Social

WASH solutions: from South Africa for South Africa

The aim of the “Umthombo” programme is to pave the way for social entrepreneurship for WASH solutions in Africa and the development of sustainable solutions.

Zwei junge Frauen stehen lachend vor einer Flipchart

Africa

South Africa

Funding period: 2023-2025

Young Water Solutions, Paris (YWS, Website), is a non-profit organisation that aims to empower young people worldwide to carry out impactful solutions in the WASH sector (water, sanitation, hygiene) and in waste management in their communities and also develop their own business models.

The Young Water Fellowship programme was launched in 2017 and provides advisory services as well as technical and financial resources for the validation and establishment of social businesses. So far, YWS has empowered more than 100 start-ups in the area of water and wastewater management and supported them in kick-starting their own projects and social businesses, for instance in South America (Nicaragua) and Africa (Senegal, Uganda). The NGO cooperates with international companies, public-sector entities and institutions, and private foundations and non-profit organisations.

Evi Hoch und David Höltgen zu Besuch im Office von Young Water Solution in Paris — Evi Hoch and David Höltgen visit the Young Water Solution office in Paris. Photo: Young Water Solutions (YWS), Paris

Since 2023, the programme has been held in South Africa. Ambitious water pioneers had an opportunity to participate in a six-months programme for generating projects that adress concrete problems in South Africa’s WASH and waste management sector. There were various online hackathons, a three-day bootcamp and several coaching offers, enabling participants to develop sustainable solutions and lay the foundations for their own business models.

Junge Menschen diskutieren in einem Projekt-Bootcamp — In boot camps, the teams' projects are further developed. Photo: Young Water Solutions (YWS), Paris

Zwei junge Frauen im Gespräch mit einem Netzwerkpartner — Individual training measures as well as advice from network partners and water experts support the participants. Photo: Young Water Solutions (YWS), Paris

In a second phase of the programme (incubation phase), up to ten teams will be given targeted support during a one-year period and develop their business ideas further through bootcamps and advisory services.

The Wilo-Foundation is providing financial support for the programme. Further funding partners for the South Africa programme include the non-profit organisation Viva con Agua from Hamburg, which also has an office in South Africa, for example.

Photo Header: Young Water Solutions (YWS), Paris

Our funding partner

Young Water Solutions (YWS), Paris, is an international non-profit organization that aims to develop and support the potential of young people to contribute to universal water, sanitation hygiene and water resources management. To this end, the NGO empowers young leaders and entrepreneurs, providing them with the tools to carry out water and sanitation projects and launch social businesses in their communities.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs?