African Water Association Institutional Capacity Building Program (AfriCap)
On December 2, 2015, the African Water Association (AfWA) entered into partnership with USAID West Africa by signing the Cooperative Agreement No AID-624-A-1600003. Under this agreement, USAID/West Africa‘s Regional Program commits to invest a sum of $2,000,000 to support the WASH – AfWA Regional Institutional Capacity Building Program (AfriCap).
AfWA is a continental water and sanitation organization that brings together drinking water production and distribution companies, sanitation services companies, and regulators in African countries to share knowledge and best practices. AfriCap seeks accelerated improvements in WASH service access through more intense and systematic knowledge sharing under the coordination of AfWA, a recognized regional leading organization. AfriCap aims to increase AfWA capacity to fulfill its mandate to improve management, dissemination of knowledge on the African WASH sector, policy advocacy for WASH and related resource allocation, and the rapid transfer of successful regional models in WASH practice.
Implementing Partners:
- African Water Association (AfWA)
- West Africa Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (USAID WA-WASH)
- African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
- African water utilities
- West African water laboratories
Activity Description
The AfriCap program will be carried out in the following components:
Component I: Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening of AfWA AfWA will be strengthened by the recruitment of new staff, the adoption of procedures manuals to streamline operations, and staff training sessions. Effective program execution and control structure will be established with well-defined staff roles and responsibilities, along with a robust monitoring and reporting system. The 2018-2022 AfWA Strategic Business Plan will be developed. Gender mainstreaming will be fostered through the establishment of national WASH professional women associations.
Component II: Develop and Implement Knowledge Sharing in West Africa AfWA’s knowledge management and public awareness function will be enhanced by the reinforcement of AfWA’s leadership role on regional coordination, knowledge management, information sharing, and capacity building of WASH stakeholders. AfWA will use its network and convening power to disseminate best practice documents, white papers, and knowledge pieces to a wide audience. AfWA will foster learning in the sector through virtual learning events and by funding Master’s student research projects.
Component III: Develop the Capacity of Water Quality Laboratories Laboratories in West Africa, with USEPA support, will be supported to attain certification and at least six laboratories will be engaged in peer-to-peer learning partnerships with laboratories from Burkina Faso and Ghana. Training sessions on analytical techniques, protocols, and procedures will be held.
Expected Outcomes
- Build AfWA capacity to formulate, coordinate, adapt and harmonize WASH policies across West Africa;
- Develop and implement improved knowledge sharing and public awareness in the WASH sector; and,
- Develop the capacity of drinking water quality laboratories in West Africa with the support of USEPA.
