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