Rundu Town Council Hosts Impact Session on Urban Water Security
The Rundu Town Council, in partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), hosted an Impact Session under the Innovate4Water Project, highlighting how digital innovations can transform water management in Namibia.
The session underscored that codesign approaches to integrating IoT and AI technologies can revolutionize real-time monitoring, forecasting, and decision-making, while impact assessment frameworks built from the outset are critical to track progress and justify scaling up thus ensuring sustainable solutions. Participants further highlighted that success depends on critical enablers such as sustainable investment, technical skills and capacitation of the workforce, as well as reliable infrastructure and maintenance.
The discussions also pointed to the importance of urban water security mitigation, especially in light of the recent heavy rainy season, which has placed additional strain on stormwater systems, sanitation services, and urban infrastructure. Ensuring resilience against both drought and flood conditions was identified as central to building a sustainable future for towns like Rundu.
The session brought together an integrated team of 16 participants including 10 staff members from key municipal departments, such as finance & IT, Infrastructure, Planning and Technical Services- water and sanitation, Community Service department (public and environmental health). This diversity of expertise ensured a comprehensive exploration of both challenges and solutions.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Sam Nekaro, Strategic Executive: Finance and IT, said: “The project results and findings reflect our aspirations of building a town based on knowledge and informed through research. I cannot wait to see it all translating into practical solutions, especially those focusing on digital innovations.”
The session further explored opportunities for Rundu in stormwater repurposing, renewable energy for water treatment, urban agriculture, and AI-driven monitoring — laying the foundation for a smart, resilient, and future-ready town.