February 2021 quarterly update

 Welcome to the first blog of 2021! It’s been a busy few months, so here’s a review of just a few of the activities we’ve been up to.

The global launch

On November 5th, we had our global programme launch online, attracting over 130 participants from 40 countries. It featured stimulating contributions from Beatrice Muganda and Ayo Ojebode (PASGR), Nick Hepworth, Tim Brewer, and Mulugeta Gashaw (Water Witness), Herbert Kashililah and Jesper Katomero (Shahidi Wa Maji), Joan Kones and Malesi Shivaji (KEWASNET), and Rosie McGee (IDS). If you missed it, don’t worry - all presentations are available to view online.

Country launch events

Not long after, national launch events in our priority countries were ready to go. The Tanzania programme launched on the 30th November in Dar Es Salaam, with seventeen attendees including senior stakeholders from across the sector. Tanzania’s National Advisory Group currently has nine members, including representatives from academia, ex-public officials, NGOs, the Principal Investigator, and a government anchor.

The Kenya programme launched on December 1st 2020 at an event in Nairobi, with over 100 people tuning in to watch online. The National Advisory Group (NAG) currently has nine members, including representatives from WSUP, HPfRC, KWAHO, WASREB (government anchor), JKUAT, NGOs, academia, government, and the private sector. 

The Ethiopia programme will be launching soon - watch this space!

Professional Research Fellow training

The recruitment and selection process for PRFs generated interest across the sector and in many countries. Overall, we received nearly 130 applications for the pre-PRF training: 47 from Kenya, 25 from Tanzania and 25 from Ethiopia, and the remainder from across Africa. From this rich pool of talent we selected 60 incredible participants, and we have high hopes that the final twelve research fellows selected when the training is complete will be leaders in accountability for the sector. Participants span the sector from members of the civil service and academia to representatives from NGOs and civil society groups. 

The training has begun in Kenya and Tanzania and for the regional participants, and is set to begin on 22nd February in Ethiopia. Preliminary feedback from a survey completed by 29 of the 51 participants is overwhelmingly positive. For both the first and second module of the training (6 of the 9 weeks) 100% of respondents either “strongly agree” or “agree” that the module met their expectations and they would recommend it to a colleague. There was particular enthusiasm for the module content, structure, facilitation, and communications.

Research Outputs

Briefing notes for Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania were published in December 2020, drawing on findings from the evidence review alongside emerging insights garnered from in-country research programmes. Part 1 of the evidence review: Overview and summary results, was published in August 2020. Parts 2 and 3, providing country level and thematic evidence summaries are in the final stages of development

Cross-country research

We now have Principle Investigators (PIs) in place in each country, and with the PRF programme underway, attention is turning the design and implementation of the cross-country research. PIs will support with this, and with ensuring that all appropriate research clearances are in place.

Covid-19 update

We continue to monitor the ongoing Covid-19 situation, and for are confident that the programme can now be delivered during this ongoing crisis. We are hopeful that the vaccines being approved now will allow the programme to resume plans to meet and travel in the latter half of 2021, but plans will remain under review, with safety prioritised in any decisions moving forward.

A word of thanks

All of this couldn’t have been possible without the enthusiasm and belief of all those who have contributed to the programme so far, giving their insights, energy and ideas to build momentum in the fight for water justice. Thanks to everyone who has participated so far - we are excited to see what the future holds.

You can view the full quarterly update here.