Water Technologies Procurement

This report examines the challenges and opportunities in enhancing the uptake of water and sanitation innovations within South Africa’s public sector procurement framework. Commissioned by the Water Research Commission (WRC), the study investigates how existing legislation and supply chain management (SCM) practices influence innovation adoption. Through desktop reviews, stakeholder surveys, interviews, and workshops, the research identifies that barriers lie less in procurement rules and more in their application, compounded by misconceptions such as equating value-for-money solely with lowest cost. The report emphasises the need for lifecycle costing, strategic sourcing, and multi-stage bidding processes to facilitate scaling of innovative technologies. Case studies, including pilot projects for non-sewered sanitation systems funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, illustrate practical approaches to implementation. Key recommendations include developing integrated innovation policies aligned with SCM and governance structures, fostering collaboration between technical and procurement teams, and leveraging platforms like SASTEP and WADER for knowledge sharing and capacity building. The findings underscore the importance of enabling environments and structured procurement strategies to accelerate innovation adoption in water and sanitation services.

Abstract based on original source.