About this Partnership
Name:
The Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Program (RWSSP)
or
Bee, Saneamentu No Igene Iha Komunidade (BESIK)
Aim:
develop and strengthen water supply, sanitation and hygiene services in Timor
Leste’s rural areas.
Develop and strengthen water supply, sanitation and hygiene services in Timor Leste’s rural areas.
Background:
The Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Program, know by the Tetum acronym BESIK is funded by the Australian Government and works in partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste specifically with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Health. Program funding is A$40m over 5 years.
Their responsibility is continually growing as the government budget grows and therefore their need for sound technical skills is paramount for the sustainability. BESIK has staff working in WASH project and community support based in or working with the District SAS offices.
Background:
The Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Program, know by the Tetum acronym BESIK is funded by the Australian Government and works in partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste specifically with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Health. Program funding is A$40m over 5 years.
Part of BESIK’s technical capacity building support to government involves working with the government department for water infrastructure: SAS (Survicos de Agua Saneamento). One activity is to assist SAS develop standards for their District Technical Officers (DTOs) in terms of their activities, knowledge and required skills. This is part of a broader government plan to develop a sustainable, competent water infrastructure department through improving the capacity of their field staff. Each of the 13 districts of Timor Leste has a SAS office that is in charge of both district urban supply and delivery of community owned rural water supply systems funded by the government. Each office has staff working on urban and rural supply. In each office there is one DTO (district technical officer). Their role is primarily to undertake the initial survey and designs of water systems as well as budgeting and implementation. They are also responsible for technical supervision of local contactors / NGO’s during implementation.
Their responsibility is continually growing as the government budget grows and therefore their need for sound technical skills is paramount for the sustainability. BESIK has staff working in WASH project and community support based in or working with the District SAS offices.
Achievements and Focus
Why is this necessary?What are the goals of the project?
The EWB volunteer will be involved in developing and running a competency-based training
and assessment approach to mentoring the District Technical Officers (DTOs) for SAS (the
government department for water infrastructure).
The aim is for the DTO’s to achieve a level of proficiency in two or three key areas of survey,
design and construction of rural water supply systems. This training and assessment will be
carried out in the district SAS offices on an individual basis. Initially this program is to be run
in two regions of Timor Leste (districts surrounding Baucau and Aileu), to include a total of
six DTO’s.
The volunteer’s role will include:
• Communication with DNSAS (national SAS) and District SAS on job related skills
development.
• Working with RWSSP staff to assess the current skills and required skill standard of
SAS DTOs as an indicator of relevant skills
• Selecting and developing relevant competency modules and developing appropriate
ways to deliver training and mentorship. The EWB volunteer will work with RWSSPs
capacity building advisors, district engineering advisors, gender unit, and other
RWSSP staff to identify pathways to achieving competencies
• Conducting on-the-job capacity building with DTO’s to bring them up to a level of an
appropriate level of competency
• Liaising with WASH NGO’s (both Local and international), Universities (DIT and UNTL)
and vocational training institutions to initiate a rural water sector wide approach. In
particular, liaising with Tibar Training Institution and Dili Institute of Technology to
bring their courses more in line with the rural water supply (WASH) sector.
The EWB volunteer will be involved in developing and running a competency-based training
and assessment approach to mentoring the District Technical Officers (DTOs) for SAS (the
government department for water infrastructure).
The aim is for the DTO’s to achieve a level of proficiency in two or three key areas of survey,
design and construction of rural water supply systems. This training and assessment will be
carried out in the district SAS offices on an individual basis. Initially this program is to be run
in two regions of Timor Leste (districts surrounding Baucau and Aileu), to include a total of
six DTO’s.
The volunteer’s role will include:
- Communication with DNSAS (national SAS) and District SAS on job related skills development.
- Working with RWSSP staff to assess the current skills and required skill standard of SAS DTOs as an indicator of relevant skills
- Selecting and developing relevant competency modules and developing appropriate ways to deliver training and mentorship. The EWB volunteer will work with RWSSPs capacity building advisors, district engineering advisors, gender unit, and other RWSSP staff to identify pathways to achieving competencies
- Conducting on-the-job capacity building with DTO’s to bring them up to a level of an appropriate level of competency
- Liaising with WASH NGO’s (both Local and international), Universities (DIT and UNTL) and vocational training institutions to initiate a rural water sector wide approach. In particular, liaising with Tibar Training Institution and Dili Institute of Technology to bring their courses more in line with the rural water supply (WASH) sector.
What has been accomplished thus far?
- Successful mentoring of at least three local NGO partners. They are ready to pass on their knowledge and skills to local partners.
- A national water supply guideline (community and technical) has been developed by RWSSP. This is yet to go through thorough re-examination.
- A national water policy is currently been developed by RWSSP in collaboration with the government.
- standard BOQ (Bill of Quantities) template for estimating and contract purposes developed. This tool will assist in ensuring standard quality BOQ’s are produced by government. The first version is now complete and training of SAS DTO’s (government district technical officers) will happen in the coming months.
- Follow up national water supply guideline (community and technical) to make sure practical application is understood.
- Review draft national water policy developed by RWSSP
- More NGO to be mentored
- Mentoring SAS DTO’s (government district technical officers) on the use of newly completed BOQ (Bill of Quantities) template.
- Currently NGO’s and communities have little concept of environmental protection.
- NGO’s and communities have a good understanding of spring body protection. EWB field volunteer is hoping to pass this understanding onto the way they perceive the rest of the environment.
EWB Field Volunteer and Project Team
Justin Modra - Water and Sanitation Advisor - Rural Water and Sanitation Program
Justin is excited to be working in Timor-Leste for the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Program (RWSSP). His role is to help build the technical capacity of local organisations working on various government water and sanitation systems. Justin has been involved as a volunteer with EWB for a number of years while also working as a mechanical engineer for a consultancy firm in Brisbane. He is hoping not to be attacked by a croc while snorkeling and diving the beautiful reefs of Timor-Leste.
Q. What would you say your greatest success is in this placement so far?
A.I have seen Isabel (assistant technical advisor –RWSSP) develop greatly in her ability and confidence since working with her. I am realising how to push her in her learning and confidence and it has been a reward seeing her grow as a technical engineer.
Q. What would be the more challenging part for you in this placement?
A. It has been difficult working with the local NGO’s. It is hard to build a relationship where they do not see me as a supervisor (as they are under contract of RWSSP) as a result they lie about their abilities and pretend they do not need help and when trying to help them they generally reject positive feedback. Work ethic of the local partners is poor too as there is no real process of selection of staff (generally just family or friends of director- rather then been technically minded and having good work ethics)
Doug Ruuska - Water and Sanitation Advisor - Plan TL
Doug is working with one of EWB’s partner organisations, PLAN in Timor Leste. Doug is based in the town of Aileu (90 minutes south of Dili) and will be working to further develop the local capacity in delivering water supply projects with local communities. Doug has worked in the water industry in Melbourne since graduating and is looking forward to transferring some knowledge whilst getting out about in rural Timor Leste.
Funders
Alice (EWB volly for DIT) and the local Kids