Safe and sufficient drinking water is still not an issue to be taken for granted around the world. In developing countries, the provision of safe drinking water remains a difficult task. But, the approach to solving water supply problems is not a matter of all-knowing! There is not much difference in water supply systems: Raw water must be pumped, treated if necessary, distributed and all system operations must be financed.

Today, the water sector is currently changing and from its purely "hydraulic" initial mission based on classical engineering solutions, it is inevitably evolving towards a "water for development" mission, which focuses on exploiting opportunities in the political economy, customer orientation, and a holistic imagination of the future.

The African Water Association noted that there is a need for a new approach and new forms of lessons to be learned as well as global experiences to be shared, to improve the performance of water utilities in Africa and beyond that, make more efficient the service to the African populations for a sustainable development.

This is why relaunching the activities of the Academy and finding funds to ensure its sustainability are an absolute necessity for the Association.

The Missions of the African Academy of Water

The African Water Academy is a center of excellence for improving the water sector performance in Africa. Its primary purpose is to build the capacity of managers of water and sanitation companies and utilities, as well as decision-makers in the sector in Africa in the various aspects of leadership and change management. This goal will be achieved by combining in an innovative way scientific, techniques and governance of the water sector as part of a specific African identity.

The objectives of the African Water Academy are

• Enhancing the water heritage by promoting the exchange of information (technical, legal, scientific, cultural ...) and thematic reflections,
• Providing training to senior managers and decision-makers
• Contributing to water decision-making, including the organization of symposia, initiating and supervising studies, and making general recommendations with the aim of supporting sustainable development,
• Providing coaching / mentoring services in reform and change management
• Ensuring ongoing promotion of good governance in the management of the water and sanitation sector.
• Ensuring better management of practitioners communities
• Promoting the education of society with regard to issues related to water and sanitation.
• Acting as an expert group for the AfWA
• Sharing innovations and experiences
• Learning from other sectors (sharing experiences)
• Promoting innovation in water education within established training institutions and established professional associations.