In our September newsletter, you will find updates on the Ghana Water Education Project, Solar Powered Water Systems training in India, invitation to connect at UNC Water and Health Conference next month, and GWC hiring news. 

 

Our team at the Global Water Center collaborates to develop, share, replicate, and scale solutions for sustainable safe water access. Below are some highlights and ways you too can partner with us.  

Second Round of Training Completed with our Ghana Water Education Project ​​​​​

This month, we wrapped up the second round of three weeks of intensive training on the water technology curricula developed for technical and vocational education in Ghana.  Once implemented, this program will provide a pipeline of skilled workers to the rural water sector, who are able to operate and maintain rural water systems.

The training took place at St. Paul’s Technical School in Ghana, where we are piloting the curricula.  This second round of training marks the end of 6 weeks of training for 14 teachers from St. Paul’s Technical School. The training was facilitated by many of our partners and collaborators, including Grundfos Ghana, Safe Water Network, Cleanearth Scientific, GIZ, Water Mission, and of course, Global Water Center (GWC). A field visit to nearby water treatment plants and discussions with the Ghana Water Company were highlights of the experience.

We closed the training with a ceremony celebrating the hard work of the participants and facilitators and granting the teachers certificates of completion.  We continue to work with the pilot school, Ghana TVET Service, and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Educational Training (CTVET) to ensure the curricula are ready to be rolled out in 2024.  This project is funded by the Grundfos Foundation. GWC, project partners, and St. Paul’s Technical School are all grateful for their support.

Solar Powered Water Systems Training Continues in India

Exciting developments are underway in Karnataka, India as Solar Pumping has emerged as a promising solution to address the critical issue of sustainability in rural water provision. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact and bring positive change to the lives of people in rural India.

We are now in the final week of our online course on Designing Solar Powered Water Systems (SPWS). We are anticipating 20 graduates from the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department (RDWSD) from the course. These graduates will participate in an in-person SPWS training in November, and in the new year, they will co-facilitate the SPWS online courses for 400-500 of their colleagues.

In a practical step towards ensuring hands-on experience, we have conducted site assessments to implement a demonstration SPWS for a rural community showcasing the newest Grundfos solar pumping technology. By mid-October, we will also complete a smaller SPWS demonstration site at a training facility in Bengaluru.  These sites will be visited by SPWS course graduates and the public and will inspire the use of SPWS as a viable technology for achieving sustainable rural water provision.

GWC’s Senior Director, Benjamin Filskov (right), with Wilson Dhanaraj from Safe Water Network.

Benjamin and team conducting a site assessment.

​​This work is made possible thanks to the collaboration of the RDWSD and the support of our partners: Safe Water Network, Water Mission, Grundfos, and Royal Eijkelkamp, who are working alongside us on each aspect of this project to ensure its success.
Connecting at the UNC Water and Health Conference

In October, we will gather with more than 3,700 other water, sanitation, and hygiene(WASH) sector professionals at the UNC Water and Health Conference in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The conference provides a “curated space where policymakers, practitioners and researchers can gather to review the evidence, interrogate the science and improve old and develop new approaches to expanding WASH access and services.” If you will be attending or live in the area and would like to meet us, email us at [email protected].

We have open positions!

We are continuing to grow our organization’s outreach and programs and have two positions that we are looking to fill. Open positions: Carbon Credit Program Director Systems Administrator Details on the positions and instructions on how to apply can be found by clicking here or at https://go.globalwatercenter.org/e/921673/careers-/2lnt6q/437439069?h=bSimln0kPj1OejVsMZHXJjt9sqKpu4YVfrZ1lPfb9ZY

The Global Water Center is a global leader in accelerating the end of water poverty through learning and technical services delivered through collective action.  We are committed to ensuring longevity in water systems for the sake of the people and communities they serve and to secure safe water for all who lack it. 

Safe Water Saves Lives®​

Thank you again for your ongoing support and partnership!