This week in Lusaka, Zambia, we co-hosted a hybrid hashtag#NonSeweredSanitation (𝗡𝗦𝗦) 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 with ESAWAS regulators association, bringing together regulators, utilities, municipalities, system developers, & development partners to address the need for a practical, standardized NSS data module tailored to the realities of African utilities.

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭: Yvonne Magawa, 𝗘𝗦𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗦'𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of KPIs in hashtag#NSS service delivery. Freya Mills from World Health Organization/UNICEF 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 (𝗝𝗠𝗣) shared indicators for hashtag#SDG monitoring & reporting, & Grace Wambui, hashtag#WSH Consultant at Dev-Afrique, presented findings from our 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗦𝗦 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮—the first comprehensive evaluation of its kind (𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀!) Participants then defined KPIs that balance local needs with global reporting standards, establishing metrics critical to effective NSS service monitoring.

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮: Technical discussions explored module components across the NSS service chain. Representatives showcased their existing NSS and ERP data systems such as the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (NAWASSCO) @NakuruWater 𝗘𝗥𝗣 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺, the 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 (𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗜𝗦), and the Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company 𝗟𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 (𝗟𝗦𝗦), highlighting how data systems enhance NSS service delivery. We also delved into data requirements, system integration, & necessary resources for creating & managing an NSS data module that supports effective decision-making across Africa’s utilities.

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟯: Participants developed a comprehensive Terms of Reference (hashtag#ToR) & a strategic roadmap for scaling the NSS module across diverse contexts. Key discussions addressed data protection, user training, & capacity-building to ensure effective integration. They crafted a forward-looking blueprint, envisioning how the hashtag#NSSDataModule would drive policy-backed improvements in NSS services. The resulting module is designed to integrate seamlessly within an hashtag#ERPSystem, enhancing hashtag#OperationalEfficiency, improving hashtag#ServiceDelivery, & ensuring hashtag#RegulatoryCompliance.

Special thanks to all delegates for their invaluable contributions as this collaboration marks a pivotal step towards scalable, adaptable, & impactful, data-driven NSS service provision across Africa.