Invitation to I4WASH 2024: 4 days that can change the life for millions

We excited to once again welcome you to one of the most significant and ambitious WASH events of the year in East Africa; I4WASH – Kenya chapter 2024.  Organised by Quercus Group and Sanitation Research and Development for Africa (SARDA).

The goal is the same as usual: To jointly innovate and move all of us one step closer to eradicate the global water, sanitation and hygiene challenge facing billions of people every day.

We want everybody to have access to water, sanitation and hygiene solutions. We don’t want anybody to travel for hours to get that water. And we want everybody to live a good life, where water and sanitation is something, you don’t even think about, so that every generation including the youth can unfold their potential, educate, start businesses, take jobs, innovate, create and engage where their hearts beat.

I4WASH 2024 FORUM, The Vic Hotel Kisumu, 16 – 19 October 2024

I4WASH connects WASH related solutions in order to foster interactions between global and local players from the private and public sectors, and civil society to shift collaboration and implementation towards innovative impactful local WASH solutions. The purpose of I4WASH is to scout, screen, match, assess and accelerate the spread of cross-sectoral collaboration. Over 500 solutions have gained visibility since 2017 thanks to the successful deployment of the “I4WASH Methodology” in Europe, Africa, and Australia. We seek to showcase the innovativeness of the WASH sector under which the national priorities of Kenya’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Vision 2030 are advanced. The forum shall champion relevant policy engagements on innovations within institutions while promoting practical skills necessary to create innovations that impact people. We shall purpose to strengthen the research and commercialisation practices for greater socio-economic impact.

I4WASH has established itself as a key WASH event in Africa, evolving into an international forum for constructive dialogue on pressing water issues. This year, the event will engage local partners to build sustainable systems and services that enhance resilience to climate change. The theme aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 13 and the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

OUR GOALS

Learn
Dive into cutting-edge insights about innovation development and management. Stay ahead of the latest trends in the dynamic WASH field. The forum is inclusive and will nurture professional and organizational growth.

Share
The Forum is not only about theory but real creative and inspiring transformation. Participants shall leave with insights and a network of peers who share your vision. Focus is on collaboration and diverse perspectives.

Network

Connect with like-minded innovators Share your wins, navigate setbacks, and learn what really works. The forum is designed to spark meaningful conversations and enduring connections for professionals to grow.

WHY ATTEND?

I4WASH brings together the entire value chain of WASH stakeholders and provides a platform to:

Gain understanding: of innovative policies and interventions fostering sustainable WASH access. This will include identifying the needs and gaps impeding the adoption of new and existing WASH solutions.

Showcase innovations: WASH Market players shall gain exposure to the latest research, cutting-edge tools and state-of-the-art climate smart technologies on WASH access through dialogue and collaboration.

Catalyse Exchanges: that match the sources and seekers of capital. Financiers shall present their interests and offers for interested participants pitching to leverage.

Strengthen trust for WASH partnerships.

Create visibility for local stakeholders including mature for-profit solutions providers, operators and technology providers, impact investors, water utilities, government agencies and regulators, development banks, corporations and incubators.

Build the capacity and enable scaling-up: of relevant WASH nexus technologies and business models in the local context by leveraging the interest of local organizations who innovate to contribute to SDGs, job creation and empowerment of youth and women.

Connect with WASH Experts & Policy Makers for Collaborations: I4WASH facilitates meaningful interactions among WASH experts, policymakers, decision-makers, academia, and private sector representatives, fostering connections at both, national, regional and international levels.

I4WASH 2024 will create a conducive environment to explore potential collaborations with both national and international entities.

Our aim is that everybody leaves I4WASH with more hard and soft capital than when you arrived. The more you lean into I4WASH, the more you will gain.

THE AUDIENCE

We hope to make a huge splash by gathering you from all corners of the WASH sector including.

• Government decision makers and trail blazers: Dive into discussions tailored for government and county authorities navigating the realms of WASH, climate, sustainability, and the intricate financing and planning aspects of these vital sectors.
• WASH Pioneers: Join forces with WASH organizations and authorities committed to shaping the future of WASH management.
• Corporate Changemakers: Engage with the private sector players keen on making a meaningful impact on water-related challenges.
• Financial Institutions: Explore opportunities in the financing sector and discover avenues for strategic investments in water activities that can drive positive change.
• Stakeholder Alliances: Connect with regional and national stakeholder organizations, including civil society groups, academia, and media, to foster collaborations that transcend boundaries.
• Passionate Individuals: If you have a personal interest in water and climate issues, this is the perfect opportunity to be part of a dynamic community and contribute to meaningful discussions that can shape the future.

