INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE (WASH) PROJECT MANAGEMENT
COURSE BACKGROUND
Access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and good hygiene practices (WASH) is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of public health, dignity, and sustainable development. Despite significant global progress, billions of people, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, still lack access to basic WASH services. In countries like Kenya, challenges persist in both rural and rapidly expanding urban informal settlements, including issues with infrastructure development, sustainable service delivery, community engagement, and behavioral change. Effective WASH interventions require more than just technical expertise; they demand robust project management skills to ensure initiatives are well-planned, efficiently implemented, ethically managed, and sustainably maintained. Without strong project management, WASH investments risk falling short of their intended impact, leading to unsustainable infrastructure and unmet community needs.
ECAS Institute offers this “Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Project Management” course to equip project managers, practitioners, community leaders, and development professionals with the specialized knowledge and practical tools to successfully design, execute, monitor, and evaluate WASH projects. This program will integrate core project management principles with the unique technical, social, and environmental considerations inherent in WASH programming, fostering impactful and sustainable outcomes.
COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Apply core project management principles and methodologies (planning, execution, monitoring, evaluation) specifically to WASH projects.
- Understand the technical components of WASH projects, including water supply systems, sanitation solutions, and hygiene promotion strategies.
- Conduct needs assessments and feasibility studies tailored to WASH contexts, considering socio-cultural, environmental, and economic factors.
- Develop comprehensive WASH project plans, including scope, budget, timeline, and risk management strategies.
- Implement effective community engagement and participatory approaches for sustainable WASH interventions.
- Establish robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to track WASH project progress and impact.
- Identify and address common sustainability challenges in WASH projects, particularly operation and maintenance (O&M) and financing.
- Navigate ethical considerations, gender mainstreaming, and inclusion in WASH project design and implementation.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This course will provide you with specialized project management expertise directly applicable to the unique challenges and opportunities in the WASH sector. You will learn to:
- Translate WASH needs into well-defined project objectives and deliverables.
- Select appropriate water supply technologies (e.g., boreholes, rainwater harvesting, piped systems) based on context.
- Choose suitable sanitation solutions (e.g., household latrines, community toilets, sewerage systems) considering local conditions and cultural norms.
- Design effective hygiene promotion campaigns that drive sustainable behavioral change.
- Develop realistic project budgets and secure financing for WASH initiatives.
- Manage project teams and stakeholders effectively, fostering collaboration and accountability.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for WASH access, usage, and quality.
- Plan for long-term operation, maintenance, and financial sustainability of WASH infrastructure.
- Integrate cross-cutting themes like gender, disability inclusion, and climate change resilience into WASH projects.
- Address WASH challenges in humanitarian contexts (briefly, as an overview).
DURATION AND PROGRAM
This is a structured training course combining fundamental project management theory with practical WASH-specific applications. The program will feature interactive lectures, case studies (including numerous examples from Kenya and other East African countries), group work, practical exercises, and potentially field visits (or virtual tours) to operational WASH projects. Participants will engage in hands-on development of project components and plans. The detailed program schedule, including specific session timings and learning activities, will be communicated upon registration.
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
This course is essential for professionals and practitioners responsible for planning, managing, and implementing WASH projects, particularly those working in development and humanitarian sectors. It is highly beneficial for:
- WASH Project Managers and Coordinators (NGOs, UN agencies, government, private sector)
- Public Health Officers and Environmental Health Practitioners
- Community Development Workers involved in WASH
- Engineers and Technicians working on water supply and sanitation infrastructure
- Government Officials from Water, Health, and Planning Ministries/Departments.
- Consultants specializing in development and infrastructure projects.
- Local Authority Staff responsible for WASH service delivery.
- Researchers and Academics in public health, engineering, and development studies.
- Representatives of Water User Associations (WUAs) and community-based organizations.
TRAINING MODULES
The course is structured to guide participants through the complete lifecycle of WASH project management:
| No | Module | Details | |
| 1. | Introduction to WASH and Project Management Fundamentals |
This module sets the stage by defining WASH, outlining its global significance, and introducing core project management concepts applicable to the sector.
Key Topics:
|
|
| 2. | WASH Needs Assessment and Project Planning (Part 1) |
This module focuses on the initial phases of WASH projects, from identifying needs to developing comprehensive project plans.
Key Topics:
|
|
| 3. | WASH Technical Components and Technology Selection |
This module dives into the diverse technical solutions for water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion, guiding appropriate technology selection.
Key Topics:
|
|
| 4. | WASH Project Planning (Part 2) – Budgeting, Scheduling, and Risk |
This module builds on planning, focusing on the financial, temporal, and risk aspects crucial for successful WASH project delivery.
Key Topics:
|
|
|
5.
|
WASH Project Implementation and Community Engagement |
This module covers the execution phase, emphasizing effective community participation and oversight.
Key Topics:
|
|
| 6. | Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) in WASH Projects |
This module equips participants with tools to track progress, measure impact, and foster continuous learning in WASH initiatives.
Key Topics:
|
|
| 7. | WASH Project Sustainability and Cross-Cutting Issues |
This module focuses on ensuring the long-term viability of WASH services and integrating vital cross-cutting themes into project design.
Key Topics:
|
|
TRAINING STYLE
The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.
The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.
The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.
GENERAL NOTES
- Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
- Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
- We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
- Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.
ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE
The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.