Smart Water Management Expert Capacity Building Project for Regional Drinking Water Supply WoSuSoKas, Java, Indonesia

KfW, Germany’s Development Bank, allocated funds to construct the Regional Water Supply System of WoSuSoKas (Wonogiri, Sukoharjo, Solo/Surakarta and Karanganyar) on Java, Indonesia. I am hired by the Indonesian company PT Reka Spasia Indonesia to train the companies running the system in the aspects of reduction of Non-Revenue Water and smart water. The training is developed in close cooperation with the Project Implementation Unit of the water department of the Ministry of Public Works. For this assignment I adapted the general concepts of smart water management to the specific needs of the water supply system at hand. This was followed by an in-depth training needs assessment. Subsequently, I developed training materials both for Non-Revenue Water-reduction and smart water. The training of the managers and operators of the WoSuSoKas system marked the end of my assignment and the start of theirs.

Member of the Technical Evaluation Committee in the FINISH Mondial programme

FINISH Mondial creates sustainable change by involving all actors in the sanitation ecosystem and financially empowering them: communities, businesses, financiers and Governments. The hackathon aims to develop more innovations. It has four objectives: (1) to encourage participants to come up with innovative and practical solutions; (2) to facilitate collaboration between participants; (3) to promote the development of open-source technologies; and (4) to showcase the importance of circular economy principles, where resources are efficiently reused, and environmental impact is minimised. My role in the FINISH Mondial Hackathon is to: assess innovations shared by FINISH Mondial; share my findings with other technical committee members; identify the need for more analytical data; and draw up parameters for further testing and to prepare a joint advice to FINISH Mondial.

Adviser and supporter Worldwaternet WaterWorX Mali

The Water Operator Partnership between Worldwaternet and SOMAGEP SA, the water operator in Mali, is executed under the umbrella of the WaterWorX program. The goal of this partnership is to increase the improved water services in line with the sustainable development goals. My role in this partnership is to: facilitate the cooperation between SOMAGEP SA in Mali and Worldwaternet in the Amsterdam and to facilitate, support, and manage financial support from IFIs, especially a €10 million grant from Invest International to reduce Non-Revenue Water with at least 5%.

Board member RVO’s Innovation programs

RVO promotes and supports innovations in Africa. I am hired to assess Innovative proposals in an independent way and to discuss my findings with other board members and the managers of RVO.

Developer onsite sanitation timeline NICC

NICC, the Netherlands International Cooperation Collection manages a growing and multifaceted collection related to the Netherland International Cooperation and sustainable development. The collection is enriched with personal experiences by, for and through the field staff concerned. I developed the onsite sanitation timeline by describing the development of onsite sanitation policies of the Netherlands Development Cooperation during the last 75 years, actively seeking advice and interviewing important players and disseminating the findings through social media.

Resident Project Manager VEI in Nakuru and Kisumu (Kenya)

VEI is responsible for the The Water Operator Partnership in Nakuru and Kisumu, under the umbrella of the WaterWorX program, executed with the three water utilities (NAWASSCO, NARUWASCO and NAIVAWASCO) in Nakuru County and the water utility (KIWASCO) in Kisumu County. The goal of this partnership is to increase the improved water and improved sanitation and faecal sludge management services in Nakuru County and Kisumu County in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. A key task is to ensure that water resources, infrastructure, water supply and demand match under current and future conditions. Climate change, demographic growth and economic development scenarios are key components to look at within this framework as well as reduction of Non-Revenue Water, reduction of energy costs and improved management of faecal sludge management. I am responsible for: Daily coordination of VEI’s input in the project; Planning  and supervision of short-term inputs; Financial project management; Reporting to WaterWorX coordination unit and Communication and visibility actions; Stimulation of the involvement of partners such as the cities, municipalities and town leaders and stakeholders, both national and international organisations; Liaison with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nairobi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hague and bi-/multilateral organisations such as KfW, AFD and International Financial Institutions; Promoting and testing innovations in the field of water treatment (removal of fluoride, reduction of turbidity) and water management (Sponge City Approach with Meta Meta); Specific activities related to Sanitation, Wastewater and Faecal Sludge Management: Promotion and facilitation of improvement of onsite sanitation systems through the Finish Mondial approach with AMREF Kenya and WASTE Netherlands/ Developing and testing mechanical desludging methods using the ROM Vacuum option and Practica’s PuPu pump including mobile transfer stations / Elaborating and promotion the implementation of FSM Business models, among others the ‘Permitting’ Model / Promotion of safe sanitation at World Toilet Days in Kenya. Specific activities related to reduction of energy costs: Assessing the potential reduction in costs / Elaborating the impact of more efficient pumps and improved hydraulic designs of networks / Elaborating the impact of generation electricity using solar power / Hiring and supervision of consultants to detail the measures and assessing the associated costs / Finding and securing funds to finance the proposed measures / Monitoring the effect of the measures.

