Mzuzu University, located in northern Malawi, was established by an Act of Parliament in May 1997 and admitted its first students in January 1999. In 2009, the Mzuzu University Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation was established within the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. The Centre oversees African water and sanitation research, which is networking regional water and sanitation work and also training of professionals through Mzuzu University. The primary objective of the Centre is to improve the effectiveness of sanitation, hygiene practices, and water supply interventions serving Malawi and the surrounding countries. The Centre participates in applied research, water quality analysis, training, consultancies, outreach programs, and the practical application of research findings. Mzuzu University offers 21 undergraduate programmes for generic and upgrading students and 9 postgraduate programmes. In 2013, programmes for PhD and Master’s in Sanitation were added.
As an extension of the Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation, there now is a so called SMART Centre with demonstration of a range of low cost technologies and capacity to train local entrepreneurs in water and sanitation technologies with a focus on ‘self supply’. To learn more about the SMART Centre visit http://www.mzuzusmartcentre.com
The Centre invites stakeholders for short courses focusing on two areas (1) Low-cost irrigation and (2) Low cost sanitation. Participants should expect to gain both practical and theortical skills which will allow scale-up of low-cost techngologies to address irrigation potential, water, hygiene and sanitation needs of Malawi.
Target course audience: Entrepreneurs, Government (water, health, irrigation) departments, WASH trainers, Health and Sanitation Officers, and NGOs aiming to address water and sanitation needs of Malawi.
1. Low-cost irrigation
The focus of the workshop will be low-cost irrigation. The workshop will cover irrigation potential in Malawi and an overview of water and hygiene, though a significant portion of time will be spent in practical exercises building two low-cost irrigation systems. Irrigation technologies to be covered include: Irrigation feasibility studies, choice of irrigation method, Rope pump, rain water harvesting as a component of irrigation, small solar pumps and local windmills. There will also be an opportunity for discussion about ecosystem management techniques and site visits to nearby model areas actively using low-cost irrigation water solutions. Two sessions will be offered, and both offer the same quality and depth of information.
Session #1: 15 to 17 July 2014
Session #2: 22 to 24 July 2014
Fee per session per participant: MK125,000
2. Low-cost sanitation
The focus of the workshop will be low-cost sanitation in support of ending open defecation in Malawi. The workshop will introduce participants to a variety of low-cost sanitation solutions suited to rural and periurban areas. A practical exercise will be included to build a corbelled latrine and a skyloo toilet. The workshop will also cover how low-cost sanitation technologies, combined with sanitation marketing, can work alongside CLTS (Community-Led Total Sanitation) programs. Additionally, there will be site visits to nearby model areas successfully using low-cost sanitation solutions. The two sessions to be presented will offer the same quality and depth of information.
Session #1: 29 to 31 July 2014
Session #2: 5 to 7 August 2014
Fee per session per participant: MK125,000
Notes:
- Short courses will be held at Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.
- There is a maximum of 25 participants per session. A waiting list will be formed as needed.
- Participant fee includes short course fees, materials for practical exercises, morning and afternoon tea breaks, and lunch.
- Participants are responsible for their transportation and making accommodation arrangements.
- Successful participants will receive a certificate of attendance and recognition.
- Participants should come prepared for field exercises, and ready to get dirty!
- For a registration and more information about the short courses, please e-mail mzuniwatsan@gmail.com
Rural Sanitation Marketing in Malawi - Learning Together 