IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has partnered with the Global Innovation Fund (GIF) Isle Utilites and the African Water Association (AfWA) to found an Innovation Platform (IP) for Water in Africa. The aim is to introduce well-tested, new technologies in to the African water sector, and work with local waterutilities to implement these solutions.<\/p>\n
IFC and GIF are supporting the first Water Innovation Platform (IP) workshop in Accra, Ghana, on July 20, 2017 at the La Palm Royal Hotel. The workshop, being run by Isle in partnership with the African Water Association (AfWA), will bring together representatives from regional water utilities, Rockefeller\u2019s 100 Resilient Cities, IFC, and GIF.<\/p>\n
George Butler, Water Specialist for IFC said \u201cOverall IFC is committed to finding solutions to difficult problems in emerging markets. 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. Today, innovative companies are delivering new technologies to address challenges across the whole of the water sector. Through this initiative, IFC brings together other key actors to collaborate and bring forward innovations that are practical in the Africa water sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
New models and applications of digital know-how, mobile payments, the internet of things and telecommunications are changing the way development challenges can be solved. This workshop, the first in a series, will showcase new technologies and how they can make a difference to the water sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording 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. GIF is pleased to be partnering with the IFC, Isle Utilities, and the African Water Association to introduce an innovative market linkage 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,\u201d said Alix Peterson Zwane, Chief Executive, GIF.<\/p>\n
The next Africa Water Innovation Platform meeting will be held in early 2018.<\/p>\n
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