Sector Learning
The WASH sector faces immense challenges. We need to learn, and avoid repeating the same mistakes all over again (even though we recognise mistakes have their value). Learning is what allows us to connect knowledge and create action together. We need to learn as individuals. We need to learn as organisations.We need to learn as a set of institutions working in this sector. IRC and partners are supporting national and decentralised level stakeholders to reflect and learn jointly for sustainable WASH service delivery and for vibrant adaptive WASH sectors.
'Sector learning' is a concept that is about working across institutional and professional boundaries. A learning sector develops as a result of a range of initiatives and processes that create, capture, transfer and mobilise knowledge for joint reflection, innovation and improvement.
On these pages, we will publish experiences with sector learning that aim to make service delivery in WASH more equitable and effective. Share your ideas and join in our reflections on the weblog: http://learningforchange.wordpress.com/
What does 'sector learning' mean?
08 Feb 12
Our understanding of 'sector learning' and how it can be supported is evolving through our work. We continue to learn about and develop the concept and approaches.
Getting a grip on 'sector learning'
17 Nov 11
In April 2011, IRC organised a reflective workshop on ‘Sector Learning’ in the WASH sector. What is sector learning? What does it look like in different countries? And what does it take to make learning at sector level happen? Watch video interviews exploring these questions on the blog.
Towards sector learning and KM in Burkina Faso - Study report (in French)
14 Oct 11
This is the full report of the study report "Vers la gestion des connaissances et l’apprentissage sectoriel au Burkina Faso : comprendre les pratiques actuelles relatives à l’information et aux connaissances dans le secteur de l’eau et l’assainissement".
Rapport d etude_sept11_04.pdf (869.8 kB)
Closing the learning loop to feed national decision making
27 Jul 11
Any learning process must be effective. In Ghana, the learning process in the water and sanitation sector is extensive and devolved, as it should be. But there is an important gap. A structured mechanism is needed to channel lessons from the communities, learning alliances, and other learning fora to decision makers, for example, the annual inter-ministerial roundtable at the Ghana Water Forum.
Sector learning workshop results on 'Reflexive Monitoring in Action'
06 Apr 11
This workshop on monitoring sector learning ended on 7 April 2011. Three summary blog posts are available and many more resources are upcoming.
You can follow it all on the Learning for Change blog: and on Twitter (with the hash tag #RMAWASH)
Learning for change (blog)
01 Apr 11
This blog is dedicated to learning for change. It means a lot of things but we define it here as any learning-focused initiative aiming at effecting some change. This broad definition encompasses sector learning, learning alliances, resource centre networks etc. Go to http://learningforchange.wordpress.com/
Concept Note National WASH Learning in Uganda
28 Feb 11
The Concept Note indicates that learning in the WASH sector is a fundamental pre-requisite of performance improvement. In a sector with shrinking investments, cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness are vital strategies. Learning is about the good practices and to avoid making the same mistakes, to benefit from innovations and to make necessary adjustments to practical guidelines and policy to ensure good implementation. Learning needs to take place at all levels and should reflect both successes and failures in practice. National level learning is based on practical lessons from the decentralised levels, on action research and on best practices and also from abroad. Learning on WASH at national level needs to be adequately structured and grounded within good platforms to be effective.
WSSDPG Ug 090318 Concept Note NationalWASHLearning-v2.doc (285.5 kB)
Sector Learning: Anticipating and adapting to change for better WASH service delivery
27 Apr 10
The water, sanitation and hygiene development sector is complex and in a state of change. Actors from national to community level play significant roles and interact in multiple, often unplanned ways. The need to share experiences and knowledge is underlined by two trends – one towards decentralisation, taking greater responsibility at more local levels; the other for greater integration and coordination in the sector. This brochure gives a short overview of what is happening in the sector and some examples of learning from Resource Centres in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
SectorLearning_e-version_final.pdf (376.7 kB)
National Learning Forum
Uganda's Ministry of Water and Environment, the Sanitation and Water Knowledge Learning Alliance (SAWA, which is a consortium of NGOs involved in the WASH sector) and IRC will organise a number of national events around learning called National Learning Forums. The aim of these events is to provide a national learning platform for WASH stakeholders so that they share and analyse experiences and practices, to stimulate follow-up acitivities and products, to build capacity for scaling-up and to bridge the gap between policy and practice. Presented 'good practices' will be in various areas: e.g. integrated water resources management, water supply, community-based management, rural sanitation, water and sanitation in schools or WASH governance.
Building a learning water services sector in South Africa
13 Jun 05
Thoko Sigwaza (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry), Ndala Duma (the Water Information Network) and Coucillor Nandi Mayathula-Khoza (South African Local Government Association) presented the South African experience of building a learning water services sector.
Sigwaza_building_a_learning.ppt (547.5 kB)
