The International Conference titled "Pathways towards Sustainable Sanitation in Africa" constitutes the most relevant event held under the project NETSSAF "Network for the development of Sustainable Sanitation in Africa", a Coordination Action supported by the European Union under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). A well prepared team organised this event successfully which was celebrated in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from the 24th to the 27th of September of 2008.
The Conference, a four days event, brought together members of the NETSSAF Consortium in conjunction with national and regional decision makers, sanitation professionals, scientists and practitioners to expose the results of the Coordination Action and discuss future trends and directions. Linked issues relating to the policy, science and practice, all together concerning the large scale implementation of sustainable approaches of sanitation in rural and peri-urban areas in West Africa were also discussed.
The three first days of the Conference were divided into 6 sessions that included presentations, panel group discussions, side events and a stand exhibition with poster presentations. There was a field trip during the last day, where participants visited a wastewater treatment plant and also had the opportunity to see some sanitation and agriculture reuse projects that have been implemented in rural and peri-urban communities of Ouagadougou.
Presentations
Day 1
Session A: Opening ceremony and intro to the sanitation issue in West Africa
Keynotes
Presentation of the NETSSAF coordination action
Prof. Ralf Otterpohl, Technical University Hamburg Harburg, Germany
Sustainable development and the MDGs on sanitation: the AfricanSan + 5 recommendations
Mr. Andreas Knapp, World Bank, Water and Sanitation Program Africa, Ethiopia
NCCR-N: a north-south partnership for action in the field of health and environmental science
Prof. Gueladio Cissé, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques (CSRS), Cote d'Ivore
Presentations
The ROSA project approach toward sustainable sanitation
Dr. Günther Langergraber, BOKU University, Australia
Session B: Acting in parralel for a common goal
Keynotes
Investment on human resources: a key for sustainable development
Dr. Kwasi Klutsé, Former Prime Minister of Togo
Presentations
Adaptation of existing participatory planning tools for the peri-urban and rural context in Africa
Mr. Martin Wafler, International Ecological Engineering Society (IEES), Switzerland
& Mr. Stefan Jung, EcoSan Club, Austria
Panel group discussion
Achieving the MDGs in sanitation in Africa: force and weak points-contraints and opportunities
Facilitator: Prof. Guéladio Cissé, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques (CSRS), Cote d'Ivore
Participants:
Mr. Abdoulaye Drame. MATAM, Senegal
Dr. Abdoulaye Fall. GTZ, Germany
Mr. Andreas Knapp. WSP-AF, the World Bank. Ethiopia
Mr. André Meyer. KfW, Burkina Faso
Mr. Cheick Tidiane Tandia. CREPA, Burkina Faso
Investment on man power (Capacity building of human resource to fulfil the MDGs in sustainable sanitation in Africa: Core actions-targets-approaches)
Facilitators: Ms. Waltraud Keipp and Mr. Moussa Drabo, Bureau Ouest Africain d'Appui Organisationnel et de Technologies Appropriees (BOATA), Mali
Participants:
Dr. Peter Morgan. Aquamor, Zimbabwe
Dr. Cecilia Sundberg. SLU, Sweden
Dr. Gustave Aboua. UAA, Cote d'Ivore
Dr. Elizabeth Tilley. EAWAG, Switzerland
Prof. Amadou H. Maiga. International School of Water and Environmental Engineering, Burkina Faso
Dr. Amah Klutsé. CREPA, Burkina Faso
Side events
ECOSAN - An opportunity for improved food security. Excreta reuse in Africa in theory and practice
Dr. Amah Klutsé (Centre Regional pour l'Eau Potable et l'Assainissement à faible cout (CREPA), Burkina Faso)
L'application des urines et fèces dans l'agriculture: recommandations au Burkina Faso
Safe ECOSAN fertilisers: methods and recommendations for safe reuse of human excreta
La valeur économique des fertilisants ECOSAN en Afrique de l'Ouest
Making links between sanitation, agriculture and the schools! Many approaches to a varied need
Réutilisation des fertilisants ECOSAN avec les maraiches de Ouagadougou
The ROSA project - Towards sustainable resources-oriented sanitation solutions
Dr. Günter Langergraber (BOKU University, Austria)
Nakuru ROSA project, Kenya
Project implementation in Kitgum, Uganda
Work done towards implementation of sustainable sanitation in Arusha, Tanzania
ROSA project activities, partners ARB & AMN, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
WASHCost: quantifying the cost of delivering safe water, sanitation and hygiene services
Dr. Patrick Moriarty (IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Netherlands)
Mr. Cyrille Amegnran (CREPA, Burkina Faso)
Day 2, MDG on sanitation - A challenge for all
Session C: Authorities and decision makers; building capacity for sustainability
Presentations
NETSSAF strategy for authority capacity building: results and lessons learned (only French version)
