The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (Ruwasa) has secured ISO 9001:2015 certification, but the government has challenged the agency to translate the quality standard into more reliable water services for rural communities.
The certification, issued by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), comes as Ruwasa seeks to consolidate gains in rural water access while ensuring that newly built infrastructure delivers services consistently.
The certificate was handed over to Ruwasa officials on Friday at the end of a three-day meeting for the agency’s management and senior officials in Dodoma.
Acting TBS Director General Abdallah Kileo said the certification followed inspections, assessments and verification to establish whether Ruwasa had met the required quality standards.
He cautioned the agency against treating the certificate as the final measure of success, saying quality management requires continuous assessment.
“The certification is a milestone, but quality assessment and inspection are continuous processes,” Mr Kileo said.
Water Minister Jumaa Aweso, who witnessed the handover, said the real test would be whether the certification improved services received by rural residents.
“Getting the certificate is one thing, but accountability is another. I urge you to continue ensuring quality services for wananchi,” he said.
Ruwasa has expanded its coverage considerably since it was established in 2019. Rural water access reached 85.2 percent by December 2025, compared with 64 percent when the agency was established.
The agency currently operates in 25 regions and 128 districts, making the quality and sustainability of its services critical to millions of people living in rural areas.
The next challenge is therefore not only to expand infrastructure but also to ensure that completed projects remain functional and provide dependable water supplies.
For the 2026/27 financial year, Ruwasa has allocated TZS188 billion for its operations and projects, including TZS41 billion for the development of new water projects in 400 villages.
Ruwasa Director General Wolta Kirita assured Mr Aweso that the agency would maintain its focus on improving service delivery, with rural residents remaining at the centre of its operations.
The certification and the agency’s investment plans come against the backdrop of growing pressure on the water sector to move beyond measuring progress by the number of projects constructed and instead focus on whether communities receive reliable services.
The three-day meeting was held under the theme: “From Project Construction to Reliable Water Services for Rural Communities.”