Haskoning And Rebel Secure Approval For Landmark Water Project

Haskoning and Rebel have received formal approval of its Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) from the Kenyan Private Public Partnership Directorate to proceed with the development of the Naivasha Special Economic Zones Bulk Water Supply Project. The partners will now work with Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID), WaterConnect and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) to further develop, finance, construct, and operate an integrated water supply and wastewater treatment project in Naivasha, Kenya — a rapidly growing urban and industrial hub facing acute water challenges.

Currently, there are residents of Naivasha that are supplied with water through kiosks, so a transition to household connections will have a significant impact on well-being and quality of life. With the population expected to grow to 575,000 by 2030, there will also be a considerable increase in demand on the town’s existing water infrastructure. This challenge, alongside the government’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda which prioritises the Naivasha Special Economic Zone (SEZ), underscores the importance of water supply and wastewater treatment systems as critical enablers of both social and economic development.

As lead partners, Haskoning and Rebel worked together to develop the pre-feasibility study for a Public-Private Partnership water project – in line with the Kenyan government’s ambitions for the sector. The pair also structured and mobilised the funding for its development. The project aims to deliver safe, reliable drinking water to households in Naivasha and to the nearby SEZ through the construction of new assets worth €90M and the provision of operational services.

Michel Riemersma, Project Director for Water International at Haskoning said “We are committed to delivering long-term sustainable benefits for communities and the environment. This complex project has the potential to positively impact the lives of residents, strengthen the economy and protect the natural environment and biodiversity. By supporting this project, we can not only help secure water supply for households but also support the ambitious growth plans of the SEZ. This approach extended our role beyond the traditional scope of consultancy, positioning us as both project initiator and developer, and reinforces our commitment to enhancing society together.”

Adequate water resources management is fundamental to maintaining the eco-system of Lake Naivasha, which is part of the Ramsar Convention (for the protection of wetlands), home to a wide variety of bird species and a significant hippopotamus population. The area also hosts horticulture and floriculture activities, major contributors to the trade and economic relationship between Kenya and the Netherlands.

Approval of the PIP comes after a Letter of Intent was signed between the Governments of the Netherlands and Kenya. Under this agreement, the Netherlands makes a grant of €1.5M available to Haskoning and Rebel to support the project’s development phase. The grant is managed by Invest International, a public-private financial institution that delivers financing solutions to address global challenges in international markets. In addition, Haskoning and Rebel confirmed support from further investment partners - WaterConnect, AWID and PIDG. AWID will provide development and operational expertise to the Consortium.

AWID, co-established by Metito Utilities and British International Investment (BII) in 2023, is a pioneering platform dedicated to developing and financing climate-smart water projects at scale across Africa. AWID aims to enhance access to safe and reliable water, treat and recycle wastewater for consumers and businesses, and bolster climate resilience through a water-secure Africa. The company also demonstrates a viable commercial model for water infrastructure development and provision in Africa, mobilising long-term capital and investment into the sector.

Through its project development solution, InfraCo, PIDG originates, develops, structures and manages infrastructure projects across Africa, south and south-east Asia, from early stage through to operation.

WaterConnect is a project development company dedicated to creating opportunities for construction-stage investment in water and sanitation infrastructure. WaterConnect brings early-stage financing and technical expertise to complement local partners and deploy technology that will impact water access, quality, and scarcity, and in turn build water resilience for households and watersheds.

Rob Winters, Director at Rebel said: “Bridging the gap between the drinking water infrastructure needs and existing financial resources was at the heart of our proposal. Due to our previous experience and solid understanding of the Kenyan regulatory landscape, we were able to work with the Kenyan and Dutch authorities, partners and financiers to design an innovative project development and funding model. We are excited about making the transition from financial and transaction advisors to developers and investors in PPPs in Africa, after successfully doing so in other parts of the world.”

As the Netherlands is a global leader in water management, the project was strongly supported in the pre-feasibility phases by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya and Vitens Evides International (VEI). Both are continuing their support as the project progresses.

Michel Riemersma concludes: “This project could be a gamechanger in water-scarce Kenya. And provide an innovative model for PPPs that improve access to water and sanitation across Africa and around the world.”

The Naivasha project is currently in the development phase. This key period will include a comprehensive assessment of the impact on communities, water resources and biodiversity, resulting in a plan which will enhance positive impact and mitigate potential adverse effects.

About Haskoning
Haskoning is an independent international consultancy that combines engineering, design and consultancy services with software and technology. Based on our mission Enhancing Society Together, we take responsibility for having a positive impact on the world and contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our 6,800 employees are spread across offices in more than 25 countries worldwide – working together with clients on future-proof solutions. For more information, visit www.haskoning.com