Isle’s presence across Africa since 2016 has seen our projects grow from technology scanning, end-user engagements and market intelligence to the application of tools, investor and IFI support, as well as a strategy and technology trials toward technology uptake, commercialisation, and market development. Based in South Africa, we draw on our local and global teams to enhance the innovation capabilities of our partners and clients.

Isle’s capabilities in the region span all that is relevant to Innovation, Growth and Development for our clients and beneficiary base. Our local team contributes to a diverse mix of innovation, regulatory, business and technical solutions to our clients, helping bridge the innovation adoption chasm.  We are proud and committed to our local knowledge base and networks across industry and government/utility partners, supporting our staff with more than a combined 50 years of experience in the region and with language capabilities in English, Afrikaans, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, IsiNdebele & IsiSwati, French, Portugues, Dutch, German, and Mandarin, most relevant to the African region. 

Capabilities include market demand and needs assessment, identifying and assessing relevant and best-fit technological solutions, Intellectual Property (IP)management, Asset and Infrastructure Management, Applied Market Research and Policy recommendations for Innovation Adoption across Water, Wastewater, Energy and Environmental sectors, Benchmarking studies, Strategy and Business Management. Facilitating and supporting partnerships, socio-economic development and cross-sector collaboration for innovation adoption, remains high on the regional agenda.

South Africa is a water scarce country and is expected to approach physical water scarcity by 2025. Climate change, poor investment in infrastructure and maintenance, and improved management of water treatment (quality) is exacerbating the existing challenges. Africa, in general, is affected by the age of floods and droughts, and an economic scarcity where opportunities for investment and improved governance could help address the deficits expected by 2030.

Isle is considerate of the socio-economic, economic, governance and environmental needs of the region and works closely with our partners to build back better and support growth and equality as we help develop, connect and implement innovative solutions.

Isle’s responses in the region have included applied research in areas that could have the most significant impact such as procurement and financing, technology scans, low and high technological solutions development, connecting technology developers with end-users, pilots and trials that drive uptake and commercialisation of solutions, and the enabling business models that will drive ultimate client success. There has been an increase in demand for monitoring, evaluation and innovation strategy development, demonstrating the need for sustainability in the region.