SIDA’s International Training Program on Sustainable Urban Water and Sanitation

Deadline: 26 April 2020

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is currently inviting applications for its International Training Programme (ITP) on “Sustainable Urban Water and Sanitation – Integrated Processes”.

Sida is seeking collaborative organisations active in urban water and sanitation, ready to engage in processes for change and to invest in capable and engaged employees as potential change agents.

Objectives

• This International Training Programme’s overarching objective is to contribute to improved planning and implementation of more sustainable urban water and sanitation services, where the rights, needs and demands of all citizens including those of marginalised groups are taken into account.
• The term sustainability addresses environmental, social and economic long-term factors. Sustainability can be achieved only through an increased awareness of the need for integrated approaches and by supporting key organisations in their processes for such a change.
• The intervention is carried out as a number of training programmes, one following the other, with a new batch of participants for each programme. At the end of each programme, participants are expected to have gained new knowledge, understanding and strengthened self-confidence in relation to systemic solutions for sustainable urban water and sanitation; integrated approaches; and organisational change processes. Organisations participating more extensively in the whole intervention (i.e. across several programmes) will have a great opportunity to actively promote sustainability, integration, and inclusion of vulnerable groups in the planning and implementation of urban water and sanitation.

Benefits

• Benefits for the participants:
  • Increased knowledge of methods and tools for planning of sustainable urban water and sanitation services and systems
  • Increased capacity to initiate and drive organisational change processes
  • Shared experiences from colleagues in other parts of the world
  • Extended professional network
• Benefits for the organisations:
  • Professional support for more sustainable and inclusive water and sanitation services
  • Educated and encouraged staff that will help achieve applicants strategic goals
  • Collaboration opportunities with various organisations, experts and agencies

Priority Themes

The programme will address the following four priority themes:

• Equity and Inclusion: in governance and infrastructure. How to address and improve policies, standards, decisionmaking processes, finance and gender, for systems and service provision that take into consideration the rights, needs and demands of all citizens, including those of marginalised groups.
• Sustainability: in technology and practices. How to develop and find solutions, approaches, practices and technology that is appropriate and contributes to more sustainable service provision over time, such as use and reuse of water, improved approaches towards non-revenue water and asset-management, innovative sanitation solutions and new methods of improving hygiene practices.
• Integration: in approaches and collaboration across sectors. How to work with more integrated approaches in policy, planning and service provision, more holistic urban development, managing conflicting goals, increasing synergies across sectors and spurring collaboration and new ways of working within and between organisations/institutions at city-level and beyond.
• The Change Module: provides knowledge on how to work as a change agent and manage change processes that will strengthen the organisation’s ability to support and deliver improved water, sanitation and hygiene activities and services.

Programme Structure

• Phase 1 – Inception (4 months)
• Phase 2 – In Sweden (3 weeks)
• Phase 3 – Change Project Development (4 months)
• Phase 4 – In Nepal (2 weeks)
• Phase 5 – Implementation Continues (5 months)

Invited Countries and Areas:

• Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Nepal
• To promote actual collaboration and integration between participants in their national working context, the programme aims to gather organisations operating in the same geographical area.
• The programme is therefore focusing on the following areas:
  • Bangladesh – Dhaka
  • Cambodia – Siem Reap
  • Lao PDR – Pakse
  • Myanmar – Yangon
  • Nepal – Kathmandu
• Organisations in the invited countries, working in other areas than the above (in the invited countries), are also welcome to nominate candidates, but should be aware of the priority given to the selected areas.

Eligibility Criteria

• Authorities, institutions, universities, NGOs, water utilities or other private companies active in the water and sanitation sector may nominate candidates.
• The programme primarily targets organisations, not individuals, and efforts will be made to establish long-term relationships with key organisations. Such collaborative organisations should be willing to commit themselves to participation over several years and to cooperate with other organisations in the programme. Capacity and interest to drive change processes to achieve their long-term goals, and a certain level of influence on the water and sanitation sector, is a prerequisite to become a collaborative organisation. Candidates from collaborative organisations may be prioritised.
• Applicants to the programme should:
  • hold a key position in their organisation, with influence at a strategic level;
  • have the engagement and power to initiate and drive change processes;
  • hold a relevant academic degree; and
  • be available and motivated for active participation through the whole training programme.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2uQvvWu