Since 2019, IRC and the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute (EWTI) have formalised their collaboration with a partnership set out to support the delivery of sustainable WASH services in Ethiopia; strengthening institutional capacity in a systematic way.
Ever since, the two organisations have worked closely together to implement a joint action plan. A key part of their collaboration involved the delivery of a Training of Trainers (ToT) on WASH systems strengthening for EWTI staff, using the WASH Systems Academy to tailor relevant learning experiences. This eventually cascaded into an EWTI-led blended training in two regions and one university, spreading systems strengthening knowledge across the country.
Tamene Hailu, PhD, Director General of the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute, expressed the positive contribution the Academy has had in reinforcing the Institute's training approach:
"EWTI is strategically leveraging the WASH Systems Academy to transform its role from a conventional training provider into a regional centre of excellence.
By integrating the Academy's digital and systems-based curriculum, EWTI is modernising the way water sector professionals in Ethiopia are trained. EWTI uses the Hybrid Learning Model Integration. EWTI is moving away from purely classroom-based training by incorporating the Academy's online modules into their official curriculum, which is Blended Training.''
The Director General underscored the Academy's role in empowering local actors to lead by strengthening the capacity of woreda-level staff and local utilities and reducing reliance on external consultants.
Systems strengthening
"Inclusion and localisation matter and truly impact learning outcomes" says Jeske Verhoeven, WASH Systems Academy Lead. "User feedback also told us that to be most effective, we have to customise our content".
The Academy's WASH Systems Strengthening: The basics course was adapted to suit the unique needs of EWTI and the broader Ethiopian context and translated into Amharic and Afan Oromo, Ethiopian local languages, to increase accessibility and inclusivity and allow for a wider range of sector actors to benefit from the content.
Since then, EWTI has provided orientation sessions for all trainees attending its various programmes, encouraging them to complete WASH Systems Academy courses and obtain additional certification through self-paced learning.
Building on this success, four additional blended trainings were delivered for professionals and leaders from universities and national, regional, and sub-regional-level institutions. Some universities have included some of the Academy's course contents into the courses that they offer to undergraduate students, Jimma University being an example.
Beyond the basics
"We like to say that the Academy is for and by the water and sanitation sector", says Jeske. "That's why all our courses reference thought leadership that comes from our diverse partners and touches on various relevant disciplines. The Academy's central focus is using and applying a systems approach and as such, our courses touch on several cross-cutting topics."
One example is the development of the WASH and Nutrition Nexus: The basics course, which was co-developed with the Max Foundation and informed by their holistic approach to child health. The course captures the lessons learned from the Max Foundation's deep collaboration with government partners through initiative like the Seqota Declaration. It was later translated into Amharic to make the learning even more accessible to practitioners working in diverse contexts and officially launched for a local audience to further strengthen cross-sector understanding and collaboration.
Contributing to professional growth
IRC's partnership with EWTI has evolved into a strong and effective collaboration on WASH systems strengthening. Today, experts and leaders across Ethiopia are increasingly familiar with the WASH Systems Academy. It is being mentioned during workshops and sector events, reflecting its growing recognition and credibility. A recent example is the integration of the Academy into Welthungerhilfe's management information system in the Oromia Region. This integration was highlighted during the Agenda for Change country collaboration quarterly meeting in Ethiopia, where the Academy was featured within the system's knowledge management component.
Importantly, the impact of the Academy is also evident at the woreda level. The following reflection from the Head of South Ari Woreda's Water and Energy Office illustrates this transformation:
"I completed two courses from the WASH Systems Academy and got certified. These courses, WASH Systems Strengthening: The Basics and Financing for Sustainable WASH, enhanced my understanding of systems strengthening, which I now apply in our daily activities."
The testimony of EWTI staff demonstrates that the partnership is built on a strong and collaborative basis.
Zewdu Seifu, National Consultant at EWTI for the 58 Town Water Utilities Capacity Development Project, also highlighted the Academy's influence on his professional growth:
"The Academy has significantly boosted my technical and strategic competencies. It provided me with an eye-opening understanding of the WASH sector and the tools necessary to drive universal, sustainable services.
It has transformed my professional approach, making me more strategic, reflective, and collaborative. I now apply a systems-thinking mindset to ensure my work leads to more sustainable and impactful outcomes."
Zewdu particularly appreciated the Academy's specialised focus on WASH systems strengthening, its expert-led blended learning approach, the use of real-world evidence, and its flexible design, making it a truly transformative resource rather than just another online course.
Similarly, Tsehaye Doja, Senior Water Quality Expert at EWTI, shared that the Academy deepened his understanding of the WASH building blocks and their collective contribution to establishing sustainable WASH systems in Ethiopia.
Together, these experiences demonstrate how sustained capacity development, strategic partnerships, contextualised trainings, and accessible learning platforms can strengthen WASH systems and empower professionals at all levels to deliver lasting impact.