SNOWS

(Scientists Networked For Outcomes From Water and Sanitation )

National Level Learning Alliance PlatformSANITATION BAZAAR

Date: June 4, 2010

Venue: Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, AccraVenue: Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Accra

Overview

• Project Partners• Purpose and work packages of Project• Key Project Activities• Governance Structure• Schedule of main events for 2010

Consortium Partners6 African Universities from 5 countries and 3 European Universities from 2 countries:

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and

Technology (KNUST, Ghana)

London Sch. of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM,

UK)

University of Gezira, Sudan

University of Venda, South

Africa

University of Copenhagen,

Denmark

Mbarara University of Science & Technology,

Uganda

Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

Egerton University, Kenya

University of East Anglia (UEA, UK)

Purpose of Initiative Principal purpose of the project is to build a critical mass of

sustainable local research and capacity across Africa, through strengthening African universities and research institutions in Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Health.

Research Vision: To provide internally excellent Africa-based research that will enable all African children to realize their maximum potential through sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene delivery.

Work Packages• WP1: Managing the consortium• WP2: Needs assessment for capacity building• WP3: Training in research practice and methods• WP4. Strengthening research management capacity of institutions• WP5. Strengthening research capacity of individuals• WP6. Networking and communication

Key Project Activities

• Carrying out a participatory needs assessment for individual and institutional capacity building

• Developing modules for MSc courses, and the capacity to offer relevant short courses, at a number of leading universities

• Establishing staff exchange schemes among partner universities

Key Project Activities• Supporting linked interdisciplinary multi-centre

practically-oriented research projects• Establishing common field platforms for research

from multiple perspectives• Building and sustaining institutional capacity

over the long term

The African SNOWS Consortium is made up of 9 institutions from 7 countries and aims at building a critical mass of sustainable local research capacity across Africa, through strengthening African universities and research institutions in Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Health.

Tshwane University of Technology

Tshwane University of Technology

University of CopenhagenUniversity of Copenhagen

University of GeziraUniversity of Gezira

Egerton UniversityEgerton University

University of VendaUniversity of Venda

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Management Committee

Management Committee

The Executive Directorate

The Executive Directorate

Fig. 1: Organogram for African SNOWS

University of East AngliaUniversity of East Anglia

KNUST, Ghana(lead Institution)

KNUST, Ghana(lead Institution)

LSHTM, United Kingdom

LSHTM, United Kingdom

Governance Structure

External Advisory Committee

External Advisory Committee

Schedule of Main events for 2010

• Mapping: this is intended to provide an objective overview of resources, rules, regulations and procedures of relevance to institutional research management, and postgraduate and doctorate training programmes

• Situation analysis: To provide a subjective and stakeholder informed assessment of strengths and weaknesses of existing research management capacities, and postgraduate and doctorate training programmes.

Activity 1: Needs Assessment/Questionnaire Survey• To provide a subjective assessment of capacity strengthening needs with

a view to optimize research management capacities, and postgraduate and doctorate training programmes

Main Objectives:• To strengthen the post-graduate and doctorate programmes at African

partner institutions with emphasis on water supply, sanitation and environmental health

• To strengthen the capacity of administrative, technical and academic staff as well as students through in-country training and exchange programmes

• To foster stronger linkages between consortium partners

Eligible numbers of respondents for Questionnaire survey:

• Administrative university personnel (10-20)• Academic university personnel (20 – 50)• Current or recently graduated PhD fellows (0- 40)• Current or recently graduated post-graduate

(Master-level) students (30 – 60)

Timelines: Needs AssessmentActivity Time Responsible

PartnerStatus/Progress made

Funds involved

Distribution of questionnaire and Teams formed

February UC/Southern partners

Completed Budget specificWP2 and 3

Needs assessment by partners

February to May

Southern Partners

In progress Budget specific

Visits by UC May to July All partners Yet to start Budget specific

First draft ready August Southern Partners

Budget specific

Final draft October All partners Budget Specific

Activity 2: Strengthening the Capacity of Staff and Students

Activity Time Responsible Partner

Status/Progress made

Funds involved

Establishment of Water supply/sanitation/environmental health group

End of Jan All partners Done

Research management workshops(e.g.INORMS in South Africa)

