estimated to be 43%, with 420 million unique mobile subscribers of which
smartphone connections were nearly 200 million [67].
Finally, the ICT-focused water innovations analysed in this study seem to fit with
the realities of African countries – they arguably tend to be low-cost and affordable
to potential customers. For example, in the Reducing water loss by improved data
systems project in Kenya, Upande develops and tests low-cost wireless water flow
meters and low-cost pressure and level sensors that can be sold to water utilities at
affordable prices. Within the Storm forecasts for Musanze project, the Trans-African
Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) is introducing its inexpensive
3 but
robust weather stations in Rwanda. Many of the mobile phone applications being
supported by the VIA Water programme enable citizens to easily take measurements
on water levels (e.g. of rivers), evaluate them and send information and images by
phone to relevant authorities. Using these applications seems to be far more costeffective, reliable and timely than traditional data collection and transmission infrastructure. Although it is still early to conclude that these technological innovations
really provide robust solutions to the problems facing water systems in African
countries, it is interesting to see that they all were developed with the same spirit of
“being easy to use, cheap and durable”. Our analysis suggests that this was triggered
by the fact that the VIA Water selection criteria emphasise both technical and social
sustainability aspects of the innovations. The applicants had therefore to ensure that
the proposed innovations are appropriate to the local circumstances and affordable
for local users.
5.1.2 Formation of ICT-WIPs
The analysis conducted in this study suggests that the VIA Water programme played
an important role in the formation of investigated ICT-WIPs, by creating conditions
that encouraged innovators to team up. As a matter of fact, the VIA Water
programme actively promotes innovation partnerships, notably between African
and foreign organisations. This is clearly indicated in the programme’s entry criteria
[69]. Applicants outside Africa need to have at least one African partner. Thus, as
most of the ICT-WIPs analysed in this study have a Western lead innovator, the VIA
Water conditions required them to have an African partner. In the case of African
applicants, VIA Water encouraged these to team up with possible Western partners,
but this was not a “hard” condition. Our empirical findings suggest that, in some
cases, lead innovators selected their working partners based on earlier experience
working with them, perceived ability of the partners to complement their resource
gaps and/or their strategic positions in the water sector of the country of project
3 The cost of a station is evaluated at only $500: this cheap price is achieved notably by leveraging
on already existing low-cost sensors (as found in objects ranging from washing machines to cars
and smart phones) and using them as weather or water sensors. For example, the simple piezo
buzzer (costing $1), which is used in fire alarms, is used to measure rainfall intensity [68].
Promoting Smart Water Systems in Developing Countries Through. . .
185
smartphone connections were nearly 200 million [67].
Finally, the ICT-focused water innovations analysed in this study seem to fit with
the realities of African countries – they arguably tend to be low-cost and affordable
to potential customers. For example, in the Reducing water loss by improved data
systems project in Kenya, Upande develops and tests low-cost wireless water flow
meters and low-cost pressure and level sensors that can be sold to water utilities at
affordable prices. Within the Storm forecasts for Musanze project, the Trans-African
Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) is introducing its inexpensive
3 but
robust weather stations in Rwanda. Many of the mobile phone applications being
supported by the VIA Water programme enable citizens to easily take measurements
on water levels (e.g. of rivers), evaluate them and send information and images by
phone to relevant authorities. Using these applications seems to be far more costeffective, reliable and timely than traditional data collection and transmission infrastructure. Although it is still early to conclude that these technological innovations
really provide robust solutions to the problems facing water systems in African
countries, it is interesting to see that they all were developed with the same spirit of
“being easy to use, cheap and durable”. Our analysis suggests that this was triggered
by the fact that the VIA Water selection criteria emphasise both technical and social
sustainability aspects of the innovations. The applicants had therefore to ensure that
the proposed innovations are appropriate to the local circumstances and affordable
for local users.
5.1.2 Formation of ICT-WIPs
The analysis conducted in this study suggests that the VIA Water programme played
an important role in the formation of investigated ICT-WIPs, by creating conditions
that encouraged innovators to team up. As a matter of fact, the VIA Water
programme actively promotes innovation partnerships, notably between African
and foreign organisations. This is clearly indicated in the programme’s entry criteria
[69]. Applicants outside Africa need to have at least one African partner. Thus, as
most of the ICT-WIPs analysed in this study have a Western lead innovator, the VIA
Water conditions required them to have an African partner. In the case of African
applicants, VIA Water encouraged these to team up with possible Western partners,
but this was not a “hard” condition. Our empirical findings suggest that, in some
cases, lead innovators selected their working partners based on earlier experience
working with them, perceived ability of the partners to complement their resource
gaps and/or their strategic positions in the water sector of the country of project
3 The cost of a station is evaluated at only $500: this cheap price is achieved notably by leveraging
on already existing low-cost sensors (as found in objects ranging from washing machines to cars
and smart phones) and using them as weather or water sensors. For example, the simple piezo
buzzer (costing $1), which is used in fire alarms, is used to measure rainfall intensity [68].
Promoting Smart Water Systems in Developing Countries Through. . .
185