The Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA) will officially launch its 2026 Webinar Series on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, with a high-level virtual dialogue centred on advancing climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions across Africa and the Global South.

The inaugural session, titled “Accelerating Climate-Resilient Water & Sanitation Solutions for Africa & the Global South – Every Drop Counts,” marks the official theme launch for the 2nd Africa and Global South Water and Sanitation Dialogue, set to take place later this year in Durban.

Scheduled to run from 18:00 to 20:00 (SAST) via Microsoft Teams, the webinar is expected to attract between 80 and 150 participants. Attendees will include AWSISA members, government representatives, water entities, private sector stakeholders, public institutions, as well as students and youth from universities and related organisations.

This first session will serve as a strategic platform to:

• Launch the official theme for the 2026 Dialogue
• Reflect on key insights and measurable outcomes from the inaugural Dialogue held in November 2025
• Provide strategic direction for the 2026 Dialogue and future engagements
• Facilitate discussions on critical policy and programme issues impacting South Africa’s water and sanitation sector.

Key focus areas will include policy and financing within the water sector, bulk water infrastructure and reliability, catchment management, and transboundary cooperation.

The webinar will feature a keynote address by AWSISA Chairperson, Mr Ramateu Monyokolo, alongside contributions from senior leadership across the Department of Water and Sanitation, Rand Water, Magalies Water, and Lepelle Northern Water.

The 2026 Dialogue is being convened at a pivotal time, as the African Union has declared 2026 the Year of Water, placing water security at the forefront of the continent’s development agenda. This designation underscores the urgent need for sustainable investment, improved infrastructure, and innovative approaches to ensure equitable access to safe water and sanitation.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the Dialogue will expand its scope to include the Global South, fostering collaboration among regions in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. By promoting South–South cooperation, AWSISA aims to drive scalable, context-specific solutions to shared challenges such as water scarcity, rapid urbanisation, and infrastructure deficits.

Expected outcomes from the webinar include increased awareness and visibility of the 2026 Dialogue, strengthened partnerships across sectors, and the establishment of a clear strategic direction for AWSISA’s upcoming engagements.

Participation in the webinar is free, but registration is mandatory. Interested participants can register via the following link:
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/bea4f34b-03a4-42da-a3a5-a4d0622818d4@6dc3d8fb-295d-43f2-a9d7-cf1ed9c67581

AWSISA encourages stakeholders across the water and sanitation sector to share the event details widely within their networks to ensure broad-based participation.

Media Contacts:

Mr Benny Sithole, Chairperson of AWSISA 2026 Webinars Sub-Committee

• Email: SitholeB@dws.gov.za
• Cell: +27 60 560 2564

Dr Ntsapokazi Deppa, Co-Chair of the AWSISA 2026 Scientific Committee

• Email: ntsapokazi.deppa@uuw.co.za
• Cell: +27 83 715 9434

Ms Gomotso Mokonotela, Social Media Marketing & Webinar Coordinator, AWSISA

• Email: gomotso@afriwater-san.africa
• Cell: +27 72 533 1062