The Water Research Commission (WRC) recently hosted a virtual launch of the Next Generation Sanitation (NGS) Knowledge Hub, a digital platform to educate and inform stakeholders on waterless sanitation innovation in Africa. The hub provides resources, access to service providers, funding opportunities, data, and insights on this new generation, closed circuit, 100% recycling and off the grid toilet system that transforms wastewater into clean water for flushing or irrigation without the need for connections to sewers, treatment plants, water supply, or continuous electricity.
The launch included a live demo of the platform and featured a panel of experts exploring policy, research and market access of new sanitation technologies in Africa that included Dr. Preyan Arumugam, PhD, a sanitation scientist with a passion for innovation around sanitation delivery to the underserved, Valerie Naidoo, the Executive Manager of Business Development and Innovations at the Water Research Commission, Malick Madeira, an experienced leader in International Development, Banking and Urban Development across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Americas, and closing words from Maggie Clout, Senior Program Officer at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The NGS Knowledge Hub offers users a seamless and intuitive experience and provides tools and resources for stakeholders such as manufacturers, policy makers, development partners, and advocates who are encouraged to join the community as members.
Key features of the Knowledge Hub membership include:
● Access to resources to promote and advocate for NGS
● Access to policy briefs to accelerate industrialisation
● Access to a curated database of potential funding and technical assistance partners
● Prospects and potential partnerships
● Use cases and associated benefits
● Connections with NGS suppliers
● NGS Data and Insights
● A Learning Library
● Connections with a thriving NGS community
“We are thrilled to launch this Knowledge Hub platform to offer holistic and integrated solutions to meet the continent’s water and sanitation challenges and contribute directly to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and National Development Plans. The platform will streamline up-to-date data and insights, improve communication among stakeholders and suppliers and facilitate adoption of these innovations for policy makers, manufacturers, independent contractors, and governments,” shared Phillip Majeke, Commercialisation Manager for The South African Sanitation Technology Enterprise Programme (SASTEP).
NGS innovations have adaptable designs that allow for retrofitting to match existing infrastructure seamlessly and cater to a diverse range of entities, including educational institutions, manufacturing industries, public and private sectors, residential contractors, and municipal bodies. The systems are designed to meet the stringent requirements set by local Departments of Environmental Affairs, Water and Sanitation.
Visit the NGS Knowledge Hub to learn more https://knowlegdehub.sastep.org.za/
