UK-South Africa Water Security and Waste Circularity Global Innovation Network
Delivered by Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa, the UK–South Africa Water Security and Waste Circularity Global Innovation Network aims to enable innovation development in water and waste systems. With a strong economic and impact case for collaboration in both countries, this network encourages collaboration to explore improvements in water quality, supply security, circular economy practices, through inclusive innovation.
About the network
Led by Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa, the UK–South Africa Water Security and Waste Circularity Global Innovation Network is a platform that connects organisations and individuals from both countries to share knowledge, explore opportunities, and engage in shared challenges in the water and waste sectors.
This network brings together a community of stakeholders interested in learning from one another and exploring ways to improve different parts of the water and waste value chains, as well as developing new use cases for positive social impact. This innovation network also encourages participation from women-led enterprises in these sectors by enabling access to funding, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities.
Through knowledge exchange, collaborative partnerships, and inclusive programming, this network hopes to contribute to more sustainable, resilient, and equitable water and waste systems in both South Africa and the UK.
Objectives
This Global Innovation Network is guided by three core objectives:
Strengthen International Partnerships
Facilitate meaningful collaboration between South African and UK organisations to support joint initiatives in the water and waste sectors.
Support Innovation Development
Encourage the creation and testing of new technologies, models, and practices that address key challenges across the water and waste value chains.
Enhance Knowledge Sharing
Promote the exchange of insights, experiences, and lessons learned to improve decision-making and accelerate progress in both countries.
Focus Areas
Enhancing Water Quality and Ecosystem Health
Development of water treatment, pollution monitoring, remediation, and nature-based solutions to help restore and protect water ecosystems.
Improving Water Supply Security and Equitable Access
Enhancing water availability and reliability through efficient water use, infrastructure improvements, and inclusive approaches to supplying water to communities.
Advancing Waste Diversion and the Circular Economy
Supporting tech for waste collection, sorting, processing, beneficiation, and reuse that reduces landfill reliance and promotes circular resource use.
Empowering Women to Lead Water and Waste Innovation
Encouraging inclusive innovation by supporting women entrepreneurs and leaders to access finance, mentorship, and new sector opportunities.
UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network Launch
Recording and slides now available >
Related programmes
Global Alliance Africa
Launched in 2019, Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa is an UK International Development initiative, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme aims to build stronger equitable UK-African partnerships to maximise the creation of inclusive market access, funding and investment opportunities, and collaborative innovation between the UK, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.
Global Innovation Networks
Global Innovation Networks unite some of the best minds and greatest thinkers from across the UK and globally to find answers to some of the world’s most significant challenges. The Networks will facilitate UK, African and EU networks to deliver collaborative research, innovation and funding solutions that address key global innovation challenges.
Join the network
Connect with UK and South African water experts that are driving water security and circular economy solutions.