Water Research Commission (South Africa)

The Water Research Commission (WRC) is an entity of the Ministry of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and was established in 1971 in terms of the Water Research Act (Act No 34 of 1971). With the mandate of facilitating, guiding and coordinating new knowledge generation through research, the WRC’s vision is to have highly informed water decision-making through science and technology at all levels, in all stakeholder groups, and innovative water solutions through research and development for South Africa, Africa and the world.  In this regard, the WRC’s aim is to contribute effectively to the best possible quality of life for the people of South Africa, by promoting water research, developent and innovtion (RDI) application and uptake of research findings and products. The Commission drives its mission of becoming a regional water knowledge hub and South Africa’s premier water knowledge resource, active across the entire water innovation value chain world through 3 key strategic areas: (1) water resources management and ecosystems, (2) water use and waste water management and (3) water utilisation in agriculture. International cooperation and partnerships forms an integral part of the Commission’s business driven by formal or informal frameworks aimed at facilitating and supporting joint learning (RDI projets and knowledge sharing activities), capacity building and innovation partnerships with partners in the African continent and globally. The WRC also implements the National Water Research, Development and Innovation Roadmap, the South African Sanitation Technology Demonstration Programme (SASTEP) and the Water Technologies and Demonstration Programme (WADER) established by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of South Africa.

 The Commission is also a member of several international policy and technical water and sanitation communities of practice and agenda setting platforms aimed at driving the African and global water and sanitation research, development and innovation (RDI) with the aim of addressing the global water and sanitation challenges.