By Craig Tinashe – What a week in the beautiful Kingdom of Lesotho! Attending the 21st WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium perfectly blended work and connection, from breathtaking mountain views to inspiring sessions on Africa’s water future. Hosted by the University of Lesotho at the Avani Maseru Hotel, this gathering was all about brainstorming, collaborating, and, of course, connecting with like-minded water warriors across the continent. As the regional manager for Southern Africa with Wetskills, my mission was to foster connections with stakeholders in the water and resilience sectors—and what a fantastic setting to do just that.
Warm Welcomes and New Discoveries in Maseru
My arrival on October 28 was met with a warm welcome from none other than Phomolo Khonto, a Wetskills Alum and now a Program Officer, who not only picked me up at the airport but got me set up with a data line (essential!) and showed me around Maseru. I spent the next day exploring the city, finding the perfect spot to prep for the symposium.
Day 1: Talking Water Challenges—and Youth Solutions!
On October 30, we launched a jam-packed session on Strategic Youth Engagement: Developing African Water Sector Cases for Youth Challenges and Hackathons, co-chaired by Dr. Mamohloding Tlhagale and me. The Water Research Commission (WRC) pulled out all the stops to inspire Africa’s young water professionals to get involved. Dr. Jenniffer Molwantwa, CEO of WRC, delivered a powerful keynote on the youth’s essential role in securing a sustainable water future, leaving us all feeling like true change-makers.
Left: Dr. Jenniffer Molwantwa, CEO of WRC, Right: Dr. Mamohloding Tlhagale
The energy in the room was contagious! We had incredible speakers, including Ms. Camila Haux from UNICEF, who introduced the Yoma platform, which connects youth with green opportunities—a perfect match for Wetskills’ mission to empower young professionals. We also heard from representatives of South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Susan Andrews and Ms. Nangomso Breakfast, who highlighted several youth-centred initiatives, underscoring DWS’s strong commitment to supporting emerging water leaders.
Session 1 presenters
Day 2: Fast-Paced Problem-Solving, Wetskills Style
Day two was my chance to lead a fun, high-energy workshop using Mentimeter. Participants unpacked the challenges facing Africa’s water sector. With the help of students, young professionals, and experienced experts, we brainstormed and prioritised key issues impacting Africa’s youth. We zeroed in on four main areas: access to clean water, lack of skills, limited opportunities, and lack of financial support.
Then came the twist—teams were formed, challenges assigned, and each group had 40 minutes to develop cases for a water-scarce Africa, which we’ll use in Wetskills 2025 events. It was a mini Wetskills challenge! Watching everyone collaborate and hustle reminded me why I love what I do. When the timer buzzed, each team presented their ideas to a panel of judges, including reps from WRC, Wetskills, WISA YWP, DWS, and UNICEF. A winning team emerged, and prizes were awarded—a fun, competitive end to an incredibly productive session.
Expanding Partnerships Over Coffee
After the session, I headed to reNOKA for a productive meeting with our Lesotho partners, Mr. Fanana and Phomolo. We explored exciting ideas for future Wetskills events in Lesotho and brainstormed WetsNext initiatives. It was a fantastic wrap-up to the week, building momentum for future collaborations and strengthening our network in Southern Africa.
A selfie with Phomolo at the reNOKA offices
I also had a productive conversation with Mark Graham from GroundTruth. We discussed both of our organisations’ activities and explored potential synergies. It was inspiring to see how our goals align, and I look forward to developing potential partnerships with them in the future!
Connections, Reunions, and a Bit of Fun
One of the best parts of the symposium was the chance to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones, including two more Wetskills Alumni! Seeing them in action as leaders in the sector showed just how far our network reaches. It was a proud moment for Wetskills, reinforcing our goal to foster a strong, skilled African community that can tackle the continent’s water and resilience challenges head-on.
Looking Forward to More
My activities at this symposium were a testament to Wetskills’ mission of building sustainable networks and impactful solutions. I left Lesotho feeling energised and inspired by the passion of young water professionals ready to make a difference. Now, I’m back in the office to follow up on leads and prepare for next year’s Wetskills events. Here’s to more connections, collaborations, and, hopefully, more adventures back in Lesotho soon!