Report: 13th WaterNet Symposium 31st Oct. – 2nd Nov. 2012 Johannesburg, South Africa
By: NEPAD SANWATCE Secretariat
1. Introduction The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Southern African Network for Water Centres of Excellence (SANWATCE) was strongly represented at the 13th WaterNet Symposium in Johannesburg. The Network sent seven students to take part in the proceedings by presenting their research, networking and learning from others in the field. Overall, the Symposium and our initiative to give these students the chance to attend was a success.
2. About the WaterNet Symposium The WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposia have been held annually in the Eastern and Southern African regions for the past twelve years. The series of Symposia have helped to forge a regional family of water professionals concerned with the wise use of water and has become the key annual event in water research in east and southern Africa. On average the symposia have attracted 400 water sector professionals.
The 13th symposium was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 31 October – 2 November 2012. The 13th Symposium was a platform for water professionals to share advances in research and education related to Integrated Water Resources Management. It was the place to discuss new opportunities and developments towards the integrated management of our scarce fresh water resources. It was also the place where we attempted to cross boundaries: looked over disciplinary fences and thought across national borders. The University of Johannesburg, Department of Chemical Technology was the lead host of the 13th Symposium.
3. Sponsored Candidates The NEPAD SANWATCE Secretariat chose the students based on their merit and the usefulness of attending the Symposium for their research.
The following students were sponsored to attend:
Last Name First Name Institution Degree Title de Figueiredo Monteiro Carla Alexandra IWEGA MA CHIDYA RUSSEL University of Malawi MSc Hanke Nora University of Stellenbosch MA Kampata Jonathan Mwiinga University of Botswana PhD Mweemba Carol Emma University of Zambia MA
1 BELLA NDOAH OWEN UWC PhD GERMAINE Raletshegwana Oageng University of Botswana MSc
The sponsored candidates in front of the Conference Venue
4. Selection Process The selection process went through several the following steps. Firstly, the Secretariat sent out a call for applications to the network nodes. Secondly, the application were reviewed and in some cases sent back where the applications were incomplete. Thirdly, seven students were chosen to attend the Symposium based on their academic merit and the relevancy of their degree to the Symposium’s programme.
5. Budget Flights Once the students had been selected the Secretariat booked the cheapest available flights through the hub’s preferred Travel Agency on predetermined dates: the 31st October and return on 3rd November. Only in one case was no return flight available on the 3rd Nov. and was thus moved to the 4th.
Total flight: R 29.756,00
Dinner Since networking is an important part of the Symposium experience, especially for young water experts, the Secretariat decided to send all sponsored candidates to the formal dinner on the 2nd November. Additionally, NEPAD SANWATCE provided dinner vouchers for the sponsored candidates. 2 Dinner voucher per person per meal: R 140,00 Formal dinner per person: R 140, 00 Total dinner: R 4.060,00
Accommodation After reviewing the list of possible hotels close to the conference venue (Birchwood Conference Centre), the hotel with the best rates and within walking distance was chosen. Breakfast was included in the hotel accommodation.
Cost per person per night: R 595 Total Accommodation: R 17.255,00
Registration Fees NEPAD SANWATCE negotiated for all the sponsored candidates to be admitted at early bird student rates, which included tea and coffee breaks, lunch and the Symposium information package.
Registration fees per person: R 1.710,53 Total registration fees: R 13.650,00
Total: R 64.721,00
6. Student Feedback CARLA ALEXANDRA DE FIGUEIREDO MONTEIRO, IWEGA, Mozambique
The justification I gave to be funding by NEPAD for going to the 13th Symposium was “My master’s thesis is in economy of water and governance based in the vision of integrated water resource management, using the companion modelling approach, and a role playing game. The symposium is a good opportunity to update knowledge in methodologies, approaches and tools that the researchers (and other students) are using in their work, new development and jobs, in the water sector, so, as my project is still in progress, I can use this new information to update and enrich it.”
In fact, it became true!
During three days of intense labour, I learned that are many work been doing related with water, who demonstrate the importance the government, funding institutions, universities, national and international organizations are giving to this vital natural resource.