Phase 1 Evaluation Siaya Water and Sanitation Project 2017 -2022

Review pilot phase and recommendations whether or not there is sufficient evidence to enable the partners to proceed to Phase 2. The project adopted a Public Owned, Privately Managed model. The project partners, a.o. Dorcas, receive 50% subsidy from RVO. The private actor contribution is an investment that is to be recouped in a period of 7 years. This project is anchored on a business case in which (after rehabilitation of the schemes), the private actor is to infuse technology that involves online monitoring information, installation of pre-paid water meters for private and individual connections and on-going monitoring on Non-Revenue Water. Activities: Desk review / Project site visits / Key informant interviews / Focus group discussions / Reporting.

Team leader FSM Business Development Support to Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) through WSUP

Zambia’s capital is suffering from a sanitation crisis that claims lives through regular occurrence of cholera, typhoid and dysentery and causes severe environmental pollution. The Lusaka Sanitation Program (LSP) aims to improve sanitation services in Lusaka and strengthen LWSC’s capacity to manage sanitation services. LSP is supported by the World Bank, African Development Bank, KfW and EIB and covers both infrastructure development, as well as developing LWSC’s capacity to manage all aspects of sanitation, from conventional sewerage to on-site sanitation and Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) services. Our assignment: Assessing and advising LWSC on the business potential that exists with regard to FSM services in Lusaka; Preparing an FSM business plan to guide LWSC in achieving safe and efficient collection, transportation, treatment and reuse of the faecal sludge generated in the city; Identifying and evaluating FSM service delivery models, including the franchising model that LWSC is considering, and advising on the most appropriate model and Providing technical support to LWSC in implementation of the FSM business plan; and the chosen FSM service delivery model. 

Faecal Sludge Business secondary towns Rwanda (GGGI)

Specialist Faecal Sludge Management for Global Green Growth Institute: Assessment the sector, agencies involved and the market for deployment of faecal sludge treatment technologies in four secondary cities in Rwanda;  Identification of options for faecal sludge management (emptying, collection, transportation, treatment), study four sites, assessment investment, operation and maintenance costs; Identification of potentials for valorisation of waste streams to strengthen the revenues; Develop business cases for bankable projects that address GGGI’s strategic objectives of green growth; and Develop a 3-year capacity strengthening program with WASAC on wastewater and sanitation.

Wastewater expert UNICEF Lebanon

Through the Disaster Surge Support Facility together with Daily Business (Gert de Bruijne) and Middle East Partners (Ghada Zeidan) I conducted a reconnaissance survey wastewater and sanitation services Informal Tented Settlements. We also analysed the existing situation through interaction with refugees, UNICEF, International and Local NGOs, Water Establishments, Municipalities, Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Environment, private sector and service providers. We developed a technological strategy to mitigate any environmental pollution and to reduce the operating costs by 80%.

Opportunities to scale up sanitation businesses in Africa

Through WASTE COOP and Africa Funded, together with Aqua for All, I investigated the opportunities to scale up sanitation businesses in Africa. This initiative of the Toilet Board Coalition was started by Unilever. We screened 12 companies and investigated readiness to scale, viability of the plans and how co-creation and cross selling opportunities can be beneficial for the innovative entrepreneurs. We presented the results in London to the board of the Toilet Board Coalition. 

Team Leader Feasibility Studies High Priority Investments Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Project

The Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Programme with High Priority Investments is to contribute to the improvement of the water quality and to a sustainable management of the Lake Victoria Basin.  Hired by SWECO and responsible for shortlisting of High Priority Investments and the preparation of four Feasibility Studies in line with the KfW project appraisal guidelines:  wastewater collection and treatment in Mwanza (Tanzania), Faecal Sludge Management in Kigali (Rwanda), treatment of an open sewer (Nakivubo channel) by means of Constructed Wetlands in Kampala (Uganda) and sanitation improvement in informal settlements through a delegated management model in Kisumu (Kenya).

Mid-Term Review Young Expert Programme (YEP) Water

The YEP Water aims to support the continued availability of international professionalism and expertise in the Netherlands water sector. YEP Water is a public private partnership between the Netherlands Water Partnership and MoFA and started in 2013 for a 5-year period. The Mid Term Review aims at gathering conclusions and lessons learned halfway to help the programme to reach its full potential.

Faecal sludge treatment for application in emergency situations

Within the S(P)EEDKITS project an extensive research for faecal sludge sanitising methods has taken place in Blantyre, Malawi. Three faecal sludge sanitising methods—lactic acid fermentation, urea treatment and lime treatment—were studied for application in emergency situations. These methods were investigated by undertaking small scale field trials with pit latrine sludge. The result have now been published in IJERPH (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health),