$300,000 For Novel Water Projects

The African Water Association says it has received a $300,000 from the USAID to fund innovative water projects on the continent.

Young professionals, who will promote ground-breaking projects, intend to reduce water-related problems and address water loses experienced by water companies on the continent.

Sylvian Usher, General Secretary of the African Water Association, made this known in Abidjan at an on-going five-day workshop on Water Financing and Protection of Water Resources in West Africa.

Approved projects will each receive between $2000 and $10,000 and the money would go to the national water company in that country for disbursement to any young person who comes up with such a project.

“The programme is for youth between 18 and 35 years. They must be professionals in the water sector either working with a ministry or water agency in their respective countries. Youth studying in the water sector can also come forward.  Because we do not want the money to go to some individuals, we want them to belong to a national committee that would coordinate the projects, We see a lot of enthusiasm from the youth.”

So far, countries such as Senegal, Mali, Togo among others have established national committees.
He therefore invited countries, which have not set up the national committees to do so, as the programme is aimed at addressing water problems.

“Ghana is yet to submit its youth constitution on the project. And we know that there are a number of promising youth who will come up with very good projects.”

He noted that there are about 900 million people on the African continent, who do not have access to water while 600 million people have potable water.

He said Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Kenya were the first three countries to set up national committees.

“But we have about eight national committees now, most of them from West Africa and we hope that we will kick off when we have about 10 countries.”

It is hoped that in February 2014 during the African Water Forum slated for Abidjan, the proposals would be approved.

He said out of 55 countries on the continent only 35 are members of the association.
“We want to cover the whole continent and I urge countries which are not members to come on board.”

 

 By Emelia Ennin Abbey