I had centred my attention in the themes Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), Water and Land and Water and Society, and I assist the most of the presentations, where I could see that the time given for each presenter was a constraint for them. They are doing a very good and big job around all the Southern African countries.
In the second day in the afternoon I assisted in the debate entitled “Capacity building for sustainable water resources management”, where the points questions, comments and observations from presentation; Existing international development partnerships and their respective programs; Opportunity to request for tailor made programmer; What funding opportunity exists; Nomination process for delegates; Pre-departure workshops; Review of
3 feedback mechanisms for delegates upon return. This debate ended with the conclusion that there has to be space to create innovation, to exchange experience with the neighbouring countries, the importance of training, the nonexistence of plans to what to do with the new capacity upon training or even long term courses.
And after this I visit the poster exhibition and I could see different researchers are be doing using methodologies and approaches do not showed up during the previous sessions. And for my own research was a gift cause I could see ways to improve my theses in aspects of methodology and presentation of the work.
During the closing session what I save in mind is that the commitment of the South African government in questions of drinking water quality presented by Mr. Leonardo Manus.
I met many people, researchers, master’s and PhD’s students, professionals in the water sector, of whom I have contacts. The excursion to Cradle of Humankind and the closing dinner gave another opportunity to meet more people, and see that in South Africa we can find important and beautiful sites.
And above all, for three days I could put aside my selfishness and pre-concepts and I felt being part of a group consciously, unconsciously concise and with the same objective the necessity to water quality and quantity for all, observing the principles of efficiency, equity and environmental sustainability, and also a forth principle, the stakeholder participation in the process of water management.
As Professor Mamba said in the welcoming message, in this symposium I could had a wonderful time and I used all the opportunities to establish and strengthen research (not yet collaboration, but means and the ways for possible collaboration).
Is time to congratulate the Local Organizing Committee for their hospitality and good organization of the 13th Symposium of waternet.
Thank you NEPAD SANWATCE, (specially, Ms. Nora Hanke and Mr. Nico Elema) for this opportunity.
Carla Monteiro (9 de Novembro de 2012)
RUSSEL CHIDYA, University of Malawi, Malawi
This memorandum serves to provide a brief report on my trip to South Africa to attend the 13th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA international conference on IWRM from 30th October to 2nd November, 2012. The conference was organised and hosted by the University of Johannesburg, and took place at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, Johannesburg.
To provide a succinct background to WaterNet; It is a regional capacity building network composed of education, training and research institutions from Southern and Eastern Africa. It
4 is aimed at capacity building, training and research in water among others. In collaboration with Water Research Fund for Southern Africa (WARFSA) and Global Water Partnership- Southern Africa (GWP-SA), WaterNet conducts annual symposia aimed at facilitating the sharing and dissemination of research results in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Further, the symposia provide a platform for researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders from different countries to interact and share knowledge in various disciplines of water such as hydrology, water and environment, water and land, water and society, water for people and water resource management.
As stipulated by World Health Organisation (WHO) and other institutions, provision of safe water is at the centre of human health and sustainable development. In Malawi, especially in the rural areas, most communities are faced with health-related problems and outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera, bilharzias, dysentery, malaria, and fluorosis. This calls for multidisciplinary research studies on water and human health to ensure improved wellbeing and sustainable development. In order to address this gap and as a follow-up study to my MSc work, a team of researchers (Russel Chidya, Samson Sajidu and Wapulumuka Mulwafu) with partial financial support from SADC WaterNet – Malawi chapter conducted a research regarding use of spring water in Liwonde. From this research study, a manuscript entitled “Examining the potential of usingspring water for domestic and irrigation farming activities: case study of Liwonde, Malawi” was developed and accepted for oral presentation at 13th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA annual conference.
As we intend to conduct further studies on water quality, microbiological tests and human health in the study area, it was imperative that the obtained findings be shared during the conference. However, as a corresponding author and presenter I was faced with a financial constraint to cater for registration fee, accommodation and air ticket. In this regard, the NEPAD SANWATCE came to my rescue and provided for the much needed financial assistance.
