Participants found the training to be very helpful in understanding how the systems approach is used in real-world settings and how it can be applied to improve WASH service delivery.
Published on: 25/08/2023
IRC Ethiopia held a three-day blended training on the WASH systems strengthening approach in Jinka town, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia. Around 30 participants from the zone and woreda WASH sector offices participated in the training and they were from water, health, education, and finance offices as well as collaborators like Action for Development and Ari Development Association. Four of the trainees were women. The training used the WASH Systems Academy's Basics course especially developed for Ethiopia which was recently translated into Amharic.
Trainees immersed themselves in the online course. Photo by Gezahegn Lemecha
Trainees did the online course on their own and the facilitator presented the key points of each session and facilitated discussions. The South Ari Woreda team, one of the long-term engagement districts of IRC Ethiopia, shared their hands-on experience related to the discussion points.
Some of the observations that were put forward were:
After completing the training, Dagim Mekonnen, head of the South Omo Zone Education Department, said, "I gained basic knowledge of WASH from this training. It was different from other trainings I've attended in the past because it required individual effort to complete the course. I learned the importance of data management for decision-making and the need for collaboration to improve WASH services. The knowledge I gained from this training can help me influence the South Omo Zone Cabinet."
Nigatuwa Sisay, vice head of the South Omo Zone Finance Department, said that the combination of self-paced and facilitated training helped them stay focused. "I think all trainings should be designed this way," she said.
Yohannes Melti, head of the South Ari Woreda Water and Energy Office, said, "This training built our capacity on systems strengthening. The training approach was new because it required individual effort. IRC WASH showed us a new way of learning. It requires us to work day and night to complete the course. We must be able to apply it in our day-to-day activities to change our institutions to improve services in the community."
Solomon Ayalew, from Jinka Polytechnic College, said that the training was supported by technology, simple, and well-facilitated. He suggested creating a discussion platform for political leaders to apply the systems strengthening approach.
The training was supported by the Agenda for Change district-wide approach for the South Ari Woreda project. This is a two-year project that is supporting South Ari woreda to implement the WASH master plan.
For more information on the WASH Systems Academy and the free courses of offer, visit this page.