Course content

Access to improved water and sanitation remain a major challenge in the Global South with dire consequences for human health, economic development and the environment. Poor and marginalized groups, particularly women, girls and ethnic minorities are particularly affected.

In this course you will learn about the following:

• challenges of the water and sanitation in the global south,
• cultural, behavioral & institutional barriers for access to water and sanitation.
• application of qualitative and quantitative tools to assess the effectiveness of existing water and sanitation technologies.
• Identification of existing technological options for sustainable water and sanitation.
• design and evaluate a technical water and sanitation project in the global South.

The course will be organized by NTNU in collaboration with its partners in the Global South, particularly in Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, and South Africa.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Candidate should be able to:

• Explain the challenges related to water and sanitation globally
• Recognize the effects of inappropriate water and sanitation on public health and the environment.
• Define the technical components of water supply and sanitation systems
• Discuss cultural and institutional challenges related to water and sanitation systems
• Undertake fieldwork and analyze a real-life case of water and sanitation system.
• Select appropriate technical, culturally acceptable and sustainable water and sanitation system for the real-life case.

Skills

Candidate can

• Outline the components of a water sanitation system accounting for cultural acceptability, technical feasibility and sustainability.
• Choose between different water and sanitation technologies considering their advantages and disadvantages for a given cultural context.

General Competence

Candidate shall

• Present your own results and analyses both in writing and orally.
• Update your knowledge within the field through information gathering.
• Master professional terminology and communicate with other professionals.
• Contribute to sustainable and equitable WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) service provision in developing countries.

Learning methods and activities

• Lectures at NTNU & partner institution on the topic, including group work and presentation of the case area in the Global South.
• Fieldwork in the case study area.

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Required previous knowledge

Enrollment in Ålesund Folkehøgskole or similar

Course materials

To be shared at the start of the course, and during the course.