April, 2010 Director Done (5 people are participated)

WP3 /Bursaries/Sponsorships

Research management course outline development

2 months LSH Ongoing Budget specific

Research management training

1week LSH/ southern partners2/partner1PhD and 1 staff

WP 3and 4

Capacity Building for PhD supervision at KNUST

End of April Director Completed. WP 3and 4

Activity 3: Co-Supervision of Research

Activity Time Responsible Partner

Status/Progress made

Funds involved

Selection of PhD students and concept notes

2 weeks (End of Jan)

Southern partners

Done Staff time input salary

Selection of supervisors from Northern Institutions

3 months Northern Institutions

Ongoing Staff time input salary

Visits by Supervisors March to October All partners Yet to start WP 3-4

Reports on visits November All partners to the Director

Yet to start Staff time input salary

Ongoing PhD Research AreasPartner Institution PhD Research Area/Activity

Egerton (Kenya) Groundwater pollution from on site sanitation Excreta management from urine diversion toilet (pathogen removal) Additional list will be provided

Venda Molecular techniques for tracking faecal sources WSH in minimal process food products

Tshwane Impact evaluation in sanitation Impact evaluation in domestic water supply

KNUST Sanitation policy research Managing Buruli ulcer – PCR, Epidemiology Governance and financial planning for sanitation Faecal sludge management (Examiner – Anders?) Resource recovery from waste water (agric, nutrients, economics…) Low cost water treatment (rural setting)

Mbarara Currently no PhD programme exists in the public health department Edgar to send detailed CV of PhD candidate to , to seek Commonwealth

funding

LSHTM Gates project, bio-additives and pit accumulation rates,

Strategies to Strengthen the SNOWS Consortium

Problem Objective of phase I Proposed needed actions that will also meet the anticipated expectations of the WT

Weak consortiumInadequate project management, financial and governance experience and systems

• SNOWS provides bright and well-prepared African Master and PhD-level students and their institutions access to a well-functioning consortium and key expertise and resources to build sustainable individual and institutional research capacity within water, sanitation and health.

a) All African partners meet the eligible criteria for financial management and governance set by WT.

1) Exchange staff visits and conduct course training on project management2) train and establish unit staff to support researchers in identifying, develop, submit research proposal as well as doing financial and scientific reporting.

b) Research a) Agreement of common research priorities and agenda

b) Strong consortium with proved collaborative work and activities

1) conduct collaborative research activities2) share supervision of MSc and PhD students3) mentoring of university staff4) joint research papers5) submit and obtain funding for common proposals6) prepare and implement joint course training modules

Problem Objective of phase I Proposed needed actions that will also meet the anticipated expectations of the WT

b) Research a) Agreement of common research priorities and agenda

b) Strong consortium with proved collaborative work and activities

7) match and collaboration between southern and northern MSc/PhD students, e.g. at common research subjects and field sites.8) Participants from several SNOWS partners take part in common courses held at a partner institution9) Conduct annual SNÓWS meeting before/after key international WATSAN conferences with SNOWS participation.

c). Limited communication and networking

Commonly agreed communication and dissemination

Internal communicationsExternal communications (the use of skype, teleconference, emailing etc.)

Activity 4: Scoping study of other Sources of funding

Source Responsible Partner

• Edulink LSH

• ERASMUSMUNDUS CU

• IFS Individual PhD students

• Bill Gates LSH

• ACU (Commonwealth) Mbarara/LSH

• Wellcome Trust LSH

• Timing; draft report by end of inception period

• Final draft December 2010

THANK YOU