The WASH Systems Academy

The learning platform for water, sanitation and hygiene systems strengthening

Introducing water, sanitation and hygiene system strengthening

Also available in French

We are thrilled that you have joined us and look forward to engaging with you in this thought-provoking course.
Systems thinking is increasingly recognized as a critical component for creating sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene services for all.

Course objectives: This short intensive online course of 8 hours is designed to give you a better understanding of what water, sanitation and hygiene systems strengthening entails and your role in it.

Course content:

This course is developed for anyone who wants to learn more about water, sanitation, and hygiene systems strengthening. No prior knowledge of water, sanitation or hygiene service delivery is required.
More specifically, professionals working for:

Regional and national governments
Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, multi-laterals, bilaterals, private organisations
Training institutes, consultants, and experts working on systems strengthening

The learning objectives for this course are:

understand and describe what water, sanitation, and hygiene systems entail
understand and describe how strengthened water and sanitation systems are critical for realising national targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
explain the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene systems strengthening others
identify actions and steps to strengthen the water, sanitation, and hygiene systems in your context

This course is part of four online courses as shown in the learning journey image below, that have been selected by the partnership for WASH systems in Africa [of UNICEF, IRC, Water For People]. Through the two introductions and two advanced courses on WASH system strengthening and WASH finance anyone can learn what it takes to deliver resilient WASH services and be part of the change needed to leave no one behind.

This course includes podcasts, animations, graphics, videos, documentation, and multiple-choice tests. There is also the opportunity to create your own materials on WASH systems strengthening and access optional materials if you want to know more. The majority of this course is also available offline. You can download the complete session texts, including all the exercises, via the course resources tab. This allows you to follow part of the course offline. However, you will need to connect to the online platform to participate in the forum discussions, upload the materials you create, and complete the multiple-choice tests and quizzes.
listen to podcasts

All four e-courses are available in English and French for free on both the WASH Systems Academy of IRC and the UNICEF's Agora platforms in English and French. All courses are offered as self-paced and guided courses which you can start at any time.

WASH systems strengthening is relevant to anyone who is engaging in some way, trying to improve these services, or trying to provide or change them in some way...
Angela Huston, IRC

Session Overview

The online course consists of 6 sessions which each takes a minimum of around 1 hour to complete. The total course duration is 8 hours.
Session 1: Introducing systems thinking for universal safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Session 2: Interlinkages of WASH services
Session 3: People of the WASH system: roles and responsibilities
Session 4: Towards universal water, sanitation, and hygiene services
Session 5: Building systems that leave no one behind
Session 6: The process of systems strengthening and change.
Test on sessions 1 to 6, certificate and feedback
It's recommended that you work through the course in consecutive order (i.e., from 1 to 6) completing each session before moving to the next session.

This course has been created by IRC in collaboration with UNICEF, Water For People and SIWI, with funding from the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Dutch government.