IHE Delft and Kenya Water Institute partner up on water education and research
IHE Delft and the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) have signed an agreement to cooperate on capacity development and knowledge sharing for the improvement of the water and environmental sectors.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 6 March by KEWI Director Leiro Letangule and IHE Delft Rector Eddy Moors. The agreement was signed as part of a visit to IHE Delft by a delegation of water professionals and lecturers from KEWI, who took part in a course on non-revenue water.
The new partnership will facilitate the exchange of knowledge, promote joint research and development projects and enhance capacity development programmes.
“The partnership with KEWI will boost our capacity building efforts in Kenya, and beyond,“ says Michael McClain, head of the partnership. ”Together the two institutes will have major impact on wastewater management and the sustainable fashion industry in the whole of East Africa.”
”Together the two institutes will have major impact on wastewater management and the sustainable fashion industry in the whole of East Africa.”
Cleaning up the textile industry
The partnership with KEWI will involve the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemical (ZDHC) Foundation's work in Kenya, focusing on sustainable manufacturing and industrial wastewater management. Together, KEWI, ZDHC Foundation, and IHE Delft will prioritize trainer training, curriculum building and laboratory infrasture development to advance these goals.
”IHE Delft and the ZDHC foundation collaborated to create the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero programme at the UN Water Conference in March 2023,” says Moors, “Partnering with KEWI is another important step on the road towards reducing the chemical footprint of the textile industry in Kenya and its neighbouring countries.”
The Gatsby Foundation played a key role in facilitating this partnership, particularly in funding capacity-building activities and demonstrating commitment to Kenya's water sector.
“Partnering with KEWI is another important step on the road towards reducing the chemical footprint of the textile industry in Kenya and its neighbouring countries.”
Alumni connections
Several IHE Delft alumni are lecturers at KEWI, and Moors said the Institute has the potential to become a regional water knowledge centre for East Africa.
KEWI, a Kenyan government agency, operates under the auspices of the Kenyan Ministry of Water and Sanitation. It offers competency-based training, research, innovation, consultancy and outreach services on sustainability to Kenya’s water sanitation and irrigation sectors.
Any inquiries regarding cooperation within this partnership, contact Business Development Manager, Cristina Anacabe: c.anacabe@un-ihe.org
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