KEY PRIORITY AREAS FOR INTERVENTION

By nurturing ‘home grown’ solutions developed by local and regional innovators, the I4WASH Forum seeks to provide a platform that promotes, explore and showcase.

• Technological Innovations: Cutting-edge technologies such as solar-powered water solutions, water quality testing kits, and innovative sanitation solutions that are important in improving access to clean water and sanitation services.
• Nature-Based Approaches such as rainwater harvesting, ecosystem-based sanitation, and natural wastewater treatment systems to enhance water conservation, environmental sustainability, and resilience to climate change.
• Financial Innovations: Innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships, commercial financing, community-based financing models, and microfinance initiatives, to mobilize resources and ensure the financial sustainability of WASH projects.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Utilize data analytics, geographic information systems (GIS), and remote sensing technologies to inform evidence-based decision-making, target interventions, and monitor progress towards WASH goals in Kenya and Africa.
• Floods and Floods management; Ground and Wastewater management
• Mainstreaming Gender in WASH Climate resilient strategies, green infrastructure and the green economy of WASH ecosystems
• Multi-stakeholder involvement in WASH service delivery, capacity building, development and management
• Energy and water resources planning for national and local economic development
• Capacity building and skills development for WASH Innovations

THE FORMAT

One Innovate4WASH guiding principle is “take action”.

Another Innovate4WASH guiding principle is to “be welcoming and inclusive” because different perspectives make innovation beyond mere incremental improvements possible.

We therefore invite a diversity of stakeholders across the sector to

1. Make a 7(Seven) minutes pitch presentation of their solutions. We focus on pitches because good commercial solutions for WASH exist. Pitches put them out there. Organizations are also welcome to convene focused sessions with their partners or individually.
2. Facilitate thought-provoking panels discussions will be organized to help provide insights to create real value and trigger an exchange of viewpoints among experts and the audience.
3. Equally, Visibility is very important; we therefore create limited exhibition space for participants to showcase their innovations and encourage partnerships and collaborations.
4. A stage and space to meet is great, Yet sometimes not enough! During the 3 days, we ensure we create ample chances to meet and talk for networking purposes.

ORGANIZING PARTNERS

Quercus Group “The world needs more coordination, collaboration and communication. Silo thinking and silo organization is too prevalent. Knowledge gaps prevent funding from reaching solutions, and solutions from reaching the problems they can solve”, Nicolai Rottboll, Founder & Chairman of Quercus Group.

Quercus Group is a hands on consultancy headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. We specialize in sustainable development and regional economic growth through collaboration and strategic partnerships. Our story began with the creation of Europe’s largest cleantech cluster and the firm belief that collaboration and multi-stakeholder engagement can help accelerate sustainable development worldwide. We make things happen by engaging decision-makers, businesses, knowledge institutions and last but not least – people – to co-create solutions for shared global challenges. Since our establishment in 2012 we have worked with numerous projects in 45 countries worldwide. In 2018, WASH became one of our main focus from the belief that access to water and proper sanitation for all people is the foundation for any every development and decent lives.

Sanitation research and development for Africa (SARDA) is a consultancy company that specializes on localizing SDG 6 in Africa. Since conception in 2018, the company has been working with a critical mass of frontline service providers to influence behavior change and develop the demand for innovative and affordable sanitation solutions at community level. These include training and coaching the innovators and entrepreneurs in adopting business practices such as creating a consumer-focused value proposition, marketing strategy, route-to-market approach and define the overall business case.

The organization strives to establish a sanitation multi-stakeholder platform that can bring together various actors along the value chain to facilitate dialogue, share knowledge, building partnership and providing business support. Backed by a team of immensely capable and committed personnel and combined with a vast hands-on experience, SARDA is committed to meet the challenging issues of environmental risk and deterioration including sanitation, wastewater management, waste management.

For more information get in touch with

Mariam Njoroge
Managing Director,
Quercus Group Kenya
Phone: +254 723 341 220
E-Mail: mariam@quercus-group.com
www.quercus-group.com

Nicolai Sederberg Rottbøll
Founder & Chairman
Quercus Group
Phone; (USA): +1 781 402 9201
E-mail: nicolai@quercus-group.com