GSGS RH ESA and Rand Water forge new partnership at AWSISA Dialogue
A new chapter in regional collaboration was written at the AWSISA Africa and Global South Water and Sanitation Dialogue in Johannesburg, where the Global Sanitation Graduate School Regional Hub East and Southern Africa (GSGS RH ESA) signed a landmark partnership agreement with Rand Water. The ceremony, held at the organisation’s exhibition booth at Emperors Palace, attracted delegates, development partners and sector leaders from across the continent, all witnessing a significant step towards strengthening utility performance and knowledge exchange in Africa.
Hosted by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) in Kampala and led by Regional Director Dr. Rose Christine Kaggwa, the GSGS RH ESA has positioned itself as a catalyst for capacity development and sanitation excellence across the region. The partnership with Rand Water reinforces this mandate, creating a structured pathway for collaboration between two institutions recognised for their technical depth and commitment to service improvement.
At the heart of the agreement is a shared ambition to support practical learning and innovation. The two institutions will work together on utility performance enhancement, drawing from Rand Water’s experience in areas such as Non Revenue Water reduction, treatment optimisation, asset management and the growing field of digital operations. This collaboration will enable both organisations to test and refine approaches in different operational environments, building evidence that can guide broader regional adoption.
The partnership also opens new opportunities for structured knowledge exchange. Staff attachments, mutual professional placements and targeted training programmes will allow practitioners and early career professionals to gain hands on experience and exposure to diverse operational models. These exchanges aim to cultivate the next generation of water and sanitation leaders who are equipped with both technical skill and an understanding of regional realities.
Another significant aspect of the partnership lies in piloting and demonstrating new innovations. By creating a safe space to test ideas, the two organisations intend to de-risk promising technologies and operational approaches before scaling them across the region. The co-development of guidelines, tools and knowledge products further strengthens this intention, ensuring that the lessons generated through joint work reach practitioners, decision-makers and partner institutions.
For the GSGS RH ESA, the partnership accelerates the delivery of its mission. It provides access to complementary expertise, benchmarking opportunities and practical learning environments that enrich training and research. For Rand Water, the collaboration offers a chance to validate and adapt its approaches in a variety of settings, deepening its own learning while contributing to a broader continental agenda. Both organisations also stand to benefit from increased visibility and strengthened professional networks.
Ultimately, this agreement reflects a growing commitment to shared growth and collective problem solving within Africa’s water and sanitation sector. By joining forces, the GSGS RH ESA and Rand Water are laying the foundation for knowledge driven transformation one that blends experience, innovation and regional solidarity. As the implementation begins, the partnership promises to produce insights, tools and practical solutions that can help utilities across East and Southern Africa meet the evolving challenges of service delivery.
