As a Pan African Inter-governmental Agency, Water and Sanitation for Africa complements regional efforts by providing continental leadership in the development of innovative and sustainable approaches, evidence-based policy advice, and advocacy services in the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene services in Africa. Your support to WSA thus earns you the pride of impacting in the lives of millions of Africans who gain access to basic and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Previously known as the African Regional Centre for Water and Sanitation (CREPA), WSA has, since 1988, been developing innovative approaches and technologies in the sector. Currently as WSA, it's now time to apply years of experience to provide the necessary technical advise on continental issues with water and sanitation.
What Water and Sanitation for Africa does
WSA works entirely in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector. All activities and interventions aim towards achieving sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services for all in Africa. As at 2010, over 400 million people living in Africa did not have the opportunity to drink water from improved sources. In terms of sanitation, the situation was even worse, with over 250 million Africans practising open defecation and only 30% of the people having access to improved facilities and services.
The poor access to water and sanitation services have given rise to a situation where over 70% of hospital beds in Africa are filled with people suffering from preventable water and sanitation related illnesses.
Children miss several school hours because they have to help mostly their mothers to search for water for the household while the girl child would prefer to stay at home during her menses if there are no adequate toilet facilities at school.
While globally the world achieved MDG targets for drinking water in 2010 with 89% access, Sub Saharan Africa was still at 61%. While global access to improved sanitation was 63% in 2010, Sub Saharan Africa was 30%. WSA, with its wide experience and networks, wishes to provide continental leadership in finding innovative and sustainable solutions to Africa’s water and sanitation problems.
Though interventions are primarily in WASH, where necessary, Water and Sanitation for Africa adopts a multi-sector approach in order to enable us achieve primary aim in WASH. For instance, Water and Sanitation for Africa would not hesitate to partner with experts in the road transport sector to construct a road if that is the best way to reach target communities with water and sanitation services.