Dr. Abdoulaye Fall, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Germany
Mr. Théophile Mbakop, Municipality of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Presentation of the results in research and academic capacity building
Dr. Cecilia Sundberg, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
Panel group discussion
MDGs in Africa: the view of the authorities and decision makers
Facilitator: Dr. Johannes Heeb, International Ecological Engineering Society (IEES), Switzerland
Participants:
Mr. Theophile Mbakop. Municipality of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Mr. Abdoulaye Drame. MATAM, Senegal
Mr. Daouda Sanon. Municipality of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Mr. Lambert Yapi. Maire Tiassalé, Cote d'Ivore
Session D: NETSSAF attempts toward the MDGs
Keynotes
A participatory approach of planning and budgeting projects within the local agenda 21 process in a low incomes populated city of Matam/Senegal (only French version)
Mr. Abdoulaye Dramé, Mayor of the Community of Matam, Senegal
Presentations
Sustainable sanitation in rural/peri-urban areas in Africa: a survey of typical settlements, key actors and communication channels
Ms. Waltraud Keipp, Bureau Ouest Africain d'Appui Organisationnel et de Technologies Appropriées (BOATA), Mali
The choice of sanitation systems and technologies
Mr. Christian Zurbrügg and Dr. Elizabeth Tilley, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), Switzerland
Launch of the yellow pages of sanitation, a data base of services and material providers to support large scale implementation of sustainable sanitation options in Africa
Ms. Leonellha Barreto Dillon, ttz Bremerhaven, Germany
Financial and economic analysis of ecological sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Mr. Andreas Knapp and Mr. Richard Schuen, World Bank, Water and Sanitation Program, Africa (WSP-AF), Ethiopia
Introduction of the NETSSAF participatory planning approach, a tutorial for sustainable sanitation
Ms. Leonellha Barreto Dillon, ttz Bremerhaven, Germany
Mr. Christopher Buzie, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH), Germany
Application of existing knowledge: the only way to meet the MDG sanitation target in developing countries
Prof. Duncan Mara, University of Leeds, England
Side events
SPLASH consultation on "Innovative research partnerships in water for development" (only French version)
Mr. Aard Hartveld, Mrs. Manon Rabanit, Mr. Gil Mahee and Mr. Loris Houssier (Austrian Development Agency-SPLASH, Austria)
The Sustainable Sanitation Alliance - Towards more sustainable sanitation solutions for Africa
Dr. Arno Rosemarin (Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Sweden)
Experience of WaterAid on community total led sanitation, WaterAid/Burkina Faso
Ms. Ada Oko Williams (Regional learning Center on CLTS, WaterAid / Nigeria)
L'assainissement total porte par les communautes (ATPC), a WaterAid Burkina Faso
CLTS: the West African experience: adaptations, gaps and sustainability
Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in Nigeria
Day 3 - NETSSAF 2
Resources and partnership for action toward large scale implementation of sustainable sanitation in Africa (NETSSAF 2)
Session E: Technical and research development
Keynotes
Use of excreta nutrients - opportunities and knowledge gaps
Prof. Hakan Jönsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweeden
Alternative use of wastewater for biomass production
Mr. Mirko Hänel, ttz Bremerhaven, Germany
Presentations
Ecological sanitation - selected example projects from Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Europe
Mr. Sören Rüd, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Germany
Agro reuse of composted human faecal material for productive sanitation systems
Mr. Patrick A. Ogwo, Dept. of Environmental Resource Magt., Abia State University, Uturu
PeePoobag - self sanitising single use biodegradable toilet
Prof. Hakan Jönsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
Session F: Looking toward the future
Presentations
An overview of the sanitation situation in Ghana, opportunities, challenges and the way forward
Mr. Kweku Quansah, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environmental, Ghana
The SuSanA initiative: an approach towards more sustainable sanitation
Mr. Sören Rüd, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Germany
Presentation of the proposal for NETSSAF 2, perspectives of interlinking NETSSAF and other initiatives
Dr. Pekka Pietilä, Tampere University of Technology (TUT), Finland
Ms. Pilar Zapata, BioAzul, Spain
Panel group discussion
Working together for future challenges: strategies and constraints
Facilitator: Dr. Arno Rosemarin, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Sweden
Participants:
Dr. Johannes Heeb. IEES, Switzerland
Ms. Waltraud Keipp. BOATA, Mali
Mr. Evariste Yameogo. Municipality of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Dr. Siméon Kenfack. CREPA, Burkina Faso
Dr. Abdoulaye Fall. GTZ, Germany
