Starting from the 29th of September to the 3rd of October, the Centre for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Appropriate Technology Development (WASHTED) organised a week-long Strategic Plan Development Workshop aimed at developing the Centre’s strategic direction for the period 2026–2030. This workshop was organised following the expiry of the previous Strategic plan (2017-2022) for the centre. The workshop was facilitated by the Management Development Centre (MDC) at MUBAS, engaged as a consultant to guide the development of the new strategic plan.
Day one and two: Collaborative Stakeholder Consultations
The first phase of the workshop, which covered two days, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders which included representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water & Sanitation and various organisations who are key stakeholders in Water, Sanition and Hygiene, as well as partners to WASHTED’s efforts.
During this first phase of the conference, key members of the MUBAS leadership: the Dean of the School of Science and Technology, Dr. Kamndaya, the Head of Research and Innovation, Dr. M. Tsakama were present and presented to the consortium the MUBAS strategic plan and emphasized the need for WASHTED to strive to be a centre of excellence.
Further discussions focused on the achievements and lessons from the 2017–2022 Strategic Plan, identifying current challenges in the WASH landscape, and aligning WASHTED’s priorities with national development frameworks and the MUBAS strategic vision. Stakeholders contributed valuable insights on strengthening collaboration, policy engagement, and innovation in water and environmental health research.
Focused Drafting Sessions
The second phase, which occurred on the third to fifth days, involved work between WASHTED and MDC. Based on the initial reactions and guidance offered in the stakeholder consultations, the two teams collaborated in order to start developing the WASHTED Strategic Plan (2026-2030).
These meetings were aimed at polishing the vision, mission, strategic goals, key performance indicators and implementation plan of the Centre. It was focused on meeting Sustainable Development Goals as well as the overall aims of the School of Science and Technology at MUBAS.
The WASHTED Strategic Plan (2026-2030), once finished, will offer a map that is easy to follow to enhance the influence of the Centre by conducting research, engaging in innovation, engaging with communities, and influencing policies. The proposed strategy will help WASHTED focus on sustainable water and environmental health solutions, as well as support the national and global development priorities.
