Rand Water is testament to the powers of technology transfer and knowledge sharing.
As the lar gest water utility in Africa, Rand Water is committed to sustainability of projects through effective and efficient skills transfer. This is evident in the set-up of the FIPAG Academy for Professional Development in the water sector. This project forms part of Rand Water’s contribution towards the Southern African Development Community for rollout within an African sister utility. Mozambique is one of the growing economies on the African continent. The legacy of conflict and civil war is evident in the country’s struggling infrastructure. However, under the presidency of Joaquim Chissano, who implemented sweeping changes in the country, the country has entered a peaceful phase where the real work of rebuilding a country is in active progress. The expansion and improvement of infrastructure for clean water and sanitation, its use and maintenance is still a major concern, both in urban and rural areas. The projectUNESCO-IHE engaged Rand Water with a scope of work for the setup of the FIPAG Academy. Rand Water has been engaged in this for the project implementation through the Rand Water Academy. The project, called ‘Set-up of the FIPAG Academy for the Professional Development in Water and Sanitation’ is funded by the Dutch government as a member of an international consortium led by UNESCO–IHE Institute for Water Education. “The main objective of the project is to contribute to the improvement of management, services and infrastructure in the water and sanitation (WATSAN) sector in Mozambique. This will be done by strengthening the capacity of FIPAG (Fundo de Investimento e Patrimonio do Abastecimento de Aqua) to implement investment programmes in peri-urban water and sanitation and ensure the provision of potable water and cost-effective sanitation to the population, with a gender and labour market perspective.” “This will be achieved by setting up and consolidating a FIPAG Academy which will possess sound institutional management, academic excellence and good links with WATSAN stakeholders and other providers of WATSAN education and training in Mozambique, as well as in the Southern African region.”
Who are the beneficiaries?
Some of the benefits that will accrue due to the project include support sustainability and growth in building capacity for the employees in FIPAG, and support for the water sector. FIPAG Academy staff and participants in the programmes are key beneficiaries, as are all stakeholders in the project, such as the National Water Directorate, the WATSAN Management Units in secondary towns, the Water Regulatory Council and various water and sanitation providers, other training institutions, consulting companies and NGOs in Mozambique.
The following has been identified and agreed for implementation by Rand Water within the agreed project period. These include:
• a comparative study of occupational profiles and competencies including the vision, mission and strategy of the FIPAG Academy
• assistance in the development and implementation of the training programme for FIPAG staff
• development of curricula for short courses run by the FIPAG Academy
• preparation of the procurement list and refurbishment of the FIPAG Academy venue in Maputo
• assistance in the development of the marketing plan and the programme of the FIPAG Academy launch
• development of quality assurance and accreditation framework for FIPAG Academy training programmes
• assisting in the organisation of exposure visits of FIPAG staff to South Africa.
Since 1994, South Africa has come a long way in supplying water and sanitation facilities to its citizens. As the benchmark of delivery in the African region and through projects facilitated through local and international professionals in the development of this sector, Rand Water stands out as one of the innovative success stories in the water milieu in South Africa.
