Generating knowledge, stimulating innovation and strengthening decision-making in the African water and sanitation sector

Introduction

The AAEA Research Programme is a pan-African initiative aimed at promoting the generation, dissemination and application of scientific and operational knowledge to support the sustainable development of water and sanitation services in Africa. Led by the African Water and Sanitation Association (AAEA), the programme supports applied research, innovation and the link between knowledge, public policy and operational practices in water and sanitation services.
Through this programme, the AAEA aims to strengthen the sector’s knowledge base, encourage partnerships between researchers and practitioners, and transform research findings into concrete, operational solutions tailored to African realities.

Context and challenges

The water and sanitation sector in Africa faces complex and interlinked challenges, including:
•    Rapid population growth and accelerating urbanisation;
•    The impacts of climate change on water resources and infrastructure;
•    Financial, energy and institutional constraints facing public services;
•    The operational performance and sustainability of services;
•    The need for reliable data and evidence-based solutions.
Despite the existence of numerous research initiatives, a gap persists between the generation of knowledge and its practical application by decision-makers and operators. As the continental platform for water and sanitation services, AAEA has designed its Research Programme to bridge this gap, strengthen action-oriented research and promote the uptake of results by sector stakeholders.

Programme Objectives

The AAEA Research Programme aims to:
•    Promote applied research tailored to the needs of water and sanitation services;
•    Strengthen the research and innovation capacities of African institutions;
•    Encourage collaboration between researchers, operators, decision-makers and partners;
•    Improve evidence-based decision-making;
•    Facilitate the translation of research findings into projects, policies and operational solutions.

Target audience

The programme is primarily aimed at:
•    African researchers and research institutions;
•    Universities and training centres;
•    Public utilities and water and sanitation companies that are members of AAEA;
•    Public decision-makers and sector regulators;
•    Young researchers, PhD students and innovators;
•    Technical and financial partners involved in WASH research and innovation.
More specifically, beneficiaries are Master’s or engineering students from the countries covered by the project. They must be under 35 years of age and be duly enrolled at one of the universities or higher education institutions specialising in water, sanitation or any other related field involved in the effective management of access to water and sanitation services. Their applications must be approved by the scholarship selection committee