Majipreneurs Alliance A south-led network of organisations supporting water and sanitation entrepreneurs across Africa.
Where WASH enablers coordinate and learn together to strengthen enterprise support and accelerate scalable SDG 6 impact.
The Majipreneurs Alliance brings together organisations and actors that support water and sanitation entrepreneurs. It is the rebrand and successor to the Sanitation and Water Entrepreneurship Pact (SWEP), the community of practice operating since 2017, consolidating that network's identity and public presence under a single Alliance brand. We are dedicated to facilitating continuous collaboration and innovation, aimed at creating a supportive environment where WASH entrepreneurs can thrive at different stages and make a meaningful impact for society and the environment.
Majipreneurs provide affordable, safe and sustainable WASH products and services for millions more across East Africa and our focus countries, while strengthening local capacity, ownership and employment.
The Majipreneurs Alliance activates young talent for WASH entrepreneurship; inspires the wider ecosystem to collaborate on scaling challenges; connects entrepreneurs, enablers and funders to build partnerships and a pipeline of scaling WASH enterprises; and transforms lives by enabling affordable, safe and sustainable WASH products and services at scale.
We bring together entrepreneurs, investors, development partners and policymakers through Majipreneurs summits, hackathons and focal groups across the Alliance's focus countries.
Alliance members work in thematic focus groups to identify key barriers, compare approaches and forge initiatives that help entrepreneurs thrive, before and after convening events.
We publish learning from summits and focal groups, including sector reports and briefs, for enterprises, enablers, investors, partners and governments.
We analyse challenges and discuss solutions with cross-sector contributors, building shared evidence on what works for scaling WASH enterprise support.
Better-quality support, clearer pathways to scale, and stronger WASH outcomes for communities.
Shared learning, coordination across organisations, and practical tools from focal groups and convening.
A stronger pipeline of scaling WASH enterprises and clearer evidence for capital allocation.
The Alliance is an independent, long-term platform serving the WASH entrepreneurship ecosystem, with strategic focus in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana. After collaborating on programmes and a prototypical Majipreneurs Summit in 2023, members joined forces with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Viva con Agua Foundation. The Secretariat is hosted by OPERO in Kenya. A Swiss legal entity and anchor partners provide formal backbone and strategic oversight.
In preparation for and follow-up to Majipreneurs summits, Alliance members work in focus groups to identify key barriers and forge initiatives that enable entrepreneurs to thrive.
Strategic focus in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, with members and partners across Africa and beyond.
Netherlands
cewas is the world's first dedicated, impact-oriented WASH entrepreneurship support organisation. Since 2010, cewas has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs globally to scale business models, grow impact potential and enhance investment readiness. Supported enterprises have created new or improved access to water and sanitation for 4.7 million people.
Uganda
WASEU (WASH Entrepreneurs Association Uganda) is a business association that supports small-scale local entrepreneurs to plan, build and sustain WASH businesses. Founded in 2015, it advocates for an enabling environment for WASH entrepreneurs in Uganda.
International
Viva con Agua is a Germany-registered association and global network of members, activists and organisations, with communities and teams around the world including Kampala, Uganda. With the vision to activate all for water so that water for all becomes reality, it supports WASH projects and specialises in using arts, music and sport to raise awareness and transform access to WASH.
Kenya
OPERO hosts the Alliance Secretariat in Kenya, providing lean coordination, convening, communications and delivery support for member organisations.
France
Young Water Solutions is an international non-profit co-founded in 2015 by young and senior water professionals from 11 countries. It unleashes the potential of young people to launch and grow social businesses in the WASH sector. Since 2017, 1.2 million people have benefited from safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene through supported start-ups.
Ghana
A Ghana-based WASH enterprise support partner joining the Alliance at launch. Small enough to align, strong enough to generate insights for the region.
The Majipreneurs Alliance has launched its new public website, a central place for news, resources, and information about our work with WASH enterprise enablers in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana.
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