From project-based to institutionalised multi-stakeholder learning in the water sanitation and hygiene sector: experience from Uganda

Abstract

Since 2007, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC), Network for Water and Sanitation (NETWAS) Uganda, a Ugandan non governmental organisation (NGO) and International NGO SNV have collaborated with district local governments to facilitate multi-stakeholder learning for improved Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Uganda. Action-learning and knowledge sharing processes have been initiated mainly at decentralised levels (region, district and sub-county) through several projects. In this article, Carmen da Silva Wells from IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre interviews Peter Magara, coordinator of multi-stakeholder learning for Triple-S (Sustainable Services at Scale) in Uganda. Triple S is a six-year, multi-country learning initiative to improve water supply to the rural poor. The initiative is placing learning high on the sector agenda as a precondition for sustainable water service delivery. They discuss the challenge of catalysing a shift from facilitation of learning within a project context towards institutional embedding of learning in day-to-day local planning and management of WASH activities.