Kenya and its East African neighbors are set to benefit from a new initiative aimed at addressing the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the rural water sector.
The Global Water Center (GWC) has launched a major program to enhance access to safely managed water, backed by Ksh.142.2 million ($1.1 million) in grants from the Grundfos Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation.
The first phase of the project will focus on conducting a gap analysis to identify urgent vocational training needs, developing courses, and initiating government technical assistance programs. The initiative is part of a broader effort to create a sustainable and scalable model to strengthen the rural water workforce.
“Safe and reliable water access is a cornerstone in securing livelihoods, health, and social progress in rural areas,” said Kim Nøhr Skibsted, CEO of the Grundfos Foundation. “It takes both knowledge and skill to maintain modern water systems, and we want to assist governments in building capacity in the water sector to bring essential services to their skills.”
The initiative comes in response to alarming findings from the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report, which highlights a severe shortage of skilled professionals in Africa’s water and sanitation sector. Many countries in the region have less than half of the required workforce, putting sustainable water access at risk.
To address this gap, the GWC project aims to Collaborate with local and global stakeholders to ensure the program is tailored to regional needs.
Integrate climate adaptation strategies to safeguard water infrastructure from environmental challenges.
Equip governments and water professionals with technical skills to maintain and expand water services sustainably.
Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, emphasized the importance of long-term resilience in water management. “The initiatives we support aim to build resilience and improve water security in local communities. This work in East Africa takes a thoughtful, local approach to invest in water innovation and in the skills needed to strengthen the local infrastructure now and for the long term.”
While the initial funding will jumpstart the program, GWC leaders stress that further investment and collaboration are needed to complete all three phases of the project.
“We are immensely grateful for the launch funds and invite others to collaborate with us to catalyze these systemic changes,” said Thomas Johnston, CEO of GWC. “Together, we can help provide rural communities across East Africa—and eventually beyond—access to safe, reliable water.”
