Tenerife, May 7, 2025 - The second day of the benchmarking visit organized by the African Water and Sanitation Association and Welysis took place this Tuesday in Tenerife, Spain. It enabled participants to discover the infrastructures and strategic areas of intervention of the Spanish company Welysis, specialized in technologies for water management.

The morning began with an institutional presentation of Welysis, focusing on four main areas: the design and manufacture of modular electrolysis plants, the production of chemical products, the development of the WIN (Welysis International Network) and the establishment of the Welysis Academy, dedicated to training and the transfer of technical and managerial skills.

Participants then visited the company's centralized supervision center, which ensures real-time control of Welysis installations worldwide. The visit continued at the Welysis Industries plant, where the delegations were able to observe a highly automated industrial environment.

The afternoon was devoted to an interactive session at the Real Casino de Tenerife, a historic institution on the island. The meeting brought together representatives of local authorities and African delegations. Speakers included the Chairman and CEO of Welysis, the Mayor of Santa Cruz, as well as representatives of the Cabildo de Tenerife, the public company Proexca, the Africaqua forum, the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Chamber of Commerce.

Discussions focused on the strategic positioning of the Canary Islands as a bridge between Europe and Africa in the fields of water, energy, logistics and sustainable development.

The day was marked by the presence of Mr. Bouaké Fofana, Minister of Hydraulics, Sanitation and Hygiene of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, and Dr. Blaise Moussa, President of AfWASA the importance of this technical and institutional cooperation initiative.

From May 6 to 10, an African delegation made up of AfWASA members, water company directors, ministers and technical experts is participating in a benchmarking visit to Tenerife in Spain. Co-organized by AfWASA and the Spanish company Welysis, the aim of this initiative is to discover innovative technologies, discussions with Spanish experts and identify concrete solutions for improving water management in Africa. The delegation is headed by Dr. Blaise Moussa, President of AfWASA and Managing Director of CAMWAER.

The event kicked off with an official welcome ceremony on May 6, attended by a number of distinguished leaders, including Mr. Passalé Kanabé Marcelin, Minister of Water and Energy of the Republic of Chad, Mr Boubacar Diané, Minister of Energy and Water of the Republic of Mali, and His Excellency Abdrahamane BABY, Ambassador of the Republic of Mali to Spain.

This friendly kick-off meeting provided an opportunity to present the program's main orientations, while encouraging discussion between participants. During the ceremony, Mr. Oriol Domenech, Welysis Development Director, warmly welcomed the high-level African authorities and international partners taking part in this strategic benchmarking event. He underlined the crucial importance of Euro-African cooperation in the water and energy sectors, highlighting Welysis' mission to focus on technological innovation and resource regeneration.

The program includes industrial visits, high-level debates and financing opportunities, in a setting conducive to professional and human discussions.

As part of its Capacity-Building Program for African stakeholders in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector, the African Water and Sanitation Association, with the support of The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and tge Gate Foundation, is awarding research scholarships to African Young Water and Sanitation Professionals. Target beneficiaries are master students and engineers at their final year training program. Each scholarship, with a maximum value of USD1,000 (one thousand), will make it possible to carry out a research work sanctioned by a scientific report on a theme related to the WASH sector.

Gates Foundation Grant

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Download the Project proposal template

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Grant

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Lilongwe to host the 95th AfWASA STC meeting from July 21 to 24, 2025

The African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) would like to inform its members, partners and all stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector that the 95th meeting of its Strategic and Technological Council (STC) will be held from July 21 to 24, 2025 in Lilongwe, Malawi, under the theme “Green Economy and Climate Resilience in Africa”.

In a context marked by climate emergency and pressure on natural resources, the green economy represents a strategic lever for building a sustainable future.

The Lilongwe meeting will provide a framework for reflection and action around this green transition, highlighting concrete solutions, technological innovations, adaptation strategies and financing mechanisms adapted to African realities.

AfWASA members, industry professionals, researchers, experts, innovators and decision-makers, join us in Lilongwe to build sustainable responses to the challenges of water and sanitation, at the service of the continent's green economy and climate resilience.

