Water Engineering and Development Centre

Capacity development

WEDC has been providing training for professionals working in the WASH sector for over 40 years. This includes formal assessed courses leading to MScs, postgraduate diplomas and postgraduate certificates, as well as bespoke short courses for NGOs, national governments and private companies. These are often in conjunction with a local university, to build training capacity globally. Whilst the courses and training are the obvious output of this activity, these are underpinned by research into capacity building and training, to ensure that what we deliver is supported by effective human resource development practice and proven pedagogical approaches. We have also undertaken a variety of innovative capacity development projects, examples of which are listed below.

If you would like to find out more about WEDC’s work is this area, please contact Brian ReedMichael Smith or Brian Skinner.

Other capacity development projects

In addition to the projects listed above, other capacity development projects WEDC has undertaken include:

  • Evaluation of Capacity building to Improve Humanitarian Action in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector (Tearfund) 
  • Developing a Capacity Building Framework for NGOs in the WatSan Sector [DFID/ UWASNET] 
  • Review of Capacity building in WatSan training [DACAAR]

Postgraduate programmes

Annual training courses

  • Water, Hygiene And Sanitation for Health (MSF) 
  • Strategic Approaches to Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (MSF) 
  • Excreta Disposal in Emergencies (Université de Neuchâtel/ ICRC)

Bespoke training courses

  • Equity and Inclusion [WaterAid] 
  • Sustainable community management of rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene [UNICEF Malawi] 
  • Emergency sanitation (Austrian Red Cross) 
  • Senior and Intermediate WES Managers Training South Sudan [UNICEF] 
  • Integrated Urban Water Resources Management [Philippine cities] 
  • Emergency Water Supply and Sanitation [UNICEF Liberia] 
  • Water Supply and Sanitation for Low-income Communities [in association with Ugandan Management Institute] 
  • Groundwater Development, Water Quality, Water Treatment, Pumping Systems and Pipe Networks [Mercy Corps – Iraq/Jordan] 
  • Practical latrine Building – Kumasi Ghana

Online courses

Educational support and course development

  • University of Eduardo Mondale, Mozambique [WSUP] 
  • University of Njala, Sierra Leone [DFID]

Key publications

Publications and reports

  • COATES, SUE; REED, BRIAN; FISHER, JULIE (2005) Capacity development: making the investment count in Uganda WELL Country Note 13.1 WEDC/WELL Loughborough University, UK

  • REED, BJ, COATES, S, ODHIAMBO, F, KAYAGA, S (2011) Training for real: matching employer needs to training supply, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Municipal Engineer, 164(ME4), pp.269-278.

  • REED, BJ, COATES, S, MALE, V, RUGUMAYO, A (2003) Training for Real: Advancing Capacity Building Strategy and Practice in the Uganda Water and Sanitation Sector, pp.0-1, WEDC, Loughborough University.

  • KAYAGA, S., MUGABI, J. AND KINGDOM, W. (2013) 'Evaluating the institutional sustainability of an urban water utility: a conceptual framework and research directions', Utilities Policy, 27, pp.15-27.

  • GOMME, J, MALE, V, REED, BJ (2002) Developing a Capacity Building Framework and Funding Mechanism for NGOs and CBOs in the Water and Sanitation Sector in Uganda, pp.0-1, WELL Task 2099.

  • REED, BRIAN; COATES, SUE 2007 Developing engineers and technicians: Notes on giving guidance to engineers and technicians on how infrastructure can meet the needs of men and women WEDC Loughborough, UK.

  • SANSOM K.R. AND COATES S. (2011) 'Developing competences for water utility change programmes', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Municipal Engineer Journal issue ME4, pages 259-268.

Conference papers

  • KAYAGA, SM, ODHIAMBO, FO, REED, BJ, COATES, S, EPITU, J (2007) Towards a Sector-wide Framework for Capacity Development: the 'Training for Real' Project for Uganda. In IWA International Conference on Water Management and Technology Applications in Developing Countries, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

  • REED, BJ, COATES, S, MALE, V, RUGUMAYO, A (2005) The inception phase of Training for Real in Uganda. In Maximizing the benefits from water and environmental sanitation, Kampala, Uganda, pp.243-246.

  • REED, BJ AND COATES, S (2009) Maximizing the benefits of training engineers about gender. In EWB-UK Research Conference, Royal Academy of Engineering.

  • REED, B (2012) How green is my project? Developing a curriculum for environmental education of civil engineers. In , EE 2012 - International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in Engineering Education, Conference Proceedings.

  • REED, BJ (2012) Developing global text books for global engineers. In Changing Course: The Global Dimension to Engineering Education, UCL, London, pp.62-65.