The body for water utility organizations in Africa has taken up the lead operationalizing the Africa Water and Sanitation academy which will be used to seal leadership development and change management gaps impacting standards in the sector.

African Water and Sanitation Association officially launched the academy Sunday evening in Kampala Uganda during the opening of the 22nd international congress and exhibition expected to benefit countries in the region including Malawi.

AfWASA outgoing president Silver Mugisha concedes that service gap for water and sanitation to reach sustainable development goal number 6 by the year 2030 remains big for African countries demanding innovative solutions and technologies.

“The focus of the academy is leadership development and change management. The problem of utilities in Africa is actually leadership development. We have leaders whose mindset need to be properly aligned, who should know that it is possible for them to change things, they can not rely on outsiders, African problems must be solved by African,” said Mugisha.

The concept to set up a regional academy for enhancing leadership and change management in the water and sanitation sector has been on the table the past 15 years.

Among others Dr. Eng. Mugisha said the academy to be hosted by Uganda will be developing curriculum and offering tailor made training for all players and experts in the sector.

“It is high time Africa adopted homegrown solutions and innovations to challenges in this sector which has a bearing to regional social economic development,” he observed.

Lilongwe Water Board Chief Executive officer Sili Mbewe said one of the areas they have been looking for as AfWASA is building internal capacities of young professionals working in the WASH sector which has for long depended on external expertise.

The academy will be operationalized through the regions of Africa where academic institutions will be affiliated to the academy and offfer professionals will

International Water Association executive director Prof Kalanithy Vaira Vamoorthy believes Africa has extraordinary potential for an inspiring and transformative water sector in future with good leadership despite the current challenges.

The international congress and exhibition in Uganda therefore provide water utility bodies, establishments, associations and partners a platform for sharing tested practices, innovations and solutions to hiccups compromising improved access to water and sanitation in the region.  

Over 3000 participants from 70 countries are attending the annual event this year running up to Thursday February 20 themed Water and sanitation for All: a secure future for Africa.

Recent data shows that access to clean water and sanitation in Africa remains a challenge with around 411 million people lacking access to basic drinking water, while 779 million lack access to basic sanitation.