AfriAlliance and VIA Water met to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 19, 2017. The MoU signals a commitment by both initiatives to increase collaboration on innovation in the African water sector. Africa is one of the regions most in need of innovative solutions for water problems. The water sector is facing enormous challenges due to climate change and population growth. However, a lack of water-related skills and institutional fragmentation are major obstacles to address these challenges in Africa. AfriAlliance and VIA Water are both knowledge platforms promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing to generate concerted action for water innovation.

The major thrust of the newly signed MoU is to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between AfriAlliance and VIA Water in the field of water innovation in Africa. To achieve the MoU’s objectives, both initiatives agreed to disseminate each other’s outputs, to share mutually beneficial contacts and information, and to contribute to or participate in each other’s events. The signing ceremony included AfriAlliance project director Dr. Uta WEHN and VIA Water programme manager Ms. Titia WOUTERS. The MoU represents an important milestone in the relationship between the two initiatives, which are both hosted by the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.

Ms. WOUTERS said, “Although we operate at different scales, VIA Water and AfriAlliance share many common goals and ambitions and we look forward to working together for the benefit of the African water sector." Dr. WEHN said, “I look forward to a fruitful relationship whereby AfriAlliance can offer the VIA Water innovators the opportunity to showcase their innovation at one of our Innovation Bridge or Road Show events.”