National learning

National learning in Uganda:

Facilitating National learning processes through a consortium started in 2009. This consortium involves Network for Water and Sanitation (NETWAS), Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET), Uganda Rain Water Harvesting Association ( URWA), WaterAid and SNV. The approach used concentrated on facilitating national level multi-stakeholder platforms to create an atmosphere of learning and exchange from both local and international experiences. This attempts to operationalize the Ministry of Water and Environment approach to learning. In fact the district implementation manual defines learning as reflection on experiences in order to improve the situation, promote further action and possible scale Up.

In the past reflection has been about policy, approach, strategy and technologies. It has involved policy makers, sector practitioners, the consumers of the services and the private sector. This multi-stakeholder reflection has resulted in some change because assumptions are clarified and opportunities for improvement are sought through respective dialogue.

Sharing information through joint analysis and reflection is the starting point towards reformulation of policy, strategies and approaches through adoption, replication and scaling up. Capacity building is important in making this process a reality.

Why National learning ?

The government is responsible for national policies, strategies, methodologies and monitoring performance. As conditions in Uganda often vary greatly by region and district, WASH practices may be quite different than those set down in generic documents at the national level. Feedback on local practice that may be creative and innovative in the local context, and even local adjustment of policies and strategies, would enrich the knowledge at that level. Good practices reported as ‘the best’ need evidence and analysis of success factors. Local good practices help the centre to find strategies and approaches with higher efficiencies and effectiveness. Successes need to be scaled up and failures avoided. But change comes after proper analysis and piloting of innovations. This may give reasons to reformulate strategies and approaches, and possibly policies. Nothing is forever: WASH is a dynamic sector. Moreover, innovations from other countries presented and deliberated at international conferences and seminars may be considered for inclusion in strategies and approaches. No country is unique so inter-national sharing, networking and learning is a key action for change. In conclusion: structured learning at the national level is a must for improving the WASH sector at all levels

Concept Note on National WASH Learning:

The Concept Note indicates that learning in the WASH sector is a fundamental pre-requisite of performance improvement. In a sector with shrinking investments, cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness are vital strategies. Learning is about the good practices and to avoid making the same mistakes, to benefit from innovations and to make necessary adjustments to practical guidelines and policy to ensure good implementation. Learning needs to take place at all levels and should reflect both successes and failures in practice. National level learning is based on practical lessons from the decentralised levels, on action research and on best practices and also from abroad. Learning on WASH at national level needs to be adequately structured and grounded within good platforms to be effective.

Click this link to download the concept note

National Learning Forum on School WASH Technologies

School WASH has over the years become an area of focus as a contributing element in a child friendly learning environment. With the school enrolment increasing in Uganda since the introduction of UPE in 1997, the provision of WASH services is not only viewed as related to health but is also a means of guaranteeing the future of WASH services by engaging children as change agents as well as future responsible adults. 'Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in schools, Technologies and their Management'.

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CLTS National Learning Forum 2015

The Network for Water and Sanitation, with support from the Austrian Development Cooperation organized a one day learning event on CLTs with focus on experience sharing on 11th June 2015.

The CLTs working group under the National Sanitation Working Group , led the discussion with the objective of sharing the progress made so far, some success stories, opportunities and challenges in scaling up the implementation of CLTS in Uganda Furthermore, the stakeholders provided information on how it is responding to some of the identified challenges, and to solicit stakeholder inputs for accelerated coverage. Read more