Kigali; Yesterday IWA announced the winners of the prestigious IWA Water and Development Awards 2023 .Winners were presented with the awards during the Opening Ceremony of the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition in Kigali, Rwanda.
This year’s recipients of the IWA Water and Development Awards are Dr Veena Srinivasan for Research, and Dr Doulaye Kone for Practice.
The awards recognized excellence, leadership and innovation in the water sector, and aimed to encourage the sustainable management of water in low- and middle-income countries. The awards were judged by a diverse panel of experts and winners were awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to research or practice that have led to demonstrable impact in low- and middle-income countries.
In deciding to recognise the achievements of Dr Veena Srinivasan, the judges noted that she demonstrated bravery and passion in her quest to follow an emerging but much-needed knowledge path in socio-hydrology, but also through advocacy for research and the establishment of WELL Labs in Bengaluru, India.
Upon receiving the award, Dr Srinivasan expressed her gratitude saying: “Being nominated for this award is such an honour and I’m very grateful. I am proud that my work has been recognised for laying the foundations of socio-hydrology as a discipline. My focus on analysing data and triangulation across datasets represents a significant departure from traditional water resources management methods and has raised awareness on what kind of science is needed to solve India’s water crisis.”
Presenting the award for practice to Doulaye, the judges highlighted that his career was instrumental in kicking off a paradigm shift across the water and sanitation sector. His vision has catalysed technological innovations in non-sewered sanitation through the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, and brought new ways of approaching the sustainability of faecal sludge management at scale. Some of Doulaye’s pioneering work has influenced policy and strategies in the sector, such as the importance of linking market approaches with service provision.
Doulaye further highlighted the impact of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge to spur circular innovation in toilet and sanitation technology, adding that: “I convinced the Gates Foundation to initiate the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge to generate innovative solutions that can protect against human waste-borne pathogens and deliver a truly 21st century inclusive sanitation solution that reach the poorest communities. This type of climate-resilient sanitation innovation, when combined with proper infrastructure and national action, will enhance public health, foster better gender equality outcomes, and reduce communities’ dependence on water amidst a changing world.”
