In Kenya, MWA works closely with its members to scale and influence sustained water and sanitation services and resilience in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of the country. MWA members bring in their strengths on effective approaches for efficiency and long-term impact in programming. The Alliance also plays a key role in convening through hosting global learning events that involve both head office and member staff from field offices, local and global businesses, including representation from government.
On September 20, 2024, at its Nairobi, Kenya office, MWA organized a networking event for its Kenyan-based members. Over 40 attendees from MWA’s global and Kenya offices and the following member and partner organizations attended: Food for the Hungry Chemonics, Water Project, CARE, Living Water, Acacia Water, Catholic Relief Services, Global Water Center, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, World Vision and MWA partners and prospective members Water Fund, Virridy, Maji Milele, Water Kiosk, Aqua Clara Kenya, Epicenter, Solargen, Davis & Shirtliff, Welthungerhilfe, and Lifestraw.
This networking event connected MWA members with each other as a platform for increased collaboration and learning, as well as providing updates on MWA-led work across 12 counties in Kenya. A theme of the event was on: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership – essentially, understanding how Water, Sanitation and Hygiene connects or relates with other sectors such as Climate, Agriculture, Energy, Results-based Finance.
LifeStraw – a global for-profit company that advances equitable access to safe water attended the event and comprehensively identified the value addition that comes with joining Millennium Water Alliance. Lifestraw employee Violet Ngunjiri excitedly remarked, “I cannot wait for a sequel to this event. This space is one of those doors LifeStraw is glad to have knocked on. A platform we have dreamt about. I am leaving this event with four scheduled follow up meetings with MWA members.”
MWA is cognizant that bringing scaled access to safe drinking water and safe sanitation requires many actors and skills – no one organization or business can do it alone. Thus said, it strategically uses pillars of growth and collective impact, global reach and localization including building influence to convene and deliver innovations at scale.
Keith Wright, the Executive Director at Millennium Water Alliance explained the collective value of the MWA network. “It is exciting that we are all leading actors in our respective spaces and benefit from how we generously bring the best of our respective organizations to collective action. I would say for existing and prospective members, investing in how you connect with each other, that is the most special part of being in Millennium Water Alliance. We should be more intentional about making those connections and breaking the existing silos of how we work.” Wright gave examples of innovations in results-based finance and climate resilient solutions as an example where various MWA members are collaborating for break-through solutions.
Finally, members were invited to an office tour of the Millennium Water Alliance Kenya hub. This was an opportunity to for members to see the institution up close and personal, giving them a greater understanding and appreciation for the Millennium Water Alliance and its services for the members.
Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) is a global alliance of leading humanitarian, research, and business organizations founded 22 years ago. At the core of its work, MWA convenes a trusted network of expert organizations to advance global solutions to water and climate challenges.