Partnerships for capacity building in sustainable development and maintenance of water infrastructure (EU-WOP)

The 'Partnerships for Capacity Building in Sustainable Development and Maintenance of Water Infrastructure in Kisumu and Nakuru, Kenya (EU-WOP)' project is a 48-month project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by Vitens Evides International (Lead Partner); Hoogheemraadschap de Stichtse Rijnlanden (HDSR; Implementing Partner); SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (Suporting Partner) and Sustainable Aid in Africa International (SANA; Supporting Partner).

The project's duration is from January 2012 to December 2015. It is basically a Water Operator Partnership (WOP) between VEI on the one hand; and KIWASCO & NAWASSCO (water utilities serving Kisumu and Nakuru towns) on the other. In the up-scaling phase, beneficiaries include Water and Sanitation Programmes (WSP) within Lake Victoria South Water Services Board (LVSWSB) and Rift Valley Water Services Board (RVWSB) areas.

The project partners have been supporting KIWASCO and NAWASSCO to improve asset management practices for (waste) water treatment facilities and (collection) distribution networks. More specifically, KIWASCO and NAWASSCO have been supported to: develop and implement a strategy for expanding water and sanitation access to the peri-urban residents living within their service areas, introduce GIS for asset mapping and MIS for monitoring Non Revenue Water, and implement a NRW reduction strategy in at least one pilot zone (DMA).

To promote adoption of best practices in Non-Revenue Water (NRW) management within LVSWSB, the project has embarked on an up-scaling phase entailing capacity building of Rift Valley and Lake Victoria South Water Services Boards (WSBs) and the WSPs under their jurisdiction (total 17), and establishment of a clear framework for support to the WSPs through their respective WSBs.