Online Workshop: COVID-19 research and innovation programmes and projects implemented by IORA MS and DP

As a member of the South African IORA Academic Group, the Water Research Commission of South Africa received financial support from the IORA Special Fund to organise three workshops of the IORA Academic Group Water Science and Technology Core Working Group (WSTWG) in collaboration with other IORA MS. The inaugural workshop was hosted by South Africa on 5 to 6 February 2015, the second workshop on “Promoting Efficient Water Management through Water Re-use and Alternative Water Supply” hosted by Sri Lanka on 15-16 November 2016 and the final workshop on “Sustainable Development and Management of Water Resources” hosted by India on 5 September 2017. The workshops provided a platform for sharing and to get a better understanding of the water research, development and innovation (RDI) interests, priorities, common challenges of the IORA MS and exchanged ideas of what the responsibilities of the IORA WSTWG should be.

The Core Group further identified the following as potential water and sanitation RDI areas of collaboration for the IORA MS:

• Alternative water supply in addressing water scarcity (Recycling and Reuse)
• Urban water management
• Groundwater management (governance, quality, protection and recharge)
• Impact of Climate Change and environment on water supplies
• Sanitation
• Other areas that will be of mutual interest to IORA MS.