IWAPI - Innovation Workshop Water Projects in Industries

The pollution of natural waters by economic activities, particularly in the greater Lusaka catchment, is a pressing issue in Zambia. The Covid-19 Pandemic and the ongoing drought in Southern Africa has brought the importance of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Water and sanitation for all) into the political spotlight and expectations towards industry to better manage valuable water resources are rising.

The IWAPI is a five-day innovation and project workshop for manufacturing industries, where participants are guided by experts in identifying water challenges and potential solutions for their industrial facilities. During this workshop, participants acquire technical and management knowledge on water and wastewater treatment through a series of lectures and one on one interactive sessions.

From 3-7 October 2022, the SAGCC launched the IWAPI pilot run in Zambia with eight participants from four industrial companies in Zambia.

Picture caption: From left to right: Kennedy Kaimba (Parrogate Ginneries Limited), Noel Banda (Tandem), Andrew McNaught (Tandem), Duncan Tembo (Zambia Sugar), Stallone Chishimba (Mabiza Resources Limited), Selina Nyirenda (Mabiza Resources Limited), Priscilla Chongo Muzumara (Kansai Plascon), Lloyd Moomba (Mabiza Resources Limited), Alex Hesketh (Talbot), Vera Massie (SAGCC), René Zarske (SAGCC)

Each participating company developed a water project concept for their facility during the workshop, which outlines their individual challenges, goals, solutions and opportunities. The project concepts can be downloaded here:

After a successful IWAPI pilot run, the SAGCC is planning to review and fine tune the workshop with the view to offer the IWAPI as a repeat course to industry in future.

Our project partners:

The IWAPI not only broadens the knowledge base on water and wastewater management in industrial operations, but also equips industry participants with the knowledge and tools to assess and benchmark their current water use patterns and to develop a plan for implementing appropriate environmental technologies.

Industry can save resources and operational costs in the long term through:

  • Assessing and benchmarking current water use patterns
  • Continuous monitoring of water and wastewater flows
  • Implementation of appropriate environmental technologies.

To learn more about the IWAPI concept and the exciting outcomes of the pilot run, please download the IWAPI Background Presentation hereand watch the below webinar recording.

The development and subsequent pilot run of the IWAPI is part of The Business Scouts for Development (BSfD) programme, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), promoting sustainable and responsible private sector engagement.