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Mark Bannister Addresses International Conference on Infrastructure Delivery Programme Management

Author: ECIAfrica
Date: 26 May 2008

On 20 May, Mark Bannister presented a paper on ECIAfrica's experience implementing the Infrastructure Delivery Improvement Programme (IDIP) at an international conference organised by the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA).

The conference titled "The Confluence of the Water Industry" is geared toward professionals in water and sanitation service delivery in the southern Africa region. According to the most recent Census (2001), 5 million South Africans had no access to safe water, an additional 6.5 million were using unimproved water sources, and more than 18 million still lack adequate sanitation. This year, the conference looked at the intersection between water delivery and economic development, ground water management, and managing water quality as key discussion topics.

Mark Bannister's paper, entitled "IDIP: An Effective Process that Improves Service Delivery," describes the South African government-funded programme designed to build capacity of provincial government to alleviate under-spending and deliver value on education- and health-related infrastructure. In the paper Mark argues that innovative methodologies used in IDIP are transferable to the water and sanitation environment.

"The lack of basic water supply and sanitation services, which persists for many poor households in rural areas, townships, and informal settlements, is a central issue for physical health and survival in South Africa" said Bannister. "If we can apply some of the technical approaches we have been implementing successfully to improve health and education-related infrastructure to the water sector, we may be able to alleviate the problem" he added.

Mark Bannister currently manages IDIP for ECIAfrica in KwaZulu Natal and Free State provinces, two of four provinces where the company is implementing the programme. Mark has 18 years experience in infrastructure delivery in the UK, where he specialised in managing large bulk water and sanitation projects. After taking up residence in South Africa in 1996, Mark worked for the Mvula Trust, where he was the Regional Manager for Limpopo provincial office, where he oversaw more than 300 rural water and sanitation projects. In 2004, he joined Umgeni Water in KwaZulu Natal as a Senior Specialist in rural, bulk water and sanitation infrastructure.

For more information contact ECIAfrica Marketing and Communications Specialist Divine Rapoo at divine.rapoo@eciafrica.com or phone 011 602 1285.

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