Reflections on Opening Session
SA-EU Dialogue on
Water and the Sector Budget Support
Programme
WRC 2012
The Paradoxical Conflicts
• Blue planet and the freshwater challenge in a
saltwater world.
• The world’s champion in inter-basin plumbing
not being sufficiently successful in universal
access to safe water.
• SA great research track record in water
sciences not being adequately geared to deal
with problems of the poor and marginalised
Challenges of the last mile
• Good technology development successes – UJ,
U Ven, UWC
• SA along with India, Ghana, India and
Guatamala as the finalists in the Patel Prize.
• Green Village concept exploration – off grid
solutions for energy and water.
SA-EU partnership
• 15 years of a very strong relationship. Posthoneymoon into the real relationship.
• Strong partnership in the framework and
infrastructure programmes
• Sector budget support of Euro 30m
• Breathing life into the WSSD European Water
Initiative with Euro 3 Billion.
• The Water for Growth Euro 242bn in
Masibambane.
SA-EU
• Modalities of partnership – SA, SADC, Africa,
Developing world.
• Learn and build on successes to date
• Seek innovative solutions in partnership
Invest in a new paradigm
• DACST and DST experiences in the journey to
poverty eradication.
• Need for much stronger community
partnership in solution development and
sustainable development.
• We need to meet the Knowledge
Management challenge.
• Akash Ganga – utility model.
Invest in a new paradigm
•
•
•
•
POLICY LEARNING!!!!
The Goal must be Universal Access!!!
WE NEED INGENUITY AND INNOVATION!!!!
WE NEED PARTNERSHIP!!!!
• Actively engage government and
decision-makers
8
Amandla Olwazi Kubantu