The Government of Niger adopted, on Thursday 02^nd  September, a draft ordinance authorizing the ratification of the Convention for a maximum total principal amount of forty million Euros (€40,000,000), signed on 1^st  June 2021 in Niamey, between the Republic of Niger and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to finance the construction’s project of a new drinking water facility (Karey-Gorou plant) as well as the extension and reinforcement of drinking water networks in the city of Niamey.

According to the conclusions of the meeting of the Council of Ministers, a copy of which was received by the ANP, « The overall objective of the agreement, which is the subject of this proposed ordinance, is to improve the living conditions of the people of the city of Niamey and to support the economic development of the city and the country in general».

The government must then make it clear that the specific objectives of the Project are: to increase the production and distribution capacity of drinking water in order to meet the increase in demand by 2030; to secure the city's water supply by diversifying the sources of water production; to improve water supply to the populations of the outlying districts; to contribute to the maintenance of sustainable and efficient management of the water service and to consolidate the financial equilibrium of the urban water sub-sector. 

Please, click on the link to read the original article: http://www.anp.ne/article/niger-vers-la-construction-d-une-nouvelle-usine-d-eau-potable-niamey

This fecal sludge treatment plant will be officially opened on September 22, 2021 by Luc Atangana Messi, the Mayor of Yaoundé. Funded by the Agence française de développement (AFD) and the Association Internationale des Maires Francophones (AIMF) to the tune 2.6 billion, the first fecal sludge treatment plant will be officially inaugurated on 22 September 2021 by Luc Messi Atangana.

The infrastructure is located in Etoa, an eastern suburb about 20 kilometers from downtown Yaoundé, the political capital and headquarters of Cameroon's institutions. It should be noted that the project today was launched in 2018 when Gilbert TsimiEvouna was government delegate to the Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé(Cuy).

Implemented within the framework of the second phase of the Yaoundé Sanitation Project (PADY II), the sewage sludge treatment plant will solve the population' s health problems caused by the pollution of Yaoundé's drains into the Mfoundi, Mefou and Nyong rivers..

With this innovation, the City Hall intends to reduce or even eliminate the diseases caused by this wastewater, making the health of the inhabitants fragile.

please click on the link to read the original article https://www.lebledparle.com/fr/

In 2008, 3.3 billion people lived in cities that are about 50 % of the global population. By 2030, this figure, according to the World Bank, would be close to 5 billion, or 60% of the total world population.

The phenomenon will be particularly striking in Africa and Asia, where the urban population will double between 2000 and 2030. With these trends, access to drinking water and sanitation will continue to be in these cities a daily struggle for hundreds of thousands of city dwellers. This will be mainly the case in sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 565 million people do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities.

In addition, the combination of polluted water and lack of sanitation is one of the main causes of infant mortality: nearly 4,100 children die every day from acute diarrhea, a disease mainly related to the lack of sanitation and poor hygiene. According to the World Bank Water and Sanitation Program report, the lack of sanitation infrastructure costs nearly US$ 5.5 billion a year to eighteen African countries.

To improve this worrying situation, over the past two decades and particularly within the framework of the global MDG agenda (2000-2015), the objective of halving the number of people without access to improved sanitation has been fixed and completed with varying degrees of success.

In this race to achieve the MDGs goals related to sanitation, a lot of infrastructure and in particular toilets have been built; however, it was noted during the evaluation an absence of a global management of the sanitation value chain from the collection, transportation, treatment to reuse.

Over the period of 2015-2030, within the SDGs set, the overall objective defined for sanitation has become more ambitious and concerns access for all to sustainable sanitation systems. To meet this challenge, several African countries with the support of donors (FBMG, AWF, USAID, etc.) tried with more or less success to develop several models and approaches for on-site sanitation solutions, which concerns more than 90% of the African population. In Senegal for example, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, various tools, through a scientific approach, have been implemented for a better institutional and legislative organization of the faecal sludge sector, the involvement of the private sector, the use of ICT for a better emptying service and the construction of infrastructure for the collection, transport, treatment and reuse of fecal sludge.

In addition, as part of the implementation of the WOP Africa program, the evaluation made in March 2015 noted that out of the 17 partnerships implemented in this pilot phase, only four were focused on sanitation. Thus, it was clearly emphasized that the implementation strategy should further involve the promotion of specific sanitation partnership projects centered around on-site sanitation and faecal sludge management in urban areas. With the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, AfWA then set up in 2016, a peer-to-peer partnership project called RASOP-Africa whose objective was to support five sub-Sahara African cities in improving their FSM systems with a coverage of at least one million people. Concretely, the municipalities or sanitation companies of five beneficiary African cities have been coached by other similar entities from other African countries with more experience in FSM. With the promising findings from RASOP-Africa that have allowed major progress on fecal sludge management in the targeted cities, AfWA with the renewed support of the Gates Foundation, decided to extending this approach to other African countries / cities in sub-Saharan Africa in order to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Based on the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approach, the objective of the SAO-CWIS project and of the sanitation component of the AfriCap USAID funded project, will be to achieve universal access to improved sanitation in the cities targeted, taking into consideration the safe management of all human waste produced; the efficient recovery of the resources generated throughout the sanitation chain by a variety of technical solutions, whether individual or collective.

