2019 I4WASH KISUMU
Mitigating climate change through wash innovations and WRM
Innovate4Water (I4W) Kisumu Marketplace Forum 2019
Location: Kisumu County, Kenya
Date: February 2019
1. Background and Rationale
Sustainable development in the water and sanitation sector remains a critical priority in Kenya and the East African region. Despite ongoing sector reforms and policy improvements, the WASH sector continues to face persistent challenges including low financing, high non-revenue water, aging infrastructure, limited storage capacity, and growing urban populations
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Kisumu County’s water coverage stood at approximately 58%, rural sanitation coverage at 37%, and sewerage coverage at 18% at the time of the Forum
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At the national level, limited public funding and a significant budget deficit in the water sector necessitated stronger private sector engagement and innovative financing solutions
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Against this backdrop, Innovate4Water (I4W) Kisumu was convened as a marketplace forum to bridge the gap between innovators, utilities, policymakers, and impact investors.
2. Project Overview
Innovate4Water Kisumu is a “home-grown” initiative building on lessons from previous I4W forums. It aims to provide a sustainable approach to accelerating innovation in water and sanitation through private sector engagement
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Technology and innovation are positioned as enablers of efficient water use, reduction of strain on utilities, and improved sanitation management systems. The Forum serves as a structured marketplace platform where:
Entrepreneurs and innovators showcase cutting-edge WASH solutions
Investors and financial institutions explore viable investment opportunities
Utilities and county governments identify scalable technologies
Stakeholders engage in structured networking and deal-making
3. Objectives
The I4W Kisumu Forum sought to:
Showcase innovations in the Eastern African water and sanitation market and demonstrate their value creation potential
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Facilitate exchanges between sources and seekers of capital through structured pitch sessions
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Create awareness among private operators on how to articulate their business models to meet investor due diligence standards
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Inform financiers about projects seeking capital and encourage streamlined financing mechanisms
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Demonstrate the role of the private sector in achieving water security and fostering new collaborative models
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4. Key Focus Areas
The Forum emphasized:
Urban water and sanitation solutions
Reduction of non-revenue water
Innovative sanitation technologies and service models
Sustainable wastewater management
Real-time data management and adaptive systems
Sanitation economy opportunities (toilet economy, circular sanitation economy, and smart sanitation economy)
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The sanitation sector was highlighted not only as a challenge but as a significant economic opportunity with strong potential for private investment and market growth
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5. Implementation Approach
The Forum adopted a marketplace model featuring:
Pitch sessions from WASH enterprises and financial institutions
Panel discussions on financing and investment opportunities
Structured networking between utilities, innovators, and investors
Public-private dialogue on reducing sector risks
Capacity-building engagements to improve investment readiness
The platform encouraged participants to move beyond discussion toward actionable partnerships and financing solutions
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6. Expected Outcomes
The Forum aimed to:
Strengthen public-private collaboration in the WASH sector
Unlock innovative financing solutions for water and sanitation projects
Improve investment readiness of local WASH enterprises
Accelerate adoption of innovative technologies
Contribute toward improved water coverage, sanitation access, and reduced non-revenue water in Kisumu County
7. Strategic Significance
Innovate4Water Kisumu positioned itself as a catalytic platform aligning innovation, finance, and policy to support sustainable urban water and sanitation systems. By leveraging private capital and entrepreneurial solutions, the Forum contributed to advancing water security, economic opportunity, and sustainable service delivery in Kisumu and the broader East African region.