38th WRI Monthly webinar focusing on lessons from the WABES Applied Research Project in Uganda

The Water Resources Institute of the Ministry of Water and Environment together with Eawag’s Sandec Department and Makerere University are organizing the 38th WRI monthly webinar focusing on lessons from the WABES Applied Research Project in Uganda. The WABES (Water, Behavior Change, and Environmental Sanitation) programme (2022-2026) focused on applied research and capacity development initiatives on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Eawag’s Sandec Department together with Makerere University. In Uganda the WABES programme was implemented in two towns Wobulenzi, Luweero District and Kakooge, Nakasongola District respectively. The programme focuses on generating evidence, developing tools and strengthening professional capacity to support equitable, climate resilient water and sanitation services in low and middle income countries. WABES contributes directly to SDC’s Global Programme Water by addressing basic services in small towns, solid waste management, drinking water treatment and passive chlorination, faecal sludge management, and groundwater quality and modelling. Expected outcomes include; i) advancing safe drinking‑water services through applied research, evaluations and the development of analytical planning tools; ii) Outcome 2 is advancing faecal sludge management, sanitation technology performance and behaviour‑change strategies for solid waste management; iii) building integrated, inclusive planning approaches for small towns, with a major focus on Uganda; iv) supporting professional training, digital learning innovation and the dissemination of research outputs to practitioners and institutions. The provision of basic water and waste services, i.e., water supply, sanitation, solid waste and stormwater management, is essential for ensuring public and environmental health. These services are closely interconnected in their physical chains, creating both opportunities and challenges for service delivery. Planning these services in an integrated and coordinated way help us eliminate negative interactions and foster positive synergies between them. Based on ongoing research in two Ugandan towns – Kakooge and Wobulenzi, this presentation provides an overview of the challenges and potential innovative solutions in such contexts. In this webinar we will hear six exciting presentations from the applied research project - WABES - in collaboration with Eawag-Sandec and Makerere University, alongside opening and closing remarks from the Principal Investigators. The webinar will cover aspects of solid waste management, wastewater monitoring, chlorination, learning and planning, all with a Ugandan focus. This webinar will highlight key insights and takeaways from across the research outcomes. The research spans quantitative and qualitative approaches all with an applied focus.