Table 1 (attached at the end) gives a summary of the activities I were involved in before, during and after the 13th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA conference.
BENEFITS AND EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THE CONFERENCE
I have really benefited from the 13th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA conference. First of all the conference provided the right forum for me to present and disseminate our research findings. Further, in line with the goals of NEPAD SANWATCE, the conference certainly provided a platform for interaction, communication, collaboration and networking with academicians and professionals in water science and practice. Upon listening to various presentations, I acquired knowledge and skills, hence boosted my career as a water scientist.
Attending the conference was also imperative to our nation in dissemination of the research findings to the donor community, hence mobilizing funds and more attention in water and multidisciplinary health-related research studies in Malawi.
I also benefited from the conference by getting to know various organisation and institutions that presented, provided brochures/booklets/fliers and displayed their products i.e.
5 ANATECH (Analytical Technology); N&Z Instruments, ESKOM; Johannesburg Water; International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management; Fuji Instrumentation & Control; NEPAD SANWATCE; Rand Water; Thermo SCIENTIFIC; and Faculty of Geo- Information Science and Earth Observation (MSc Programme – University of TWENTE) etc.
In addition to exposure, I also benefitted from the Young Water Professionals and WaterNet Alumni meetings we had. It really provided a right forum for me to interact and share experience with young professionals.
Attending and presenting a paper at this conference also gave us (authors) an opportunity to submit our manuscript to the Journal of Chemistry and Physics of the Earth – JPCE for publication. This is a credit, score and requirement in the academic world.
CONCLUDING REMARKS AND EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE
Finally, I would like to express my sincerely thanks to the NEPAD SANWATCE – for the timely financial assistance towards my air ticket, accommodation at Europrime Hotel, conference registration fee and food vouchers.
Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the following institutions and individuals for the support rendered:
SADC WaterNet-Malawi Chapter for partially sponsoring the research study.
13th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Secretariat and local organising committee (LOC) for accepting our manuscript for oral presentation during the conference.
Department of Chemistry – Chancellor College (University of Malawi) – for provision of laboratory space and other logistics,
My mentors Associate Prof. S.M.I Sajidu and Prof W. Mulwafu for supervising the research and facilitating my application for sponsorship from NEPAD SANWATCE.
Lastly, once again on behalf of my supervisors/mentors I would like to render my appreciation to NEPAD SANWATCE for making my trip and stay in Johannesburg a success. We anticipate further support and collaboration in the near future as I intend to pursue my studies – i.e. PhD and jointly engage in further research.
Yours faithfully,
Russel Chidya (SADC-WaterNet Malawi Chapter Research Associate)
6 NORA HANKE, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Maxwell Sirenya, Director General of the South African Department of Water Affairs welcomed the Symposium delegates with the reminder that especially young people need the chance to build their capacities so the region can tackle its future water challenges. The WaterNet Symposium offered the perfect chance for students in the water sector to share their research experience, learn other methodological ways of approaching their research problem and create lasting links to experts, young and old, in the water sector.
Personally, I went to the Symposium wearing three different hats. As member of the NEPAD SANWATCE Secretariat I was responsible for the well being of the sponsored candidates. Although I had finalized the planning prior to my arrival in Johannesburg, small things, like the dinner vouchers, had to be sorted out on sight. This part of my attendance went well and I believe the other sponsored candidates could fully concentrate on the Symposium as the practical arangements were all taken care of and well communicated.
Secondly, I attended the Symposium as a master’s student of the University of Stellenbosch. Coming from a political scientist background, where research methodology is a central pillar of our studies, I was able to see some flaws in other students’ approaches. This was quite surprising to me and actually encouraged me to stay in the field of International Relations for future academic work. There were a few presentations which were of interest to me; a presentation by Peter van der Zaag from UNESCO-IHE on my subject of study, the Lake Victoria Basin, particularly so. As a matter of fact, Peter and I are in contact over a possible co-authorship on the policy-making of Lake Victoria.
