I am delighted to be leading and working with the Board, management, staff and all IWA stakeholders at an exciting and challenging time.
The first face-to-face meeting of the newly established Board was held in Kampala, Uganda, in February. While there had been many online meetings last year to address various matters, the Uganda meeting was scheduled immediately prior to the African Water and Sanitation Association’s (AfWASA’s) biennial international congress and exhibition in Kampala, in order to facilitate participation at the African regional event.
The Board meeting was an unprecedented success, with free-flowing engagement by all Board members resulting in a very productive learning experience during the induction of the Directors and unanimous decision-making outcomes for the Association.
Some key decisions were taken after rigorous engagement. Preparations for executing our new five-year strategy were approved after consideration of an operational readiness assessment and operational plan – with a clear roadmap and milestones. The 2025 budget, aligned to the new strategy, was welcomed and approved.
In addition, two exciting new initiatives were approved. Two task groups, each led by a Board member, have been working on important new schemes – one on water utilities and another on sanitation. The two groups were commended for their work and recommendations – both expected to lead to a new IWA event – which were approved unanimously.
Alongside other regular but important business, two new country memberships were approved, meaning we are happy to now be able to include Thailand and Indonesia as part of the IWA General Assembly. We welcome them to the IWA family and look forward to them joining the IWA General Assembly Meeting in the UK this September. We are proud that our total number of General Assembly members now runs to 70 countries.
An important takeaway for me from this meeting was that, during the first six months of the new Board, the Board, management and staff have demonstrated strong capability and commitment to leading our Association and delivering the new strategy for the benefit of all members, partners and stakeholders.
During our time in Kampala, the Board was hosted by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC). IWA leaders delivered keynote addresses at the conference, emphasising innovation, digitalisation, utility leadership for sustainable finance, and water security. The conference also featured discussions on scaling up Citywide Inclusive Sanitation across Africa, with IWA showcasing its commitment to advancing water and sanitation solutions on the African continent by working with AfWASA and the newly launched African Water and Sanitation Academy (AWASA).
At the AfWASA event, IWA demonstrated excellence, relevance and resonance with its international and African members. While IWA is a global association, its ability to embrace a diversity of members, appreciate their needs, and add value to help overcome regional challenges is critical – inspiring change and impact for our members across the globe. Our members have long requested support at regional level and from our Specialist Groups. Efforts to advance on both fronts form important parts of our new Strategic Plan.
On behalf of IWA, we are grateful to our hosts, Uganda, NWSC, AfWASA and our own Senior Vice President from Uganda, Dr Rose Kaggwa, for making the Ugandan experience both memorable and impactful.
The hospitality received in Uganda, the opportunity for IWA to contribute to the AfWASA event, and the energy and enthusiasm from the Board members and management combined to form an amazing example of the leading role that our association must play with regional associations and Specialist Groups across the globe, inspiring change and impact through excellence, relevance and resonance.
Hamanth Kasan, President, IWA
