SDG 6- Clean Water and Sanitation
CowaterSogema International Inc. is Canada’s largest and leading international development management consulting company with over 30 years of experience implementing government modernization and capacity building projects around the world, having completed more than 800 development projects in more than 80 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Our core service area focuses on the provision of potable water, sanitation, hygiene, and a liveable environment– essential requirements for a healthy and productive life. Since our founding in 1985, we have been actively supporting progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 in ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Since then, we have successfully completed more than 150-water related projects, building the capacity of national authorities, water utilities, local service providers, and communities to manage supplies, improve operational efficiency and plan for long term investment needs for effective, inclusive, and sustainable service delivery.
Our firm has carried out large-scale assessments, been involved in the planning, design and construction of water systems and water supply projects in rural, urban and peri-urban areas, and has supported the development of regional frameworks and national policies for improved water and sanitation coverage and sustainability. Our projects in the water sector incorporate strategies to strengthen institutions; promote participatory planning, financial viability; and monitoring and learning in order to improve long term planning, inclusive service delivery, and adaptation to climate change. Working with communities, we assist in the operation and maintenance of their facilities through training and the establishment of community-based management structures to ensure long-term sustainability. We also work closely with governments to assist in institutional strengthening and reform, sector planning, cost recovery and water resource management.
In Burkina Faso, for example, CowaterSogema is increasing access to sustainable and reliable water supply for over 83,000 people through the Global Affairs Canada-funded Water and Sustainable Economic Growth in the Sahel Project (2015-2019). The project addresses a critical need for water in this arid drought-prone region, a situation which greatly limits the socio-economic development of the local population, especially women. Specifically, CowaterSogema is improving water supply and sanitation coverage through the construction of a drinking water treatment plant and increasing access to sanitation infrastructure for over 6000 households, directly contributing to SDG 6- access to water and sanitation, and SDG 3- good health and wellbeing of people. In addition, project activities are rreinforcing local governance to better support water and sanitation service delivery, and promote women’s decision-making in water management committees, contributing to SDG 1- no poverty, SDG 5- gender equality, and SDG 16: peace, justice and strong institutions.
In Zambia, CowaterSogema is currently assisting Lusaka City Council (LCC) and Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) in expanding access to, and improving the reliability of, water supply, sanitation and drainage services in select urban and peri-urban areas of the city of Lusaka, benefitting 1.2 million residents. Specifically, CowaterSogema is providing technical assistance to LWSC and LCC to strengthen and institutionalise their ability to develop and implement gender responsive and pro-poor policies and systems for improving the affordability of services for the poor, and effectively mainstream gender equality and social inclusion in service delivery and operational processes. As a direct result of the project, LWSC and LCC launched Social Inclusion and Gender Mainstreaming Policies in May and June 2018, crystalizing the city’s commitment to social inclusion and gender equality, ensuring that the delivery of water and sanitation services are responsive to the needs and priorities of its client base regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion and other factors. Our ongoing work in Zambia demonstrates our commitment to advancing progress against SDG-6, and strengthening institutions to achieve progress in SDG 5- gender equality, SDG 10- reducing inequalities, and SDG 11- sustainable cities and communities.