Reimagining sanitation education in Africa: a step toward sustainable future
Last week, the Global Sanitation Graduate School (GSGS) East and Southern Africa (ESA) Regional Hub hosted a two-day Curriculum Review and Knowledge Mapping Workshop (7th–8th October 2025) at the NWSC International Resource Centre (IREC), Bugolobi.
The workshop brought together universities, utilities, and development partners to refine sanitation education across Africa aligning academic programmes with emerging global frameworks and the realities of citywide inclusive sanitation.
Guided by the theme “Curriculum Review for Inclusive and Sustainable Sanitation,” discussions focused on:
✅ Harmonising sanitation curricula across partner universities
✅ Strengthening academia–industry linkages
✅ Integrating innovations such as AI, GIS, and digital learning
✅ Advancing gender equity, climate resilience, and public health
Participants endorsed a 30% curriculum flexibility threshold to enable continuous updates in line with sector trends a forward-thinking step towards responsive, practice-oriented education.
Representatives from Makerere University, University of Dar es Salaam, Bahir Dar University, Meru University, and many others shared lessons on curriculum design, digitalisation, and inclusivity.
Meanwhile, NWSC showcased its role as a ‘living laboratory’ bridging research, innovation, and applied sanitation practice.
At the heart of this transformation is Dr. Rose Kaggwa, Director of the GSGS ESA Regional Hub and Senior Director of Business and Scientific Services at NWSC, who reaffirmed that “the future of sanitation in Africa lies in education that blends science, innovation, and inclusivity.”
Under her leadership, the Hub continues to strengthen regional collaboration fostering shared curricula, research networks, and postgraduate opportunities tailored to Africa’s sanitation needs.
By the close of the workshop, participants charted a roadmap for a digitally enabled, inclusive, and harmonised sanitation curriculum for East and Southern Africa setting the stage for future peer-learning exchanges through the IWA Development Congress, AfWASA 2025 Congress, and IWA Sanitation Summit.
Together, we are shaping a future where education, innovation, and collaboration drive sustainable sanitation for all.
