Public defence, Water and Environmental Engineering, MSc (Tech) Anne Hyvärinen

Title of the thesis: Water sector innovation in resource constrained environment – Case studies from East Africa

Thesis defender: Anne Hyvärinen
Opponent: Assistant Professor, DSc Patience Mguni, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Custos: Associate Professor Marko Keskinen, Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment

Water sector innovation in resource-constrained environments – Case studies from East Africa

Water has remained as one of the most critical global development challenges. People in resource-constrained environments, where resources are scarce, institutions weak and operating conditions complex, people are more likely to lack access to adequate water services and be less resilient to water-related hazards. While innovation has been seen as an opportunity to address water-related development challenges, particularly in resource-constrained environments, the long-term contribution to sustainability cannot be taken for granted.

This dissertation examines how water innovation can contribute to sustainability in resource-constrained environments. It focuses in particular on how water innovations are developed and on the organizational capabilities, approaches and multi-actor collaboration that support the development of sustainable innovations.

A key finding is that the sustainability of innovations cannot be assessed based on an individual solution alone. Water innovations need to be understood from a systems-level perspective and across the value chains, taking into account their environmental, social and economic implications.

The research also shows that developing sustainable innovations requires organizations to adapt to changing conditions and develop new ways of working. Multi-actor collaboration is essential, but the forms and requirements of collaboration evolve throughout the innovation process.

The findings can be applied to the water sector and to addressing other complex development challenges. The research highlights that systems-level understanding is essential for developing sustainable water innovations. In addition to technological solutions, sustainable outcomes require changes in ways of working, organizations, institutions and collaboration between different actors.

Key words: Water, sustainability, resource-constrained environment, innovation

Thesis available for public display 7 days prior to the defence at Aalto University's public display page.