The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a partnership with the London-based Global Innovation Fund (GIF), Isle Utilities, and the African Water Association (AfWA) to originate an Innovation Platform for Water in Africa.

A statement issued by the World Bank on July 19, 2017 said the facility aims to introduce tested, new technologies into the African water sector, and work with local water utilities to implement these solutions. The first workshop in the series was held on July 20, 2017 during AfWA’s Scientific and Technical Council Meetings in Accra, Ghana. Run by Isle Utilities and AfWA, the workshop brought together representatives from regional water utilities, Rockefeller’s 100 Resilient Cities, IFC, and GIF to showcase new technologies and how they can make a difference in the water sector.

George Butler, Water Specialist for IFC said “In the water sector, our strategy for the Innovation Platform is to support municipal and private sector organisations to invest in new, proven technologies to implement a step change in efficiency. Through this initiative, IFC brings together other key actors to collaborate and bring forward innovations that are practical in the Africa water sector.”

Alix Peterson Zwane, Chief Executive of GIF added, “According to UN data, more than 600 million people globally are still without improved drinking water sources, while around 1.8 billion people use a source of water that is contaminated. Our partnership with IFC, Isle Utilities, and the African Water Association will introduce an innovative market link between water utilities, technology providers, and regulators, with the potential to solve common delivery challenges and transform the lives of millions of people living in poverty across sub-Saharan Africa.”

The next Africa Water Innovation Platform meeting would be held in early 2018.

Originally published by Ghana Business News on July 21, 2017