A selection of beneficiary countries and cities was made on the basis of objective criteria, resulting in the involvement of 14 African countries in which 52 cities will be involved.

For an effective start of the activities of this capacity building program in the countries targeted, a launching workshop is planned in each of these countries in order to:

1. Identify the key players in the sanitation sector at all levels (national, regional, municipal);
2. present the overall project to the various stakeholders and agree on the levels of involvement of each actor (REIPs, beneficiary, mentor, other key players);
3. present and discuss the short and medium term action plan of the project;
4. discuss around any other businesses related.

The kick-off workshops for the CWIS program are held on September 3 in Malawi, September 7 in Ethiopia and September 13 in Kenya.

Players in the water and sanitation sector have been urged to effectively collaborate in the process of providing water and sanitation services in Malawi. Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Principal Secretary, Charles Makanga said Friday during the Kick-off meeting of the Pan African Sanitation Program in Lilongwe that there are a lot of consequences that follow when stakeholders are not working together in the provision of the services. “Some consequences are costly. The area 18 saga was a great lesson and it will never be erased from the face of the nation,” he said. In 2017, some Area 18 residents consumed contaminated water through water taps. Lilongwe City Mayor, Juliana Kaduya blamed inadequate capabilities and limited use of innovation in effecting sanitation service delivery in the city. “Access to sanitation services is one of the crucial challenge for us in Malawi as well as in Africa,” she said. African Water Association (AfWA) Director of Programs, Simeon Kenfack said they are committed to guarantee improvement of the quality of water and sanitation services deserve to the population. “We will continue to provide capacity building and support to actors in the water and sanitation sector to ensure access to water and sanitation services to all,” he said.

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The AfWA Professional Women Networks in WASH in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the 9th World Water Forum (WWF) held a webinar for networks of professional women in the WASH sector on 14^th July 2021.  The theme for the webinar was, ''Strategic Positioning and Visibility of African WASH Professional Women Networks” and was to serve as prelude to the 9th World Water Forum to be held in Dakar, Senegal from March 21 to 26, 2022.

This digital women's forum was a way of publicizing the next World Water Forum and to mobilize women networks within and outside the Pan-African Association to actively and strategically participate in the WWF. In all a total of 264 participants took part in the webinar comprising of the AfwA Women’s Network, the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network (AWSPN) and Women groups under the WRC.  Participants came from all the African regional blocks: West, East, North, Southern and Central Africa and also America, Asia and Europe.

The webinar was hosted by Dr. Rose Kaggwa, the 2^nd Vice President of AfWA STC and the Director of Business and Scientific Services NWSC, Uganda and Dr Leticia Ackun, the Gender Specialist from AfWA. It was moderated by Dr. Barbara Senkwe, Senior WASH Governance Advisor, USAID and chairperson of the AWSPN in Zambia with the support of the AfWA Professional Women’s Network coordinators, Geraldine Mpouma Logmo and Faustina Boachie and a committee made up of all the Presidents of the AfWA women’s networks.

Dr. Rose Kaggwa gave the welcome address acknowledging the presence of all the invited guests and speakers including participants and thanking them for responding positively to the invitation.  She gave the purpose of the webinar as an opportunity to mobilise all professional women networks in WASH for the WWF and provide participants with meaningful information about the WWF.  She also gave a rundown of the programme and highlighted the need for women to actively participate in the upcoming WWF.

Mr. Abdoulaye SÈNE, the Executive Secretary of the World Water Forum gave an update on the upcoming WWF in Dakar 2022, preparations made so far, the prospects for women and encouraged maximum participation of all women, especially the various networks. He shared the outline of activities lined up as preparation towards the WWF and solicited for maximum participation of all in these upcoming activities.  There was an upcoming stakeholders’ workshop scheduled for October which he encouraged all to participate to be abreast with preparations towards the WWF.

Dr. Leticia Ackun gave an overview of the African Women Professionals in WASH networks.  The presentation covered two networks; AfWA Professional Women’s Network in Water, Sanitation and the Environment and the African Women Sanitation Professionals Network (AWSPN).  She gave a background on the state of women’s participation in WASH, the challenges, and opportunities; why women are underrepresented and what can be done to address these challenges; and the need to increase women’s professional involvement in WASH.  The networks major focus was advocacy for more women in leadership roles in WASH through personal and group effort; women led WASH businesses increasing and growing through access to finance and technical support; more women and girls attending WASH related trainings; women led WASH activities at community level; and greater visibility of women at local and international levels to enhance their participation in policy and technical designs.  She concluded by sharing the aims and objectives of the networks, their membership and activities carried out over the period.

