The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has expressed hope that the WASH Innovation Fair will give room for innovators to showcase the innovations and best practices that can help in building resilience in the WASH Sector.
Director of Sanitation and Hygiene in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Modesta Kanjaye, made the remarks when she officially launched the 2023 Wash Innovation Fair in Lilongwe.
Kanjaye said it is timely as the country is recovering from the effects of Cyclone Freddy, a development which will enable students, lecturers and researchers from institutions of higher learning to come up with innovative ideas that will contribute to the improvements in WASH service delivery.
“If the country is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal number 6 of ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, there is a need to make appropriate technologies suitable for the country,” Kanjaye said.
On his part, WASH Chief for UNICEF Malawi, Dr Mougabe Koslengar, said Cyclone Freddy has exposed gaps and added that there is a need to do more in terms of WASH infrastructure.
“With Cyclone Freddy as a country we need to have innovation that would help assess the extent of the damage as well as how to make sure the water quality is not compromised,” Koslengar said.
Water and Environmental Sanitation Network, Executive Director Willies Mwandira said the fair will among others identify technologies and innovations within the sector that will support the realization of the MW2063 Pillar number 2 which is industrialization.
During the wash innovation fair Various wash players including students and other stakeholders in the sector showcased their innovation skills which if roped in will help in the improvement of sanitation in Malawi.