Hybrid Distance Water Learning in Ethiopia

Review of experience

Jan Teun Visscher Martine JethsHugo de VosLenneke Knoop

Staff capacity for WATSAN sector

Very important need for capacity building in the Ethiopian water and sanitation sector

Staff is already working in the field, but they need to learn more about how to facilitate the water committees and the community to sustain their water and sanitation systems

To help them at their place of work a consortium of AAU, MetaMeta, LeAF, IRC, and SNV have developed two distance learning courses

Hybrid distance learning

Guided practice based self learning at the place of work (paper based, CDRom, Internet)

Learning with colleagues

Sharing experience with trainers (by postal mail or email) and getting feedback

Getting support on the workplace by visiting trainer or resource person

Four modules Community water supply dealing with the

complexity of water supply and presenting an overview of systems that are applied in Ethiopia

Water quality introducing both chemical and microbial water quality assessment through water quality analysis and sanitary inspections

Management of water quality hazards presenting an overview of hazard categories and options to manage these hazards in the water cycle at community level

Water safety plans bringing together the learning in the first three modules and developing a structured plan for water supply improvement and control

Participants

Review materials and testing through self assessments

Apply and submit results (Description of a community water supply, Simple sanitary survey)

Submit larger assignment (Water safety Plan; Sanitation Service Plan)

Make arrangement for field visit by trainer

Make final assignment

Approach used in the programme

1. Preparing materials with partners

2a. TOT WQ&WSP21 trainers

2b. TOT WW10 trainers

InceptionAWASSA

6 trainers12 trainees

Promotion meeting

InceptionWolisso

8 trainers20 trainees

InceptionADDIS

10 trainers11 trainees

3 meetings, 2 field visits9 trainers / 11 trainees

5 meetings, 2 field visits4 trainers / 12 trainees

1 field visit 4 trainers / 12 trainees

Training of trainers (5 days)

Learning by doing in TVETC in Wolisso

The only water source in summer

Instilling sanitation habits

Looking at risks in different systems

Some problems that trainers identified

The challenge: Help WATSAN staff to better assist communities to help themselves, if needed with some external support

Main Results

Positive results overcame initial doubts about applicability of distance learning

Trainees were very enthusiastic and want to make more Community Water Safety Plans (CWSP) and get additional HDL training

Staff from Water Bureau and TVETC worked together in the field, showing keen interest

CWSP encourages integrated thinking and action on the ground (Handpump wells were improved, water committee was replaced etc.)

Reflection

Trainers and trainees considered HDL useful for themselves and for colleagues and were positively surprised about community interest

Many systems can be improved and better managed with local means, but larger interventions require some external support

Collaboration TVETC and WaterBureau is important

Expanded HDL course under development which already counts with support from SNV and RiPPLE

Potential for using it elsewhere

What do you think about the approach Write one positive point and one limitation

Please inform Martine and Jan Teun if you see potential in areas where you work