The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Olushola OLAYIDE from the Africa Union Commission on the theme, ''Strategic Positioning and Visibility of African WASH Professional Women Networks. She delivered her speech on the background of the COVID-19 pandemic and the WWF theme which is, “Water Security for Peace and Sustainable Development".  She reiterated that to make a great impact at this time, Africa cannot afford to neglect the crucial role of women hence the theme of the webinar was very key and of utmost importance to facilitate Africa to achieve Peace, the Transformation Agenda 2030 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in realization of the Agenda 2063: ‘The Africa we want’. She emphasized the role of women not only as managers in the house to provide for domestic water supply but very essential to achieve water security. According to her, agenda 2063 highlighted that ‘No society can reach its full potential, unless it empowers women and youth and removes all obstacles to women’s full participation in all areas of human endeavours. Africa must provide an enabling environment for its women, children and young people to flourish and reach their full potential’.

A panel of experts in the WASH sector was constituted to discuss on the theme “World Water Forum, Dakar 2022 - How can we raise the voice of women in this forum?” They comprised of the President of Senegal Women Network - Madam Fatou Ndiaye; the Managing Director of Nkana Water and Sewerage Company, Zambia - Diana Nkasha Makwaba; a citizen/beneficiary of WASH services - Benedicte Tuffour; and a Communication Expert/Coordinator of AfWA Women Professionals Network - Geraldine Mpouma Logmo. Discussions centered around the role of the Women networks in achieving the SDGs, the major challenges faced by the women groups, the benefits of including women in the planning and implementation of activities and efforts to drive achievements of the SDG6 targets. Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion. Madam Lesha Witmer from the Women for Water Partnership in her contribution called for more integrated approach by all the Women’s network to work towards a common good to make a greater impact.

Madam Faustina Boachie, the Chief Manager for LICSU in GWCL, Ghana gave the closing remark summarizing the key points and showing her gratitude to the planning committee, the various speakers, presenters, panelists, and the participants for a successful webinar.

At the end of proceedings, it became apparent the need for more involvement of women in WASH delivery and more collaboration among the various professional women networks to have maximum participation of women for the upcoming WWF. It was a well-attended webinar with 264 participants and very engaging.  Evaluation by participants indicated an average of 4.8 out of 5.0 as satisfaction rate. A second webinar will be communicated in due course.  We thank all who found time to participate.

World Water Week is the leading conference on global water issues and in 2021 it will be held as a digital event 23-27 August. The Week attracts participants from more than 130 countries and with many different professional backgrounds. World Water Week is a non-profit event, co-created together with leading organizations. It offers an unusual mix of participants and perspectives, with sessions on a broad array of water-related topics, ranging from food security and health, to agriculture, technology, biodiversity, and the climate crisis.

With a focus on collaboration and shared learning, World Water Week is an important catalyst for change and attracts leading researchers, decision-makers, business representatives, NGOs, students, and international organizations. We try to create a welcoming and informal atmosphere where it is easy toget to know people and collaborate on solving real-world problems. The Week attracts many decision-makers who come here to get new inspiration and form alliances that can influence other international processes such as the global climate talks. Read more

The 21st AfWA International Congress and Exhibition will be held in February 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

More details to be red soon.

Pan-African city-wide inclusive sanitation and non-revenue water reduction programs have been launched on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Chad by the African Water Association (AfWA).

Four cities have been chosen for the implementation of these programs in Chad. They are N'Djamena, Kelo, Moundou and Koumra.

The kick-off meeting took place in the presence of the Mayor of N'Djamena, the General Director of the Ministry of Water, the Deputy Managing Director of the Chadian Water Company (STE), the Director of programs of AfWA and the Mayors of the other three beneficiary towns.

The Deputy General Manager of STE, Oumar Ousmane Brahim, said that this project is a major capacity building tool in sub-Saharan Africa. It involves 21 companies from 19 African countries for three years.

The project will support the individual Non Revenue Water reduction program of at least four companies, including STE, enabling it to save money and provide access to clean water to at least three million people.

"Our goal is to achieve universal sanitation for the entire population of the targeted cities, taking into account the safe management of human waste and the efficient recovery of the resources generated," he said.

The Director of Programs of AfWA, Dr. Simeon Kenfack, for his part, praised the benefits of the project and assured the support of the association for a better world.

Computers and Internet access modems were given to the mayors of the cities targeted by the project.

Click here to read more: https://www.alwihdainfo.com/Tchad-des-programmes-d-assainissement-total-et-inclusif-lances-pour-4-villes_a105298.html?fbclid=IwAR3SxC9dIdxQu5o7zDAGDHo25qQD8oEchjPCboqBkk4AGU2S6q9Z0L-IfgU