About the SWPN
The SWPN is a multi-stakeholder partnership working collectively to close a 17% gap between water supply and demand that is anticipated to manifest by the year 2030 in South Africa. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the South African Breweries co-chair the partnership.
Today the SWPN is a recognised industry leader in multi-stakeholder approaches to water resource management.
This partnership was developed in response to a request by the late Mrs Edna Molewa, MP (South Africa’s Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs) at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2011 in Davos, Switzerland to develop and launch a DWA-WRG(Water Resource Group) partnership at the Forum’s 2011 Africa Summit in Cape Town.
The National Water Resources Strategy (2012) formally identifies the SWPN as the key platform to facilitate new forms of partnerships between DWS, the private sector, civil society and other key stakeholders.
Today the SWPN, hosted by the NEPAD Business Foundation is a recognised industry leader in multi-stakeholder approaches to water resource management and provides a neutral platform for engagement on water issues.
The SWPN convenes stakeholders, carries out participatory problem and opportunity analyses and develops, incubates and scales out projects to improve water security.
The underlying driver of the SWPN is the commitment of the public and private sectors together with civil society to work in partnership to find solutions for South Africa’s water challenges. The SWPN works together with network partners to identify, design, and implement innovative and cost-effective solutions and programmes that address our shared water challenges.
Since its establishment in November 2011, the SWPN has established an award- winning partnership model and mobilised resources to undertake joint projects to support the Department of Water and Sanitation in addressing major water issues. These projects also contribute to the reduction of the shared risks impacting the private and civil society sectors.
The SWPN membership has grown from the original five founding partners and the Department of Water and Sanitation, to include amongst its partners 12 international organizations, 37 public sector organisations, six financial institutions, ten civil society organizations and 35 private sector members.
The SWPN continues to grow in strength through an ongoing commitment to a shared vision between government and private sector investors.
Our Vision
The SWPN vision is to strive to contribute to efficient, equitable and sustainable water supply and access to water for all South Africans through the identification and application of innovative and cost- effective solutions
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to help close the projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030 as well as improve the water security in South Africa.