HWP-PASA MoU

The memorandum was signed in Budapest during the Future of Water conference by Dr Károly Kovács,

Within the framework of Planet Budapest, the Future of Water conference organised by the Hungarian Water Partnership (HWP) became not only a platform for dialogue, but also a catalyst for building lasting international partnerships.

On 27 February 2026, HWP and the Pan-African Association of Sanitation Actors (PASA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step forward in Hungarian–African cooperation in the wastewater sector. The agreement highlights the growing international recognition of Hungarian technologies developed to treat wastewater from non-sewered settlements and large urban areas. Among these innovations is Septopure®, a solution already successfully implemented and acknowledged worldwide — including by the United Nations — for its contribution to safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment.

Building on these achievements, HWP has joined forces with PASA, a leading organisation advancing faecal sludge management and sanitation solutions across Africa.

The memorandum was signed in Budapest during the Future of Water conference by Dr Károly Kovács, President of HWP and founder of Pureco, and Ibra Sow, President of PASA.

Addressing global sanitation challenges

Across many rapidly growing cities — particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia — wastewater collection and treatment systems are unable to keep pace with urban expansion. In these regions, sanitation facilities that are not connected to sewer networks generate significant volumes of faecal sludge. While these materials increasingly present opportunities for resource recovery, the treatment of associated wastewater often remains underprioritised despite its critical environmental and public health implications.

Rapid population growth and expanding infrastructure development make the construction of conventional sewer networks financially and technically challenging. As a result, the dominant operational model in many regions continues to follow the sequence: empty – transport – dispose.

Through their cooperation, PASA and the Hungarian Water Partnership aim to transform this model by introducing an integrated sanitation service chain that ensures safe treatment while promoting environmentally responsible non-sewered sanitation systems.

The partnership seeks to establish a circular, resource-efficient sanitation ecosystem, building on ongoing professional collaboration in Africa — particularly the work of Mamadou Ndiour, Chair of the AfWASA Sanitation Specialist Group, and Dr Károly Kovács, Member of AfWASA’s Strategic and Technological Council and Vice Chair of the Sanitation Specialist Group.

PASA’s role in strengthening sanitation in Africa

Founded in 2019, PASA brings together sanitation-focused organisations from 31 African countries. As a continental platform, PASA works to professionalise the sanitation sector, foster collaboration, and promote sustainable faecal sludge management solutions that improve public health outcomes.

Creating an integrated sanitation value chain

The newly established partnership aims to strengthen the entire non-sewered sanitation value chain — from collection and transport to treatment and resource recovery.

Key objectives of the cooperation include:

• developing integrated technical solutions for non-sewered sanitation systems,
• supporting the creation of enabling regulatory frameworks,
• encouraging knowledge exchange and stakeholder collaboration,
• advancing the professional activities of the AfWASA Sanitation Specialist Group,
• establishing a sustainable and scalable non-sewered sanitation service ecosystem.

Pureco’s expertise plays a central role in the initiative. The collaboration builds on the UN-recognised Septopure® technology developed by Pureco, which has already achieved successful implementation in three cities in Ghana, delivering full treatment of collected faecal sludge.

Elevating the societal importance of sanitation

Beyond technological innovation, the partnership aims to strengthen recognition of the sanitation sector’s societal value. Sanitation services are often perceived primarily as waste disposal activities, despite their essential role in protecting water resources, safeguarding public health, and preserving the environment.

Modern sanitation systems — in Africa and worldwide — must evolve toward treatment-focused, environmentally responsible models in which advanced technologies transform liquid waste into valuable resources within circular systems.

The agreement also seeks to attract new generations of professionals to the water sector, positioning drinking water and wastewater management as purpose-driven fields dedicated to protecting one of Earth’s most vital resources.

The organisers are proud that the Future of Water international conference served not only as a meeting point, but as a genuine catalyst for cooperation and joint action. The partnership represents more than a formal agreement: it lays the foundation for long-term collaboration expected to contribute meaningfully to water security and a sustainable future across Africa.