Two leading water innovators have been awarded the 2015 Water and Development Award by the International Water Association.

Working to deliver solutions to global water challenges, both have been recognised by the international water community for their outstanding contributions to the practice and science of water, which have improved the lives of millions of people in low- and middle-income countries.

Mamadou Dia has played a key role in transforming the water sector in Senegal to be a leader in Africa.

Amongst his many notable achievements he is awarded the IWA Development Award for Practice for increasing access to water services, particularly amongst poor communities; improving the quality of water services; and contributing to work on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation.

Pay Drechsel’s research has played an important role in developing options for safe wastewater use in countries where treatment capacities are low, and informal wastewater use is a common feature of irrigated urban and peri-urban agriculture in support of urban food security.

He has been awarded the IWA Development Award for Research for increasing our knowledge on low-cost safety options along the farm to fork pathway.

Hard work pays off

“Receiving the IWA Award is recognition of all the efforts that have been made to prove that in Africa, despite the difficult environment, it is possible to have performing water companies that meet the expectations of customers and institutional partners”, says Mamadou Dia.

Aware of the constraints that low-income countries face, Pay Drechsel’s research has been geared towards locally appropriate solutions. During 11 years in West Africa, he comprehensively analysed the links between rural-urban food demands and the urban footprint.

Given the high density of irrigating farmers in and around cities, he was particularly interested in the pollution of water bodies and options to mitigate the consequent food safety risks. His work has contributed to the formulation of numerous national and international laws, policies, frameworks and guidelines.

“This recognition is a fantastic acknowledgment of more than a decade of research,” says Drechsel.

“These awards are granted in recognition for contributions to the science and practice of water, which have led to demonstrable impact in low and middle income countries,” says Dr. Ger Bergkamp, Executive Director of the International Water Association.

“Mamadou and Pay are examples to the water community around the globe.”