African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

African Water Development Report 2006costs. This is mainly due to the failure to assimilatethe technology into their specific physicaland socio-economic entities as a result of whichthere seems to be little or no diffusion of importedtechnology into their local conditions. Itis now clear that the mechanism of vertical technologytransfer which is point to point relocationof technology is not feasible in African countries,rather, a horizontal approach in which technologytransfer is accompanied by long-term capacitybuilding initiatives would be more appropriate.This will then create the necessary conditions toabsorb new technologies both as product-relatedand as process-related technologies. This impliesthe adaptation of a new technology to a differentenvironment through creative transformationand application. There is therefore the need toestablish specific organizational structures, policyprogrammes and conscious planning for theinfusion of new technologies to back up the effortsat rational water resources development andmanagement in a sustainable environment. It isalso recognized that the capability of a country,a region or a water sector to exploit a particulartechnology is determined by its overall technologicallevel, and this is very low in most Africancountries. It therefore becomes essential for Africato give due priority to the establishment ofeffective infrastructure on which efficient adaptationand diffusion of technology can be based.Specifically, water resources technologies aremore process-oriented than product-relatedsince their application is not only to develop andmanage water projects but also to improve thegeneral perception of the dynamic interactionbetween the elements of the water cycle, humansociety and the natural ecosystem. Research anddevelopment is therefore considered as one ofthe key tools for an effective technology transferto developing countries as part of the general humanand institutional capacity building process.A programme of capacity building in water isshown in Box 16.5 for EthiopiaBox 16.5: Capacity Building Activities in EthiopiaWater Technology Institute: established for the water sector to train engineers in civil, hydraulic, irrigation andwater supply engineering, as well as sub-professionals in all sub-sectors of water resources development, includinghydrographers and water laboratory technicians.Groundwater Development & Water Supply Training Centre: a specialized training centre run by the Ministryof Water Resources with assistance from Japan which provides short-term training for hydrogeologists, watersupply engineers, drillers, mechanics and similar personnel of Regional Water Bureaus.Grassroots Training for Water Development and Management: The Ministry of Water Resource has openedtraining centres, starting in 2002, in four regions of the country for training of trainers. The target training groupsare recruited by the regional water bureaus from high schools. The trainers trained in these centres are to trainfarmers and other community members responsible for managing water supply schemes, including basic sanitationmeasures in handling water up to consumption. The training also covers small-scale irrigation management.Manpower Training for Water Resources Assessment: To cope with the volume of hydrometeorological datacollection and analysis as a result of the expanded gauging network, qualified professionals and support sub-professionalsare to be trained. Also the planned extensive groundwater survey and mapping will need specialists inthe field to be trained. During the fifteen-year plan of the WSDP period, 20 hydrologists, 35 hydrogeologists, 11geophysicists and 5 computer analysts are to be trained for the hydrology and groundwater programmes.Source: AWDR National Report, 2005310