Registration will be open very soon!

Hangzhou (China), April 18, 2025 -The African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) and the China Urban Water Association (CUWA) formalized a strategic partnership at a solemn agreement signing ceremony held in Hangzhou, China. The Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Zhang Linwei, President of CUWA, accompanied by Mr. Gao Wei, Deputy Secretary General, and Ms. Zhu Xibing, President of the China Urban Water Industries Association. For AfWASA, the document was signed by Olivier Gosso, Executive Director, sealing a strategic partnership between the two organizations.

This protocol, concluded after mutual consultations during AfWASA's working visit accompanied by Laison Technology (LAISON) to the CUWA annual conference, establishes a “sister association” relationship based on mutual respect. Both parties agree to strengthen their technical exchanges in key areas such as urban water supply, wastewater management and sustainable water infrastructure.

A key feature of the agreement is cross-participation in each association's sectoral events, thus promoting the sharing of expertise between their respective members. The practical details of this cooperation will be negotiated at a later date, but the protocol symbolizes a shared determination to make progress towards innovative solutions to the water challenges facing Africa and China.  This solemn ceremony illustrates the dynamism of Sino-African cooperation in the water and sanitation sector, with the ultimate aim of improving practices and technologies for the benefit of people on both continents. The presence of industrial players such as LAISON underlines the key role of public-private partnerships in realizing these commitments.

In a global context where access to drinking water remains a crucial challenge, Welysis has established itself as an inspiring model of resilience, innovation and international partnership. Starting from a local issue in the Canary Islands, Welysis has developed know-how that can be exported worldwide, in particular to meet the pressing needs of the African continent.

In this interview, Welysis' Development Director looks back at the company's history, its strategic positioning, and the benchmarking mission it is organizing in Tenerife with an African delegation led by the AfWASA; from - to 10 May 2025. A dive into a cutting-edge industrial ecosystem, where technology serves people and sustainability.

Mr. Oriol Domenech, Welysis has established itself as a key player in the field of intelligent water management. Could you give us an overview of your company's history and the key stages in its development?

Welysis is a company created from two very powerful industrial groups of Spanish origin for the manufacture of modular electrolysis plants for the production of chlorine and caustic soda. The story began with the need to solve a major problem in the Canary Islands, which was heavily dependent on imports of a vital commodity such as chlorine. From there, it was decided to invest in the first sodium hypochlorite manufacturing plant in Tenerife, made with modular and scalable technology. Since 2015, this unit has been used to make the Canary Islands independent of imports of this essential water purification product.

After this successful experience, we decided to make Welysis an exportable model for other regions of the world suffering from the same need. We have become the benchmark for flexible, efficient manufacturing to solve the problem of access to chlorine for water purification and wastewater treatment. Because of this, we currently have a very strong demand (over 40 projects underway) from different parts of the world who wish to access the successful Welysis model.

Welysis is playing a leading role in organizing this benchmarking mission to Tenerife. Why did you decide to welcome an African delegation to your territory? And what strategic objectives are you pursuing through this initiative?

Our fundamental objective has always been to prioritize projects for the African continent. We know that on most of the continent, chlorine is only manufactured in the north and in South Africa. Other countries import most of it from Asia or Europe.

We decided to join the AfWASA right from the start because it helped us understand the needs of each African country and because of the good service they provide to their associates. That's why we take part every year in the congress and international exhibition they organize. For this reason, we thought it would be interesting for AfWASA members to learn about our reality in the Canary Islands, and to explain first-hand our Welysis project and the benefits for each of our member countries. Our main strategy is to contribute to the industrialization of the African continent, in the same way as we did in the Canary Islands, and to create first-rate technological know-how that can stay and grow in every African country.

Our proposition is not just to sell a Welysis factory, but to accompany the African investor throughout its life, becoming part of a worldwide network of similar factories. This is why we have created WIN (Welysis International Network), which encompasses 5 fundamental pillars to provide services to our members.

