Stakeholders from government, the private sector, and development partners convened in Accra for the 2026 Beyond the Pipe Forum, the 16th edition hosted by Safe Water Network.
This year’s forum focused on how Safe Water Enterprises (SWEs) can transition from pilot initiatives to investment-ready models capable of delivering sustainable water services at scale.
Titled “From Ideas to Pilots: Preparing Safe Water Enterprises for Investment,” the forum highlighted progress in innovations such as water safety, remote monitoring, and leak detection, while emphasising the need for stronger public-private coordination, improved market intelligence, and access to financing to support enterprise growth.
A key feature of the forum was the presentation of findings from a market mapping exercise in the Ahafo Region, which identified gaps and overlaps in service provision. The research underscored the importance of clearly defined service territories to reduce duplication, improve operational and financial efficiency, and create more attractive conditions for investment in decentralized water services.
Opening the forum, Safe Water Network Ghana Country Director 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.”
The forum also highlighted new financing opportunities, including the extension of Aqua for All’s Making Water Count programme through 2029, which will provide funding to eligible water and sanitation SMEs in Ghana.
Safe Water Network Global CEO Chris Williams emphasised the need for a coordinated and 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.”
Sanjeev Chadha, a member of Safe Water Network’s India Advisory Group, highlighted the global significance 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 decentralized water services in a sustainable and investable way.”
The forum brought together policymakers, service providers, Safe Water Enterprises, investors, and development partners to strengthen collaboration and identify practical steps toward building a more coordinated and investment-ready water sector.
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