118 The Future of Water in African Cities
In three of the case study cities for this book, authorities expressed a keen interest in implementing specific demonstration projects. In Nairobi, Kenya, the focus of the authorities was on the selection of a new development estate to test aspects of water reuse and possibly rainwater harvesting. In Arua and Mbale, Uganda, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) suggested focusing on decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS), watershed protection, and the cluster approach to urban development. Demonstration projects can serve as a bridge between existing water management projects and increased use of an IUWM approach in project planning and design. For example, in Guinea, Kenya, and Uganda, World Bank urban and water projects are near implementation stage. These existing projects could serve as a vehicle to move forward with the demonstration projects requested by city managers in Arua, Mbale and Nairobi. The IUWM pilots, in turn, would serve as a learning tool for the use of integrated approaches in future water projects in the country. It will take time to implement IUWM approaches as on-the-ground measures. For example, the Latin America and Caribbean Region of the World Bank has worked on IUWM since 2009. An important part of their work has been to identify examples of good practice and to work with local authorities in selected cities to implement projects using IUWM. In Tegucigalpa, Honduras, significant progress has been made over an 18-month period in the development of an IUWM strategy (World Bank, 2011b), but analytical work is still ongoing and alternative measures are under discussion. Demonstration projects are a useful way to ease into the sometimes lengthy process of IUWM project development.
Promote a Learning Alliance for IUWM Change will come mainly through local stakeholders, including city and municipal authorities, utilities, research institutions, and associations and networks involved in urban water management. However, change will also come through high-level bodies such as the African Minister’s Council on Water. An IUWM network will support capacity development of personnel and institutions and mainstream the IUWM concept in the institutions that manage urban water in Africa. An IUWM network would serve three purposes: the network would advocate the use of IUWM where appropriate, it would facilitate sharing knowledge and technology, and it would provide implementation support for providers of water management services. An IUWM network for