Pillar 1: Innovation Hub (ensuring that R&D projects generated in Welysis are transmitted throughout the network).

Pillar 2: Continuous Training (From the initial training of at least 3 months on our premises to the ongoing training we provide in our Welysis Academy).

Pillar 3: Quality System (Ongoing audits and KPI monitoring to ensure that plant efficiency remains the same as on day one).

Pillar 4: BEST Practices (Integrating process and product best practices throughout the network to move forward together towards continuous improvement).

Pillar 5: Supplier Management (We help choose the best raw materials and ensure that spare parts are always available). 

This technical visit promises to be rich in discoveries and exchanges. Can you tell us about the main innovations and technological solutions that participants will have the opportunity to discover during their stay?

The aim of the visit will be not only to get to know Welysis, but also all the high-level industries we have in the Canary Islands concerning the WASH (WAter Sanitation Hygiene) world. We'll be visiting a state-of-the-art desalination plant, a modern wastewater treatment plant recently inaugurated, and a drinking water treatment plant equipped with the most advanced technology.

The Canary Islands are recognized as one of the regions in the world with the most experience and knowledge in the world of water. For many years, the region has been committed to centers of excellence in this sector, creating a unique and innovative ecosystem that we aim to make available to all our visitors.

We will also have the opportunity to share panel discussions and conferences with recognized experts who will be able to solve more specific problems in the sector. 

In your opinion, what practical lessons and concrete benefits could African decision-makers and operators in the water sector draw from this immersion in your ecosystem? And how do you see this cooperation being extended in the medium and long term? 

The main idea behind this exchange of experience is to learn first-hand about the success stories that the Canary Islands have implemented to solve water problems, and to be able to help each of the participating countries find the best solution to their needs in the sector. Technical solutions, R&D solutions, implementation solutions and financing solutions that aim to support African countries in their future industrial growth.

We are putting the experience of the Canary Islands at the service of visitors, and are open to future collaborations to launch similar projects. At Welysis, as members of the AfWASA, we will continue to give priority to projects on the African continent.

As part of its ambitious institutional transformation plan, the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) is initiating a high-level mission to China, from April 16 to 24, 2025, to strengthen its governance and modernize its organizational practices. Led by its President, Dr Blaise Moussa, this benchmarking visit marks a decisive step in the organization's drive to professionalize and strategically reposition itself.

This official visit to Hangzhou, the nerve center of urban innovation in China, aims to bring the Association up to date with international best practices in associative leadership, managerial performance and institutional governance. In addition to the President of AfWASA, the delegation includes the Executive Director, Mr. Olivier Gosso, the President and the Vice-President of the Strategic and Technological Council, Dr. Mahmood Lutaaya and Geraldine Mpouma-Logmo, the Director of Programs, Dr. Simeon Kenfack, the Director of Membership Services, Moussa Seck, and the Administrative and Financial Director, Olivier Gnankpa.

By drawing on international best practices, notably those implemented by the China Urban Water Management Association (CUWA), AfWASA will be able to improve its governance and management strategies. This will enhance the transparency and efficiency of decision-making processes within the organization; accelerate innovation in water and wastewater services thanks to proven models; and develop strategic partnerships with other associations and key players in the sector.

During the visit, the delegation will take part in the opening ceremony of the CUWA 2025 annual conference. The delegation will also meet with the CUWA management team to discuss governance models and possible cooperation through the signature of a partnership agreement. Plant tours are planned to discover the latest technological innovations in water management.

This initiative is part of a wider drive to modernize and professionalize the governance of AfWASA. By exploring water management models developed in China, AfWASA will be able to identify levers for improvement applicable to African realities.

From May 6 to 10, 2025, Tenerife (the largest island in Spain's Canary archipelago), will welcome an African delegation of ministers, water company directors and technical experts, as part of a benchmarking visit organized by Welysis and AfWASA. The aim of the visit is to discover innovative technologies, exchange views with Spanish experts and identify concrete solutions for improving water management in Africa.

