The WASHTech project in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda is in its second year of implementation. The key activities of 2012 are to conduct a technology assessment by using the “Technology Applicability Framework (TAF)” currently under development and to document changes resulting from stakeholder engagement in the adaptation and use of this tool.
Published on: 11/06/2012
In 2011 WASHTech produced a report on the current situation for the approval of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) technologies in Uganda, Ghana and Burkina Faso, including the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) of various sector stakeholders. The report concludes that Uganda has a clear set of guidelines for what water and sanitation technologies are appropriate. Technologies are approved for government funded projects, but there is no formal mechanism for assessing technologies against these guidelines. Ghana has a technology approval process, although it is not formally documented and there are no defined criteria for technologies to meet. The government of Burkina Faso does select technologies for use in government funded projects, but there is no set of criteria or approval process.
The "Technology Applicability Framework" (TAF) aims to address this gap. It helps the user decide if a WASH technology is sustainable and applicable – or not – in the specific context of the user. The framework also indicates risks and supportive factors that may affect the technology introduction process in the user’s context. The TAF is currently being tested together with sector stakeholders in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Uganda. Initial training workshops have been held to get feedback from government staff, NGOs, research institutes and other members of the learning alliances in each country. This stakeholder engagement will help ensure the TAF becomes a transparent tool that is adapted to the local context and used by sector professionals.
Parker, A. , 2012. Synthesis report on stakeholder baseline studies on technology selection process and the stakeholders’ attitudes. (WASHTech deliverable ; 7.1). The Hague: WASHTech c/o IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and Cranfield: Cranfield University. 87 p. : 12 boxes.
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