From May 13 to 17, 2024, members of the African Water and Sanitation Association took part in IFAT, the world's leading trade fair for the water, water treatment, waste management and raw materials industries, held in Munich, Germany.

The aim of their participation was to discover the sector's technological and methodological advances, forge strategic links and strengthen their capacities to better meet Africa's water and sanitation needs.

During the event, the delegation took part in various key sessions including presentations to share recent project successes and challenges in Africa, networking sessions to extend influence and forge future collaborations, and field visits to observe recent technologies and their applicability in Africa.

Interactions with renowned companies such as ABB, Siemens, and Wilo, and discussions at the Africa-Special event highlighted innovations tailored to Africa's unique needs. These collaborations enrich AfWASA's experience and demonstrate the value of a collective approach to solving industry challenges.

Speaking at the show, Mr. Olivier Gosso, Executive Director of AfWASA, who led the delegation, said: “These innovations mark the beginning of a transformation in our approach to water management in Africa. The collaboration with GWP has helped to highlight Africa's specific challenges and promote our future initiatives”.

AfWASA members' participation at IFAT was made possible thanks to the facilitation of German Water Partnership (GWP), an AfWASA partner.  Mr. Boris Greifeneder, Executive Director of GWP, commented on the collaboration of the 2 organizations: “AfWASA and GWP have been working together in close partnership for several years now, and we have enjoyed many joint successes. This now includes IFAT Munich 2024. We were delighted to have AfWASA represented on the joint GWP stand and to welcome a delegation from the AWASA project. We were also able to organize two joint panels as part of the IFAT events program. AfWASA, with its members covering the African continent and its wide range of expertise, is a very valuable partner when it comes to the issue of the global water transition and its solutions.”

Mr. Ibrahim Sow, President of the Panafrican Association of Sanitation Actors (PASA), for his part, expressed the significant impact of the fair for his members: “We discovered innovations that are transforming our industry, from improved septic tank design to new truck models equipped with cutting-edge features. Economical and practical septage treatment systems promote sludge reclamation, which is crucial to our industry”.

Christian Kouadio from WILO commented: “Taking part in IFAT Munich is not just about showcasing our innovations. It includes promoting our 'ecolution' concept, which aims to offer innovative, ecological and economical solutions to the challenges facing the sector”.

It is worth noting that AfWASA's participation in IFAT Munich 2024 has strengthened its leadership role in Africa's water and sanitation sector, while enriching knowledge and inspiring appropriate strategies to improve water resource management on the continent.