Call For Papers: Towards Sustainable Water And Sanitation Security In Africa

Background

The inaugural Africa Water and Sanitation Conference, themed “Towards Sustainable Water and Sanitation Security in Africa,” marks a significant milestone in addressing the continent’s pressing water and sanitation challenges. As the first edition of what will become an annual gathering, this pioneering conference will provide a platform for policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and drive impactful solutions for Africa’s sustainable development. Water and sanitation security are at the forefront of Africa’s developmental challenges as climate change, rapid urbanisation, and population growth exacerbate water scarcity and strain existing infrastructure. South Africa, a semi-arid nation with extensive experience in water management and innovation, serves as the ideal host for this pivotal event, reflecting the shared challenges and opportunities faced across the continent. This maiden edition will focus on integrated strategies for water resource management, equitable sanitation access, and building climate resilience, aligning with global priorities such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6). Abstracts are invited from researchers and practitioners to present cutting-edge innovations, case studies, scalable technologies, and transformative policy frameworks. Join us in shaping a resilient and secure future for water and sanitation in Africa through innovation, collaboration, and action. Together, we begin a transformative journey toward addressing one of the continent’s most pressing developmental needs.

Conference Aims and Objectives

The Africa Water and Sanitation Conference, themed “Towards Sustainable Water and Sanitation Security in Africa”, is designed to address the critical challenges of water scarcity and inadequate sanitation across the continent. This inaugural event aims to foster innovative solutions, build robust partnerships, and catalyse transformative policies to ensure sustainable and equitable access to water and sanitation. The key objectives of the conference are as follows:

Promote Inclusive Participation

The conference aims to provide an inclusive platform by inviting diverse representation from policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders across Africa and globally. By addressing financial and geographic barriers, the event ensures that under-represented regions and voices are central to the discourse on water and sanitation security.

Encourage Cross-Sector Collaboration

Recognising the multi disciplinary nature of water and sanitation challenges, the conference will unite engineering, environmental sciences, public policy, social sciences, and technology experts. This collaboration fosters integrated approaches to addressing water and sanitation needs.

Support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6)

By aligning with the UN SDG 6, the conference seeks to promote sustainable water management and sanitation practices. Discussions will focus on strategies to enhance resource efficiency, improve access, and build climate-resilient water infrastructure tailored to Africa’s unique challenges.

Highlight Innovation and Scalable Solutions

The conference will showcase research, technological advancements, and practical case studies that provide scalable solutions to water and sanitation challenges. Emphasis will be placed on digital technologies, community-driven approaches, and innovative funding models.

Catalyse Policy and Institutional Change

Through deliberations, the conference will serve as a catalyst for developing actionable policies and frameworks that support transboundary water management, equitable sanitation access, and sustainable infrastructure development.

Abstract Submission Topics

Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are invited to submit abstracts addressing innovative solutions, research, case studies, or frameworks under the following themes and sub-themes:

Resilient Water Infrastructure for South Africa and Beyond

Innovations in water pipeline durability and leak detection.
Best practices in maintaining infrastructure for drought prone regions.
Cross-country knowledge sharing on infrastructure longevity.

Climate Resilience in Water Management for Sustainable Development

South African approaches to drought resilience and flood management.
Adaptive strategies for climate-vulnerable areas across Africa.
Ecosystem restoration to support natural water filtration and storage.

Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) for Sustainable Security

Policies for local water catchment protection and regional implementation.
Case studies in South African river basin management.
Building a Pan-African framework for water sharing across borders.
Data integration and management.

Community-Led Water Access and Sanitation Initiatives

Empowering South African communities for local water governance.
Grassroots projects for sanitation access in underserved African regions.
Gender-focused approaches in water and sanitation solutions.

Financing Models for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Infrastructure

South African public-private partnerships in water infrastructure.
Innovative financing mechanisms for Africa’s rural water projects.
Crowdsourcing and community-based investment models.
Addressing water leakages and non-revenue water.

Digital Transformation and Data-Driven Decision- Making in Water Management

South Africa’s advancements in water monitoring technology.
Using satellite and IoT data for regional water resource assessment.
Implementing digital tools for community-level water usage tracking.

Education and Capacity Building in Water and Sanitation Sectors

Skills training programs for South Africa’s water Sector workforce.
Developing Africa-wide curriculums for sustainable water management.
Building local capacity to address sanitation challenges.

Sustainable Urban Water Solutions for Growing African Cities

South African urban water recycling and reuse initiatives.
Best practices in decentralized urban water treatment across Africa.
Addressing informal settlement water and sanitation needs.

Intra and Cross-Border Collaborations for Transboundary Water Resource Security

Policies for South Africa’s shared river basins and water systems.
Frameworks for cooperative water management across African borders.
Addressing water conflict and negotiation in shared river basins.

Promoting Water Efficiency and Conservation across sectors

Water-saving, industry practices in Africa.
Public-private initiatives for efficient water usage in different industries.

Environmental Protection and Sustainable Water Resource Management

Protecting South Africa’s natural water sources and ecosystems.
Conservation efforts for critical African water bodies.
Biodiversity initiatives that support clean water sustainability.

Innovative Sanitation Solutions for Urban and Rural Communities

Low-cost sanitation solutions for informal South African settlements.
Implementing decentralized sanitation systems across rural Africa.
Innovative water-saving sanitation technologies and their adoption.

Harnessing Renewable Energy for Water Infrastructure

South African projects integrating solar power with water systems.
Renewable-powered desalination for coastal African communities.
Case studies on renewable energy use for remote water access.

Public Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Water Security

Reviewing South Africa’s water policies for sustainability impacts.
Establishing continent-wide water security standards and policies.
The role of governance in ensuring safe, equitable water access.
Social justice in water allocation and management.

Capacity Building and Community Engagement

Educational programs for sustainable water management.
Gender and youth inclusivity in water and sanitation initiatives.
Grassroots solutions for underserved regions.

Innovative Sanitation Solutions for Urban and Rural Communities

Low-cost sanitation solutions for informal South African settlements.
Implementing decentralised sanitation systems across rural Africa.
Innovative water-saving sanitation technologies and their adoption.

Innovations and Scalable Technologies for Water and Sanitation Solutions

AI and predictive modelling for water resource management.
Smart cities and IoT applications for water and sanitation systems.
Advanced materials and designs for sustainable water infrastructure.

Important Dates

Call for Abstracts Opens – 27th January 2025
Deadline for Submission of Abstracts – closing date has been extended to the 30th April 2025
Notification of Acceptance of Abstracts – 1st April 2025
Deadline for Submission of Full Papers – 6th May, 2025
Notification of Decision on Full Papers – 30th June, 2025
Deadline for Submission of Final Drafts – 30th July, 2025.

Abstract and Paper Submission Information

Guidelines for Full Paper Submission

Full papers must not exceed 10 sides of A4 and should adhere to the conference guidelines paper template. Two members of the scientific committee will review each paper. Authors of accepted papers must be available to present the paper for it to be included in the conference proceedings.

Publication

Conference Proceedings will be published in a Springer Edited Book series or Taylor and Francis Edited Book. Other supporting journals :

Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation (JCPMI)
Applications of Circular Economy (ACE)
Water Research Commission Journal
Other relevant Water and Sanitation Journal.

Venue Information

Emperors Palace, City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa

Conference Host

Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA). AWSISA is a section 21 company of the role-players in the water and sanitation sector in South Africa. The strategic intent of AWSISA is to strengthen the pursuit of common interests by institutions in the water and sanitation sector. The primary objective is to support the mandate of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) whilst pursuing the common interests of the institutions along the water and sanitation value chain.