Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Africa water, Sanitation Mar- Apr 2015 Vol.10 No.2 | Page 13

NEWS in brief
highlighting some of the changing trends and challenges
facing the continent:
“Over the past 25 years there have been three major shifts
in Africa. It is now home to some of the world’s fastest
growing economies, with a combined average growth set to
reach six per cent in 2015. This includes a shift away from the
commodities sector (mining, agriculture forestry), towards
greater investments in the services and manufacturing
sectors. This is in turn, causing an increase in demand for
water and energy.
A substantial middle class is also emerging. The population
is increasingly urbanized – set to reach over 50 per cent in
2030, with the emergence of mega-cities now becoming a
reality. The reliance on transfers of water, food and energy
over increasing distances are therefore going to increase.
A governance shift is also taking place in Africa, with the
great majority of countries now considered democratic or
partially democratic. This presents a window of opportunity
for SIWI to support water governance reforms taking place
in several countries on the continent.”
SIWI’s Africa Regional Centre is set to respond to these
challenges in collaboration with partners in the region and
looks forward to the opportunities set to arise over the
coming years.
After the USA, South Africa has been recipient of the greatest
number of Stockholm Water Prizes laureates, including
two Stockholm Water Prize laureates, two Stockholm
Junior Water Prize Laureates, and a Stockholm Industry
Water Award laureate. Laureate Prof Kader Asmal’s wife,
Ms Louise Asmal, the Municipality of eThekwini, and Mr
Pontso Moletsane were there to help celebrate the opening.
Mr Pontso Moletsane was awarded the Stockholm Junior
Water Prize alongside two colleagues in 2005. He will soon
graduate from a civil engineering programme and will
pursue a career in the water sector in South Africa.
Celebrating 25 years!

In 2015, both Stockholm Water Prize and World Water
Week turn 25. To celebrate this silver jubilee, World Water
Week will move back into the heart of Stockholm, where
everything started a quarter of a century ago!
In the spirit of the jubilee, the atmosphere of 2015 World
Water Week will be extra festive. All are invited!

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