In the face of climatic and infrastructural challenges, Africa needs to draw inspiration from proven models for optimizing water access and distribution. Tenerife, faced with similar problems, has developed effective solutions thanks to companies like Welysis.

This visit will enable participants to understand best practices, strengthen international cooperation and explore opportunities for sustainable collaboration.

By promoting exchanges between African decision-makers and European specialists, this visit aims to encourage innovation and the adoption of locally-adapted policies. The expected impact is significant: improved water management strategies, strengthened partnerships and the implementation of concrete projects for sustainable development.

The African Water and Sanitation Association warmly invites its members and all stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector to join this benchmarking visit. This unique experience will be an opportunity to explore solutions adapted to the continent's challenges and to forge strategic relationships for the future of water in Africa.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of an exchange that will shape the future of the sector!

For more information, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A dozen professionals from the water sector have been taking part since Monday in a technical workshop on the advanced mobile water laboratory, organized at SEN'EAU's Center for Innovation and Excellence in Dakar. This two-day session, held on April 7 and 8, marks the start of a series of training courses planned in Senegal as part of the AGTIWAS (German-African Training Initiative in Water and Sanitation) and the GAPWAS (German-African Partnership for Water and Sanitation) projects, in collaboration with the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA), German Water Partnership (GWP) and SEN'EAU (Eau du Sénégal).

The aim of this training is to enhance technicians' skills in water quality analysis, particularly in areas with poor infrastructure. Participants are introduced to the use of portable kits for microbiological analysis, sampling, interpretation of results and laboratory data management.

“The idea is to train all players, whether in urban or rural areas, in water testing and quality,” explained Awa Sy, head of SEN'EAU's training department, at the opening of the workshop. “We want to equip participants with modern tools enabling them to test water before it is distributed to the public.”

The same training will be repeated on April 9 and 10 in Diourbel, to reach a wider audience of technicians.

Following on from this program, a workshop dedicated to water treatment techniques, in particular the elimination of fluoride, salts and organic matter, will be held on April 10 in Dakar. It will bring together some thirty decision-makers and experts from the public, academic and private sectors.

Finally, on April 14 and 15, a workshop on intelligent, energy-saving pumps will be held in Dakar. This technical session will address innovative solutions for drinking water and wastewater pumping stations, with a focus on energy savings and life-cycle cost management.

From March 18 to 20, 2025, AfWASA's Director of Programs, Dr. Ing Siméon Kenfack, will represent the Association at the West Africa sub-regional ministerial committee consultation meeting, organized as part of the formulation of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision. This event, to be held in Abuja under the aegis of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), will bring together representatives of member states, regional institutions and international partners committed to the development of the water and sanitation sector on the continent.

A major challenge for the continent

Africa is facing a worrying water crisis: 400 million people still have no access to drinking water, and over 800 million are deprived of safe sanitation facilities. With a population expected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, the challenges of effective water resource management are more pressing than ever.

It is against this backdrop that the Abuja consultation meeting will bring together ministers, experts and sector stakeholders to discuss priorities and actions to ensure sustainable water security, in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Discussions will focus on several strategic priorities:

Development of the post-2025 African Water Vision, Implementation of decisions taken at the 14th AMCOW Executive Committee, Preparation of the 3rd African Implementation and Partnership Conference (PANAFCON-3), Follow-up of AfricaSan8 program commitments.

This consultation will establish a regional consensus on the strategic priorities and coordination mechanisms needed to make this new African Water Vision a reality. The recommendations resulting from this meeting will be examined at the next AMCOW General Assembly, with a view to their adoption by the African Union in 2026.

AfWASA’s Contribution

As a key player in the sustainable management of water and sanitation in Africa, AfWASA will actively contribute to discussions aimed at defining the priorities of the new African Water Vision beyond 2025. Its expertise will be invaluable in identifying innovative and inclusive strategies to ensure water and sanitation security in the face of growing challenges linked to climate change and demographic growth. The Association will also share its technical expertise and experience in public policy, capacity building and innovation in the water sector.