Finally, the special session on CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT led to a lively debate to which I could contribute as a member of the South African Young Water Professionals (SA YWP). In this capacity I also sat in a meeting with some WaterNet alumnus to discuss future collaboration between our respective networks. I also pushed the Third SA YWP conference in Stellenbosch in 2013 and we managed to have the conference slide as the opening slide of the closing plenary session.
Overall, I had an exciting time in Johannesburg – I met many personalities in the water sector and representatives of important South African and global institutions. I learned many new things about the water sector and hope to have introduced others to new ideas as well.
JONATHAN KAMPATA, University of Botswana, Botswana
1. Background Information
The WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposia takes place annually in the Eastern and Southern African region and has been held for the past twelve years. This 13th symposium was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 31 October – 2 November 2012.
7 The Symposium promotes application of Integrated Water Resources Management and interaction among policymakers, academics, practitioners from water and related sectors, and key cooperating partners. Great emphasis is placed on integration of knowledge, particularly involving scholars from multi-disciplinary fields.
2. Benefit of attending the Symposium
The sessions on Hydrology, Water and Land, and Water Resources Management were of specific interest. The various presentations gave an insight into how various researchers are undertaking their research. Advances in research were discussed and I came to learn of new and various approached applied in in integrated water resources management.
On Day 1 of the Symposium under the Water Resources Management Session, I presented some outputs of my research in a paper “Water Rights compliance monitoring with Remote Sensing and GIS: A case of Lunsemfwa River Basin, Zambia.” whose main output was the land cover change in the basin which am to further use in my ongoing research. Valuable comments were received from the participants which will help improve the analysis and presentation of my findings.
Conceptual understanding and theory on Hydrogeodesy was obtained. The knowledge will be used to explore further how this can be incongoing research as well as in the practice of water resources management.
Attending the Limpopo Basin Development Challenge - Targeting and Scaling Out session was also of interest. It provided the perspective of research that that has the potential of linking up to practical interventions and thus having real impacts on the ground.
The symposium provided a platform to renew contacts with old colleagues in the water sector and new friendships and contacts were made which will all strengthen future networking and exchange of information and collaboration.
3. Conclusion
The Symposium provided the opportunity to meet and interact with many people of diverse backgrounds (i.e students, policymakers, academics, practitioners) and cultures from different countries. The knowledge acquired is very necessary in improving one’s research capacity and knowledge on how various issues Water Resource Management and Development can be tackled.
8 4. Recommendations
NEPAD SANWATCE should continue to support postgraduate students to network and attend seminars where they can learn from other researchers as well as present their papers.
5. Acknowledgement
I wish to express my profound gratitude to NEPAD SANWATCE - Southern African Network of Water Centres of Excellence for financing my attendance to the symposium, and my supervisor Prof. B.P Parida, University of Botswana for the support. Thanks also go to Nico Elema and Nora Hanke who coordinated all the logistical arrangements.
CAROL MWEEMBA, University of Zambia, Zambia
All discussions on water resource management tend to agree on its importance to human live and the environment. It is not surprising that practitioners and researchers gather in conferences of huge magnitudes as the Waternet to discuss means and ways of preserving the water resource. This report highlights some of the discourses of the 31st October to the 2nd of November of 2012 during the Waternet conference.
In the opening address, significant communication was made on the importance of conducting research both at large and small scale in all countries for sustainable development. Understandably, there is profound knowledge of the water sector coming from research yet; such knowledge is hardly implemented because of misguided priorities in many countries. For instance, so much money was spent on bureaucratic processes yet little went into research. It was therefore recommended that commercialisation of countries be effected through recommendations coming from research findings. Research and commercialisation must be talked of synonymously, with research feeding developmental aspects of a country. Additionally, the business community were recognised to play a vital role in spearheading research needs seeing that innovation and knowledge had no boundaries. Research had the potential to translate into impacts capable of helping people.
