By Abraham Donkor
Stakeholders from government, the private sector and development partners have convened in Accra for the 2026 Beyond the Pipe Forum, the 16th edition of the event hosted by Safe Water Network.
This year’s forum focused on how Safe Water Enterprises (SWEs) can transition from pilot initiatives into investment-ready models capable of delivering sustainable water services at scale.
Held under the theme “From Ideas to Pilots: Preparing Safe Water Enterprises for Investment,” the forum highlighted progress in piloting innovations in water safety, remote monitoring and leak detection. Participants also emphasised the need for stronger coordination between the public and private sectors, improved market intelligence and information sharing, and increased access to financing to support enterprise growth.
A key highlight of the forum was the presentation of findings from a market mapping exercise conducted in the Ahafo Region by Safe Water Network. The research identified gaps and overlaps in service delivery and underscored the importance of clearly defined service territories to reduce duplication, enhance operational efficiency, and create more attractive conditions for investment in decentralised water services.
Opening the forum, the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with private sector actors.
“As we work to achieve universal access to safe water, it is essential that we create the right conditions for private sector participation. Safe Water Enterprises have demonstrated their potential, and we must now focus on strengthening coordination, improving planning, and enabling investment to scale these models sustainably,” he said.
The Ghana Country Director of Safe Water Network, Charles Nimako, stressed the importance of learning from pilot implementation.
“We are seeing a clear shift from innovation to practical application. The lessons emerging from these pilots are helping us better understand what it takes to run efficient, reliable water services, and what is needed to prepare these enterprises for investment,” he said.
The forum also highlighted new financing opportunities, including the extension of the Making Water Count programme by Aqua for All through 2029. The initiative is expected to provide funding support to eligible water and sanitation small and medium-scale enterprises in Ghana and beyond.
Chief Executive Officer of Safe Water Network, Chris Williams, underscored the importance of building an investable ecosystem.
“The next phase of this work is about building strong, coordinated markets where enterprises can thrive. That means aligning policy, strengthening operational performance, and ensuring that capital can flow to enterprises that are ready to grow and deliver impact,” he noted.
A member of Safe Water Network’s India Advisory Group, Sanjeev Chadha, highlighted the global relevance of Ghana’s experience.
“What we are seeing here offers important lessons for other markets. The combination of enterprise models, data-driven planning, and ecosystem partnerships provides a strong foundation for scaling decentralised water services in a sustainable and investable way,” he added.
The forum brought together policymakers, service providers, investors, Safe Water Enterprises and development partners to strengthen collaboration and identify practical steps toward building a more coordinated and investment-ready water sector.
Safe Water Network is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to developing and scaling sustainable solutions that expand access to safe water in underserved communities. Founded by Paul Newman, the organisation operates in Ghana and India, building locally managed, financially viable water enterprises that deliver reliable services to households, schools, health facilities and small businesses.
In addition to direct service delivery, Safe Water Network collaborates with governments, private sector partners and development institutions to strengthen the broader water ecosystem through data, market intelligence and integrated water resource management approaches.
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