Challenges in developing expertise and capacities for sustainable sanitation project implementation

Transcription

1 International Conference on Water and Cities, Urban Sanitation, Marina de Bercy, Paris XII ème, June 23-24, 2008 Challenges in developing expertise and capacities for sustainable sanitation project implementation Dr Doulaye Koné Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) Dpt. Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (Sandec)

2 So far, both high-tech and lowcost technologies have failed! Not only due to lack of O+M Low-tech are not so cheap! Low-tech need skilled operators (Eng., MSc, PhD)

3 Challenges: Health and environmental sustainability in latrine-based cities? Engineers thrusts and beliefs How can this pit be emptied? What happens next? How to shift / educate, mind set? Current Educational programmes focus on conventional approaches

4 Key challenges: Meeting the MDG target for sanitation means to provide sanitation facilities to approx. 145 Mio people per year or 400,000 people per day

5 Example of Existing curricula International MSc programme in Sanitary Engineering in Developing countries, with strong inputs on conventional approaches, mainly in Europe (WEDC, UNESCO-IHE, Univ-Liège, accessible to only few eligible candidates, (20-40/year) Few national/regional MSc in Sanitary Engineering in DC (KNUST, Ghana; 2iE, Burkina Faso 20-30/year) Short specialised courses and training programme for professional, hold outside (national and international) universities: Self run or financed by donor agencies (2iE, AfWA, APEFE, CREPA, OIEAU, ONEP, SIDA, World Bank Utilities training centres ) Training centre for technician often disconnected from universities and engineering school

6 Example of Existing curricula Water treatment and supply Wastewater engineering Solids waste management Household water treatment Faecal sludge management Onsite sanitation Drainage Health and hygiene Project management MSc field work Sector Utility management Scio-economic Policy development Urban agriculture/reuse

7 Challenges for better education in Africa Source: Unesco Science report 2005 Low wages for researchers and trainers The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) represent a global commitment to improve economic and social conditions in low-income countries. Capacity building is key to promoting higher economic growth, which, in turn, is an important prerequisite for making progress toward the MDGs (IMF).

8 Challenges for better education in Africa Scientific production, leading to development, in the wealthiest societies is 50 times higher than in Sub-Saharan Africa! No African university ranks among the world top 200! Source: Unesco Science report 2005

9 Challenges for better education in Africa Investment in research Production of scientific publication Source: Unesco Science report 2005 Source: Unesco Science report 2005

10 AFRIKISANYA ( Network of Researchers and Expertise in Sanitation in Africa (project proposal) Network of Researchers and Expertise in Sanitation in Africa (project proposal awaiting financial support to start!) Scientific production, leading to development, in the wealthiest societies is 50 times higher than in Sub-Saharan Africa! No African university ranks among the world top 200! (Unesco, World Science Report 1998) Dr. Doulaye Koné, Sandec/Eawag Project proposed by Sandec/Eawag CEREVE/ENPC Univ/Leeds : Dr. D. Koné, Dept. Water & Sanitation in Developing Countries / Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology : Dr. M. Seidl, Centre d Enseignement et de Recherche Eau Ville Environnement / École Nationale Pont et Chaussée, France : Prof. D. Mara, University of Leeds / School of Civil Engineering CREPA : Dr. Klutsé, Centre Régionale pour l Eau Potable et l Assainissement à faible coût CSRS : Prof. G. Cissé, Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientifique en Côte d Ivoire IWMI : Dr. O. Cofie, International Water Management Institute Univ Liège : Prof. J-C. Vasel, Département des Sciences et Gestion de l environnement, Université de Liège

11 Network of Researchers and Expertise in Sanitation in Africa Mission Raise up sanitation researcher s profile in Sub- Saharan Africa Upgrade/update training programmes and materials for trainers/lecturers Upgrade/update technical notes and guidance documents for practitioners and professionals Link up researchers community with policy makers, practitioners and strengthen the dialogue

12 Strategy: improving scientific production Run a thematic yearly-based conference on urban sanitation in West / Central Africa: engineering, reuse/health and institutional/socio-economic aspects Organise and formalise South-South and North-South academic exchanges (for training, research, education, knowledge transfer) Online publication database and journal Network of expertise for national and international sanitation programmes and partners International advisory board and scientific committee for peerreview.

13 Strategy: Linking knowledge production to development policy and practice Strengthen institutional capacity to reinforce dialogue between research and policy development Strengthen researchers communication skills towards policy makers, end users and donors Translation of scientific knowledge into guidance documents for field implementation Reinforcing national research expertise through networking and capacity building Develop a community on sanitation practices.

14 Conceptual framework Definition of policy, intervention and management strategy End users (households, municipalities, private sector) Identification of research question, monitoring of implemented solutions and demonstration projects Partnership and, Networking for managing scientific knowledge production, advocacy, dissemination and implementation Scientific knowledge producers (Research Centres) Knowledge implementers (Policy makers, ESA, NGOs private businesses) Cooperation, training, guidance material, definition of research framework, fund raising Conceptual framework for scientific knowledge production and management for sustainable capacity development

15 Sustainable development = knowledge + skills + awareness Thank you! Dr Doulaye Koné Eawag/Sandec Switzerland [email protected] Tel.+41 (0)