Professionalisation of Rwanda’s public utility WASAC

Capacity building and training

Under capacity building and training component, IRC, jointly with VEI, trained WASAC Development staff through the following courses aimed at equipping them with knowledge and skills required for the preparation of climate resilient projects:

• Course 1: Climate resilience in WASH services — a general introduction to climate resilience for utilities, tailored to WASAC's operational strategy and including an overview of climate finance.
• Course 2: Addressing climate resilience in feasibility studies — a more in-depth course introducing participants to standard instruments for feasibility study development.
• Course 3: Financial and economic feasibility of water and sanitation projects.
• Course 4: Creditworthiness of utilities and service providers, focusing on identification of the fundamental actions that water utilities and governments need to take to enhance creditworthiness, the importance of tariffs  for water utilities, description of the commercial finance scene and the importance of becoming a creditworthy utility.

On-the-job coaching

On-the-job coaching for the preparation of water supply projects focused on integrating climate resilience into feasibility studies and detailed designs for water supply systems. The coaching directly contributed to the application of climate-resilient planning principles across multiple strategic water infrastructure projects.

For the sanitation projects, on-the-job coaching focused on training sessions such as: stepwise development of Terms of Reference (ToR) for feasibility studies, climate resilient infrastructure design principles and comprehensive climate resilient sanitation project documentation and proposal development for climate financing through Green Climate Fund and Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) channels.

Technical support for the preparation of water and sanitation projects

Through the technical support, the comprehensive climate resilient terms of reference for the feasibility studies and detailed designs of water supply and sanitation projects were developed. These included comprehensive climate resilient ToRs for rehabilitation of five water treatment plants as well as review reports .

Development of standards documents and tools for preparation of climate-resilient water and sanitation projects

For the sustainability purpose in terms of fully integration of climate resilience in the project preparation within WASAC, IRC jointly with VEI developed supported WASAC in the development climate-resilient checklist as well as standards ToRs for water supply and sanitation projects to be used while developing climate-resilient projects.

Strategic business development advice

For WASAC’s strategic business development, IRC supported the development of a market analysis with identification of funding sources and an operational plan for WASAC resource mobilisation for investment pipeline projects.

Long- and short-terms impacts from strengthening of project preparation within WASAC

So far, for the projects already developed or prepared under regular on-the-job coaching for the preparation of water supply projects, WASAC managed to mobilise domestic funds of around USD 2 million to conduct feasibility studies and detailed designs for rehabilitation of water treatment plants.

Moreover, WASAC Development started using the developed standard documents such as the climate-resilient checklist and standards ToRs for water supply and sanitation projects.

What next?

Regarding knowledge sharing, WASAC leadership has expressed the need to extend the support to the WASAC utility for the preparation of bankable climate-resilient utility improvement projects and for utility creditworthiness and financial sustainability.

The leadership of the WASAC Group values all initiatives towards the professionalisation of utilities as ‘’ Water and sanitation systems are only as strong as the institutions and professionals behind them. Professionalisation is the engine that drives efficiency, accountability, and long-term sustainability across both urban and rural services.” Dr. Asaph Kabaasha, CEO WASAC Group