to make the promotion of the Cotonou 2008 Congres.

This event, essentially organized to promote the Rhônes Alpes (ADEA) SMEs/SMIs is financed by the Lyon City Region.

Web of ADEA : www.adeafrance.org/picts/Rapport_Forum.pdf 7th Forum Afric Partners organized by ADEA October from 23 to 25 2007 «  Water and Energy in Africa – Financing – Technologies – SMEs and SMIs Partnerships ». Web : www.adeafrance.org e mail address: info@adeafrance.org

DEC 06-08 2006 NAIROBI , KENYA : CAPACITY BUILDING ON « PARTNERSHIPS FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF WATER AND SANITATION UTILITIES »

PARTNERSHIP

UN-DESA

UN- HABITAT

Water and Sanitation Utilities Managers, Representative of Ministries of hydraulics, International Institutions (WSP, SIWI, UN-ECA, UNU, African Union , WaterAid, UNESCO, IHE, IWA, UNSGAB)

One of the important results of Nairobi meeting is the project to establish a new Instituion, WOP (Water Operators Partnerships). The intervention of AfWA, supported by several participants, including Mr. MWANZA, resulted in the new WOP system, which is a world partneship focusing on the establishment and operation of a global information system which would link all the Water operators. A declaration known as the Declaration was also adopted. Item 8 of that declaration acknowledges “that existing nework of the Water Utilities Partnership (WUP) for the African Region could important role building the capacities of the utilities and by linking them to each other region.” Another meeting is scheduled to be held in April 2007 in South Africa in order to study the various aspects of the issue with the very active participation of AfWA and WUP.

www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sdissues/water/workshop_africa/workshop_africa.htm

 

DEC 4- 7 2006 : JAKARTA , INDONESIA

CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP “ ON PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC WATER UTILITIES IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION BACKGROUND”

Although, all the problems in the south globe are the same, the workshop presented a platform for sharing country-specific knowledge and experiences about the nature and extent of policy and institutional reforms needed in the public water utilities. It contributed, also, towards advancing the implementation of UNSGAB' work program, especially the component on Water Operators Partnerships (WOPs).

  The high level of participants representing water utilities, international institutions, private sector, global and regional networks, who attended the workshop, upgraded the level of discussion and consultations.

  Main conclusions and recommendations of the workshop are summarized below:

1. Public water utilities will remain the leading player with more performances needed

2. The need to promote the leadership role of Governments in the process,

3. Financing has to be increased

4. A strong political commitment is needed to rationalize tariffs

5. Rationalizing water tariffs and increasing the costs may be one way to conserve water.

6. The need to work together (between managers),

Participants representing water utilities and international institutions acknowledged great appreciation for DESA efforts to organize this event, and emphasized the need to follow up the recommendations emerging from this meeting.



20TH JULY 2007 KAMPALA , UGANDA : THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

The Executive Board meeting was held in Kampala , at the Africana hotel. This meeting focused on the organization of the Executive Board and Secretariat General, governance of the Water Operator Partnership Africa, 2007 – 2008 activities, 2008 congress preparations, and international cooperation.

During this meeting, some decisions were made amongst which the setting up of an Ad Hoc Committee comprising a representative from the following utilities: TdE ( Togo ), ONEP ( Morocco ), SAAWU South Africa), NWSC ( Uganda ) and Mr. JAMATI Claude for the affiliated members and the Secretary General. The role of this Committee will be to think over the strengthening of the human resources within the Secretariat General in order to assist the Secretary General in his activities, and the reorganization of the AfWA Executive Board for a better geographical breakdown of the members throughout the whole Africa .

21th July Kampala : WOP meeting : Regional Constitutive Committee

The Regional Committee of WOP – Africa met for a constitutive Assembly and mandated ESAR and AfWA to elaborate the actions program.

Participants :

AfWA

RAND WATER

ESAR

WSP

UN-HABITAT
1 TO 2 NOVEMBER 2007 TUNIS, TUNISIA : WORKSHOP ON THE INNOVATING « FINANCING FOR THE WATER SECTOR»

PARTICIPANTS :

AfDB

USAID

AfWA

Rand Water

NYC.

PPIAF

International South – East – Credit Ratings

NWSC

WSP

The AfDB and the USAID jointly organized a workshop on November 1 and 2 2007 in Tunisia on the following theme « Innovating financing for the water sector».

The AfWA took part in this workshop and was represented by Mr Abdelaziz LIMAM from the Sonede-Tunisia. This workshop was organized within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and comes after the workshop organized in Johannesburg on August 2006 which dealt with the « Raising of resources for the financing of the African water utilities».

 

The Tunisia workshop dealt with the following items:

•  Reforms and evaluation of the water utilities;

•  Raising private funds for the development of the water sector;

•  Assistance of the water utilities for access to local and international capital markets;

•  Extension of the AfDB and USAID guaranted mechanisms usage to support investment in the Afican water sector.

The USAID made a presentation on the successful case studies as regards the assistance to water utilities and took the case of the US State Revolving Funds.

  • The Indian experts of Credit Rating presented cases of successful projects financed through the Credit Ratings system.
  • The AFDB confirmed its will to cooperate with the USAID and the AfWA in order to help the African Water Utilities access to the financial markets.
  • The AfWA reiterated its strong will to cooperate with the AFDB in order to bring the African Water Utilities to improve their performance so that they become eligible to the local and international financial markets.

Conclusion

The AFDB expressed its will and availability (before the end of the year 2007) to initiate the assistance project with a sample of four African Water Utilities ready for the Evaluation and Shadow Credit Rating. From the discussions between the AFDB (Mr Bedoumra) and the AfWA (Mr LIMAM), the NWSC-Uganda (Eastern Africa) , SONEDE-Tunisia (Northern Africa), and two other African water utilities (Western, Central and Southern Africa ) could be part of this fisrt sample.

The AfWA was requested to turn the first part of the project with the AFDB into reality within best delays (19-23 Novembre 2007 – COTONOU ).