Water sensitive design

Expanding and embedding the Water Sensitive Design Community of Practice (WSD CoP) in South Africa
Conference sub-theme: 6. Develop skills and technology innovations and disruptors.

The workshop is being organised by Dr Kirsty Carden of the Future Water institute at the University of Cape Town in collaboration with the Water Research Commission and the Department of Science and Technology. It is aimed at expanding the critical mass of knowledge around the adoption of Water Sensitive Design (WSD) in South Africa, and specifically on developing the reach and membership of the existing WSD CoP. The target audience will therefore comprise stakeholders (engineers, planners, consultants, architects / landscape architects, urban designers, environmental scientists etc.) with previous and/or ongoing involvement in the development and implementation of WSD as a new approach to the management of water resources.

This workshop will explore ways to more effectively position, integrate and scale-up this important network and the support function(s) it provides to WSD practitioners in South Africa. The workshop will also be used to ‘sense-check’ the service offerings of the WSD CoP and exploring the best governance arrangements for a broader, national-focused CoP going forward. It will provide an update on interactions about these issues to date and then draw on the experience and ideas of participants to further unpack the proposed details of a national, hybrid CoP to determine the most effective and sustainable way of enhancing its footprint nationally and ensuring the further, broader uptake of WSD around the country. This workshop will also be used to expand the critical mass of knowledge around the adoption of WSD in South Africa, and specifically on developing the reach and membership of the existing CoP.

History of the WSD CoP: The WRC established a dedicated WSD CoP programme in 2014 (anchored and facilitated by the Future Water institute at UCT) to facilitate the implementation of WSD, and specifically the knowledge-sharing and capacity development required to encourage a paradigm shift in the water sector. The WSD CoP has recently entered its second phase (in a WRC/DST Water RDI Roadmap partnership), with a focus on identifying opportunities for broadening its reach and strengthening its national presence to ensure greater sustainability.