AfWA has grown exponentially in recent years in terms of services, portfolio, network reach, and staff size. After such organizational development, it is necessary to review and adapt internal communication practices and processes.

To this end, and with funding from its partner, German Water Partnership (GWP), AfWA initiated an Audit of its communication processes and practices. The launching workshop took place on March 23 and 24, 2021 in Abidjan, in the presence of Nathalie Kolbe, GAPWAS Project Director, representing GWP at the Association's headquarters and Mr. Sylvain Usher, AfWA’s Executive Director. During this first step, and with the help of consultants, Jean de Dieu Cirhigiri from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Kristin Horn from Germany, the workshop participants, members of the AfWA’ staff, were led to identify and analyze the different cases of communication with the help of an evaluation tool; the objective being to obtain a clearer picture of the roles and internal processes. During the two-day workshop, participants were able to identify a variety of processes related to the different positions within the Association.

The second step of the audit, which will take place later this semester, will be to analyze the identified processes, to identify strengths and weaknesses, and to reach a common understanding of the desired internal communication.

About German Water Partnership:

German Water Partnership is an internationally oriented network of the German water sector that unites about 350 companies, professional associations and institutions from the economic, scientific and research sectors.

About the partnership between AfWA and German Water Partnership

The cooperation between AfWA and German Water Partnership started in 2012 and was formalized in 2019 through the signing of a partnership that consists of, among other things, expertise exchanges, consulting and capacity building.