Water and sanitation governance is pivotal, argues Obama Foundation African Leader & IHE Delft student

“I was born and raised in Mt Darwin, one of the least developed and marginalised districts of Zimbabwe, characterised by rampant open defecation, lack of access to clean and safe drinking water. As a child, I would wake up as early as 3 a.m. to help my mother fetch water from a river bed three kilometres away. My school was eight kilometres away - and as it had no water supply, the pupils were expected to bring water.

After studying social sciences at university, I worked for the local government, where I supervised local authorities in WASH service provision. Though local authorities were responsible for providing water and sanitation, they didn’t have the resources they need to fulfil this responsibility and the people suffered. In 2008-2009, Zimbabwe was plagued by a cholera epidemic. More than 4,000 people died, all because they didn’t have access to appropriate WASH services.

To influence this situation, I got involved in a national urban WASH sub-sector committee, and helped institutionalize urban WASH in Zimbabwe. This strengthened government-led coordination and support of water and sanitation service delivery. In 2015, I joined the secretariat of the National Action Committee on Wash, with responsibility for urban WASH coordination. But the collapsing economy prevented any real progress.

I want to transform my community and others in the same situation by providing clean water and safe sanitation – the key enablers for sustainable socio-economic development. To transform the situation in communities like mine, WASH governance must be strong and institutions accountable. This is why I am studying at IHE Delft: I would like to become an expert in WASH governance and advocate for the sector at the highest level possible. As part of my work toward this goal I in 2021 co-founded a non-governmental organization, Development Support International, which focuses on WASH, food security and disaster risk reduction. We work to integrate efforts and use resources effectively for a total transformation to the better.

As an Obama Foundation Africa Leader in the 2022 cohort, I was able to develop my leadership skills and knowledge through training and mentoring. The programme, which targets young African leaders who strive to impact communities, has been critical for my vision: it taught me to unlock the community potential, motivate community members and get the best out of them. By engaging communities, we can bring about sustainable transformation and development that seeks to eliminate communities’ dependency on external resources in creating access to water and sanitation.

My mentor in the programme told me about IHE Delft’s MSc in Water and Sustainable Development programme. It sounded just right for me, considering my experience and vision, so I applied. The MSc studies will give me in-depth knowledge and understanding of the WASH sector and other water and development perspectives and enable me to make a lasting impact in my country and elsewhere.

In November 2022, I participated at the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum held in New York City. I used this platform to advocate for WASH Governance within the global democratic processes. Water and sanitation form part of the key pillars for sustainable development and strengthened WASH governance is pivotal. To me, democracy is not only about political processes: rather democracy should create space for synergies between political and development processes. Business and civic leaders should equally influence democratic processes to achieve sustainable development. For young leaders and changemakers – and I’m honored to be able to consider myself part of this group - it is imperative that our work is grounded and rooted in our communities. The impact of our work should start at grassroot-level before scaling up. This is what I am trying to do in the WASH sector through Development Support International.

Through the opportunities I have as an Obama Foundation Africa Leader and as an IHE Delft MSc student, I am learning and developing the skills I need to implement an integrated development approach in which water is the key resource. At IHE Delft, I learn from fellow students, from professors and researchers. Enriching my knowledge in this way prepares me to bring my work from the local to the regional and international level. I want to work for a future in which no children have to wake up at 3 a.m. to fetch water.”

The Obama Foundation Leaders Africa program seeks to build a growing network of innovative and values-based changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities, the continent, and the world.