On Friday the 9th of February a seminar on innovations in water and sanitation was held in Maputo, Mozambique. Eight innovative VIA Water projects working in Mozambique shared in the event. The event was organized by VIA Water in coordination with PLAMA (Plataforma Moçambicana de Água in Mozambique). PLAMA is a platform that aims to stimulate public-private co-operation in the Mozambican water sector. A renewed MoU was signed between the two organisations, to strengthen the cooperation to promote innovation in the Mozambican water sector.

Dick Bouman also travelled to Mozambique to visit several of the VIA Water projects operating there. 

Memorandum of Understanding

A previous MoU was already signed in 2015, but because the organisation structure of PLAMA and VIA Water have changed since then and the focus of the MoU had to change from co-operation in identifying potential innovations to learning, sharing and communication, it was deemed a good opportunity to re-strengthen cooperation between the two organisations. The MoU was signed by PLAMA - represented by the Chairman Fernando Nhampossa, and VIA Water/Aqua for All - represented by Mr. Dick Bouman, Fund Manager of the programme.

Decentral water solutions

During the seminar, several sessions were held. The first session dealt with alternative decentral options for water delivery in peri-urban settings. Mr. Bouman presented a study on the viability of business models for decentral water production and distribution by smart water enterprises. The second session was set up to be about an interesting pilot of Aqua for All with a local utility in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Utility – surprisingly and admirably - acknowledges that it is unable to guarantee sufficient and safe water to all people in the concession area. It has started a promotion and sales activity for the sale of water filters of different brands. The pilot is so successful that other utilities and the local government have decided to copy it, and the WHO recognized it already as an important step forward. These alternative approaches could also be tested in one or more towns in Mozambique. 

VIA Water Café

In the third session, the 8 VIA Water project representatives pitched their projects, including successes and challenges. The projects were clustered in an ICT/data group, a sanitation group and one project oriented on the use of waste water and water efficiency in green city gardening.  The presentations gained a lot of attention, and attracted members of the audience to share ideas and to exchange contacts for further co-operation. A repeated comment was that such inspirational meetings should have a higher frequency.