"It's just wonderful to see how the exchange goes beyond the programme."
Michaela Karolina Braun has been working as a development advisor in Kabwe, Zambia, for about a year and supports the Lukanga Water & Sanitation Company as an engineer within the framework of the Experts Fund for Municipal Partnerships, in the utility partnership with Gelsenwasser AG and the Emschergenosschenschaft/Lippeverband.
Michaela Karolina Braun in the workshop with her colleagues | Photo: Michaela Karolina Braun
You work for the Lukanga Water & Sanitation Company in Zambia. What challenges does this company face?
Michaela Karolina Braun: Our technical systems are all very old and have reached the end of their technical service life. In addition, we have no redundancies in the system, there are no backup systems. This means that various supply networks are only connected to a single pump, which can fail at any time. In this case, the supply for certain parts of the supply area would collapse. For Lukanga WSC, this means that we are very much driven by emergency strategies, we can mostly only react instead of having time to strategically plan our operations.
We also face the challenge of a rapidly growing population, especially in the informal settlement areas. This is a big challenge for us as urban planners because we have to make sure that everyone has access to drinking water and sanitation. However, there is often an increased level of vandalism in these areas. Our infrastructure is damaged or tapped illegally, i.e. without authorisation.
In addition, there are deficits both in training and in the automation of work processes. Since my arrival in Kabwe, I have learnt to appreciate the great dual training system and the highly qualified skilled workers we have in Germany. Here in Zambia, on the other hand, our tradespeople only complete a theoretical examination and the first time they are asked to repair damage in the plants is also the first time they hold a tool in their hands. It is difficult to find qualified specialists because they simply lack experience.
What does the utility partnership with Gelsenwasser AG, the Emschergenossenschaft and the Lippeverband look like in this situation? What role do you play as a specialist?
Michaela Karolina Braun: The partnership between the Zambian and German partners promoted by the utility platform aims to improve the capacities for the operation and maintenance of the Lukanga WSC. The utility partnership has been in place since 2019. In the initial phase, an analysis of the Lukanga WSC was carried out jointly and a performance improvement plan was drawn up. The focus is on data management and technical asset management. Thw water companies are now working together in various working groups.
My involvement in the partnership is based on my expertise as an engineer in the field of technical asset management. On the one hand, I provide technical support to the partners and contribute my own experience in Kabwe at the utility, and on the other hand, I am a cultural facilitator in the partnership. Although both sides often have the same vision, they have difficulties communicating with each other. In this role, I summarise the issues more clearly and build trust between the two sides. My job is to bring the ideas of the water utilities together and ensure that they can make a joint decision. This brings together the different Zambian and German approaches to work.
Can you give us a simple example?
Michaela Karolina Braun: We Germans tend to get straight to the point in business meetings. In Zambia, on the other hand, the personal level is very, very important in business relationships - and trust takes time. That's why the German side sometimes gets impatient and in Zambia they think the Germans are too direct, and then I sit in between. Once a common understanding has been established, there is a high level of trust, and we have achieved that in our partnership.
Photo: Michaela Karolina Braun
How should I imagine this cooperation in concrete terms? How is this cooperation organised?
Michaela Karolina Braun: As the partnership has existed for many years, the partners know each other very well. For me, we work together on a cordial working level. We know each other's technical systems. Thanks to the long-standing partnership, we are already seeing the first results, which of course motivates both sides. You can also realise that the Zambians are very proud of this partnership. Just two days ago over lunch, the conversation turned to the fact that they are proud to have the first utility partnership of the Utility Platform in Zambia. Now there is another one with Luapula WSC and another one is being planned. The partnership has also been recognised at international level, for example at the Zambian Water Forum, ZAWAFE, where our Managing Director gave a presentation. Next week, we will be in Kigali at this year's International Water Association (IWA) congress to talk about the success of the partnership.
Was there a particular highlight last year that immediately springs to mind when you think of the partnership?
Photo: Michaela Karolina Braun
Michaela Karolina Braun: Definitely, the start here at the water supplier in Zambia. With my own office in the centre of the activities, I feel integrated not only professionally but also personally. I receive a lot of appreciation, both from my colleagues on site and from Gelsenwasser AG, the Emschergenossenschaft and the Lippeverband.
Thanks to the cooperation in the wastewater working group, a sewage treatment plant that treats the wastewater of 5,600 inhabitants was able to be put back into operation after 10 years. It is impressive to see the motivation that is released on the part of the Lukanga WSC when they are supported.
Another highlight is that the partners work together as equals, i.e. the engineer here is networked with the engineers who have the same job at Gelsenwasser AG, the Emschergenossenschaft and the Lippeverband. Or the supervisor liaises directly with the supervisor, etc. I have noticed that the Zambian colleagues also turn to their German colleagues outside the working groups when we have a problem to get help or advice. This is a great success for me, because it is exactly in line with the idea of this utility partnership. It's just great to see how the exchange goes beyond the programme and how a collaborative partnership develops.
Are there any concrete future plans for now, the next few months or next year?
Michaela Karolina Braun: I find it exciting that Lukanga WSC has qualified for two major projects that will be funded by the EU and the African Development Bank with over 20 million US dollars next year and will invest in new infrastructure. I can support my Zambian colleagues in project management, which will be very exciting.
In particular, the EU-funded NEWZA project (Nexus Energy and Water programme in Zambia), in which GIZ Zambia will also be involved in capacity building, aims to make water suppliers less dependent on energy sources. As the energy consumption for operating the plants accounts for a large proportion of the company's costs, the utilitys are to increasingly switch to independently operated solar energy. This includes the installation of numerous solar modules on our pump houses, which we will then use to reduce costs.
The "Experts Fund for Municipal Partnerships Worldwide", implemented by Engagement Global GmbH with its Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), finances experts within partnership projects. In this case, this is a partnership funded via the utility platform. This partnership is an example of a meaningful dovetailing of these two projects, which is also supported by the GIZ project "Strengthening Institutions for Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation in Zambia (SIWaS)".
Next application deadline for the Expert Fund: 31 January 2024
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