Water4All was present at the World Water Congress in Marrakech and the IWASH conference in Malindi, Kenya.

The 19th World Water Congress, Marrakech

During the 19^th edition, leading experts, institutions, and innovators to discuss the world’s most pressing water challenges.

Special session on North-South collaboration, Water4All at stake

Water4All, in line with Africa priorities: a deeper regional cooperation and stronger institutions implication is required, according to Bjørn Kaare Jensen (Water4All): ”advancing water security requires shared knowledge, inclusive governance, and balanced cooperation between the Global North and the Global South”.

• Antonio lo Porto (Water4All) presented an update of the ambition for Water4All to expand the partnership to a wider global interest.
• Ali Rhouma (PRIMA Partnership) showcased impactful cross-Mediterranean cooperation efforts, highlighting inter-country clusters working on agro-food systems, farming practices, and water-related challenges. Governance, policy integration, and social dimensions remain weaker areas and key opportunities for future joint calls.
• Boniface Ayanbekongshie Ushie (African Academy of Sciences / SD-WISHEES widening project: link here) shared the findings from the work around innovation pathways, describing good case studies, and the enablers and barriers to developing future innovation in this sector.

Both Water4All and PRIMA underlined the need to build an Ecosystem Hub at the core of future research and innovation initiatives.

The importance and benefits of gender inclusive approaches were discussed in a further Special chaired by Amanda Loeffen (Water4All)

Conclusion: Global challenges require global partnerships. From strengthening scientific collaboration across Africa and the Mediterranean to promoting gender-inclusive governance and improving innovation ecosystems,

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Water4All at I4WASH Kenya: Turning Innovation into Scaled Impact

Water4All took an active role at the I4WASH conference in Malindi, Kenya, where innovators, practitioners, and international partners gathered to explore how to accelerate progress on SDG 6: Water and Sanitation for All.

On Day 1, Water4All co-hosted a panel with the International Cleantech Network on bridging innovation, research, and finance to move WASH solutions from pilots to large-scale implementation. The session featured insights from different representatives¹

1- Reinilde Eppinga (SNV), Leonard Obuna (Aqua for All), Nicolai Sederberg Rottbøll (Quercus Group), and Dr. Peace Musonge (Aquaya). Moderator: Scott Grønnegaard Allison (Clean: The Danish Water & Environmental Cluster).

Several clear messages emerged

• Data is essential: guiding investments, validating impact, and managing water resources sustainably.
• Local voices matter: communities, water users, and youth must be part of decision-making structures.
• Solutions already exist, but require governance models and financing mechanisms that connect resources to real needs.
• Permanent coordination structures are critical: bridging local initiatives, national leadership, and international partners.

As Nicolai Sederberg Rottbøll noted, “The solutions are there. The needs are there. The money is there. Now we need to crack the code on how to bring them together.”

Beyond the panel discussions, the event highlighted concrete examples of scalable innovation. Field insights on borehole maintenance, groundwater research, and digital WASH solutions underscored the importance of capacity building and long-term support. Youth leadership also stood out, with contributions from representatives of the Kisumu Youth WASH Parliament and Our World 2050.

For Water4All, the conference reaffirmed the value of cross-border cooperation in research and innovation, particularly in strengthening data-driven water management and enabling local solutions to grow.

I4WASH showcased Kenya’s strong ecosystem of NGOs, start-ups, local governments, and international partners and the enormous potential unlocked when they collaborate. Water4All will continue working with these networks to turn ambition into lasting impact.