A presentation was given on options available for dry toilet facilities and their benefits in poor communities. I particularly appreciated gaining insights from that presentation highlighting how other countries use dry toilet facilities. The different dimension/ angle from which it was looked at as opposed to how such facilities were implemented in some Zambian communities enhanced my understanding of options available for such facilities. In Zambia, sanitation coverage has continued to lag behind that of water supply because of unplanned settlements and too many housing unit within a limited space. In that respect, knowing of other available options for improving sanitation coverage especially in peri – urban areas was seen as an essential part of sustainable development; also securing clean waters and a healthy environment for future generations. The success of introducing well functioning dry toilets together with controlled management of toilet waste depended entirely on raising awareness of its benefits and implementing the natural nutritional cycle of the toilet facilities. Further
9 understanding of options available for disposing of/ and use of products from the dry toilets was of interest to me to provide input to a paper am writing on dry toilet facilities.
Another interesting highlight was the analysis given on regulation of large and small scale water users to ensure equality. Other than using the formal structures to regulate water use, informal arrangements such as local leadership played a cardinal role to ensure well representation of every sector. In Zambia, water supply infrastructure is not fully developed. With a fully functional structure that supported equal access to water, there would be improvement in infrastructural development with the involvement of all stakeholders; including local leadership.
In summary, the conference emphasised Integrated Water Resources Management. The best results from research should go beyond theoretical understanding of issues discussed through seminars and conferences such as the Waternet. Emphasis should be put on implementing policies coming from research recommendations. Water resources management is multi disciplinary in nature; hence this should involve all sectors. Proper integration across sectors still needs to be done in most countries to achieve the MDGs. Also, there should be focus on new investments, innovation and integration to get the best possible and correct impacts both on human live and the environment.
BELLA GERMAINE NDOAH OWEN, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
The 2012 Symposium was very interesting just as the other Symposia which I have attended. I was particularly interested in the opening speeches especially as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) was emphasised. Bridging of institutional boundaries calls for business men, civil society, government and universities to work together and, in bridging those boundaries, it is the first ingredient towards the recipe of success. Bridging the national boundaries was also stressed and it was stated that it is an obligation for every one of us to make sure all have water. This is vital and makes all stakeholders as well as researchers to look at water resources management in an integrated way.
Applying this to my studies on wetlands management, knowledge on the presentations, face- to-face chats, has raised awareness that looking at wetlands management in a holistic way will certainly result in a better research. I also got in touch with useful contacts, particularly those who work with wetlands, and this goes a long way in adding value to my research.
OAGENG RALETHSHEGWANA, University of Botswana, Botswana
FIELD TRIP TO SA: 13 WATERNET SYMPOSIUM
The trip was carried out to gain and share experience with other colleagues from different countries.
10 Having said that the workshop was very helpful in that it gave a lot of knowledge in the field of water issues (ie Hydrology, water and land, water and sanitation, water and environment, water and society.
Learned issues and networking
It was very good to interact with guys like, David Rwasoka from Zimbabwe the best overall presenter of the event. During his presentation, I learnt some hydrologic methods that are very useful to my study and by so doing improving my project, which is at the proposal stage.
Also Jonathan Kampata from Zambia added quality to my research in terms of application of Remote sensing in rainfall assessment.
In terms of social life the NEPAD sponsored students like Carla, Bella, Carol, Russell made the trip very nice and enjoyable.
Such networking exercise in very key in interaction of disciplines.
Finally I was impressed by the quality of presentation from my fellow countryman Owen Musora who got the best award in water and society, who I didn’t know as we are not attending at the same Institution.
7. Recommendations From the students feedback it can be gathered that having attended the conference added real value to their research and personal experience. Future sponsorship of postgraduate students is therefore the main recommendation arising out of the Symposium experience. In order to increase the value sponsored candidates receive from the symposia, conferences, etc. the research aim should and the subject of the event could be better matched. The WaterNet Symposium’s focus was on IWRM and more selective sponsorship could have increasedthe value added to the students’ research and networking.
Lastly, there was no way of ascertaining if the sponsored candidates were attending the Symposium or making sure that the candidates fulfilled their requirements, e.g. reading the necessary information, writing the report on time, etc. If the network wants to make sure that the students executed their responsibilities new mechanisms should be put in place to encourage students to do so.
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