Director GSGS Regional Hub East and Southern Africa meets Malawi’s Minister of Water and Sanitation

In a spirited exchange of ideas and aspirations, Dr. Rose Christine Kaggwa, Director of the GSGS Regional Hub East and Southern Africa, shared a light yet impactful moment with Hon. Abida Sidik Mia, Malawi’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, on the sidelines of the 95th AfWASA Strategic and Technological Council Conference and Exhibition in Liongwe, Malawi.

The two leaders engaged in a candid discussion on the critical role of women in advancing the global water agenda and the importance of breaking barriers in traditionally male dominated spaces. Dr. Kaggwa emphasized the need for continued representation and leadership of women in water governance at all levels.

As part of the conversation, in her capacity of Senior Vice President of the International Water Association (IWA), Dr. Kaggwa extended an invitation to Hon. Mia to attend the upcoming World Water Development Congress, slated for December in Bangkok. She highlighted the Congress as a key platform for knowledge exchange and global collaboration under the IWA mandate.

Further strengthening the dialogue between science and practice, Dr. Kaggwa shed light on the GSGS initiative and its efforts to foster innovation and capacity building through regional hubs. Hon. Mia was pleased to learn that the East and Southern Africa Regional Hub is hosted by Uganda’s National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), a sign of strong regional leadership in sanitation training and applied research.

Their exchange reaffirmed the growing network of women leaders shaping the future of water and sanitation across Africa and beyond.