Gearing up for CWIS city: 'Training of Trainers'

WaterAid Bangladesh in collaboration with the Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB), CWIS-FSM Support Cell of Department of Public Health and Engineering (CFSC-DPHE) and International Training Network of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (ITN-BUET) organised a Training of Trainers (TOT) for officials from 11 MAB regions to introduce Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) at Saidpur from 19 March to 21 March 2023. The trainees are now called 'Master Trainer', after the successful completion of this training programme and they will be the driver for change in municipalities of that 11 MAB regions.

Photo captions: (a) Mr Dewan Kamal Ahmed, President of MAB and Mayor of Nilphamari municipality; (b) Mr. Sanjoy Mukherjee, Social Development Expert, CFSC-DPHE; (c) Mr Alauddin Ahmed, Project Manager, ITN-BUET; and (d) Mr Md Tahmidul Islam, Technical Advisor – WASH, WaterAid graced the event with their opening remarks and warm wishes for the trainees.

During the training, the participants visited the Saidpur FSTP and closely observed its operating procedure and contributions to the sanitation value chain. During the training they deep dived in to the CWIS framework, and get conversant to system functions ie accountability, responsibility, resource planning and management to have citywide safety, equity, and sustainability for sanitation as outcomes. WhatsApp and Facebook groups have been created to keep these Master Trainers connected and share their inspiring journey with each other.

It is the key moment of the training; the participants pledged to establish their municipality as a CWIS City by taking oath (the oath was administered by Mr Sanjoy). 

Various quizzes and group work were organised during the training. The participants showed their keen interest and enthusiastically participated to different segments of the training. The training concluded with the distribution of certificates and awards from key facilitators of the training Mr Mohammad Imtiaz Sharif, Training Specialist, ITN-BUET; Mr K A Amin, Specialist - Urban Sanitation and Utility Services, WaterAid, and Mr Md Zarif Oeishik, Young Professional – Technical, WaterAid.

The development of ‘CWIS - Master Trainers’ is a significant step towards mainstreaming inclusive sanitation practices in Bangladesh. It is aimed to spread awareness and proficient professionals on CWIS to have citywide sustainable sanitation system that is safe, equitable, and accessible to all.