We know that just providing access to taps and toilets is not enough. If we want to make lasting and large scale change, we need to ensure that the WASH sector in Tanzania is well-coordinated, responsive and accountable. 

All of our programmatic work has a component of sector strengthening, to build capacity in systems and institutions, ensuring that the projects we implement can be sustained, and scaled up. This means creating the necessary WASH guidelines and toolkits, which we have done with WASH in healthcare facilities, WASH in schools, and urban WASH interventions, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems through access to data and technology. 

Trained district councils, trained in district wide planning, from Geita and Nyang'hwale district, Tanzania, February 2017
Trained district councils, trained in district wide planning, from Geita and Nyang'hwale district, Tanzania, February 2017
Image: WaterAid/ James Kiyimba

Specific programmes sector strengthening programmes include the International Training Programme - Sustainable Urban Water and Sanitation (ITP-SUWAS), where WASH stakeholders from institutions (Government and utilities e.g.) go through a one-year training programme on how to improve their ways of working. Additionally we are working with the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children to improve evidence-based decision making through ensuring access to accurate WASH data. Our research in Babati supported the town council to create a sanitation and hygiene plan.

Sector strengthening in our projects

Check out the links below to learn about some of our sector strengthening work in more detail, and how we work with Government, utilities and institutions to support them to deliver sustainable WASH services.

bdc
Image: WaterAid/Priya Sippy