Dutch WASH Alliance in Hararghe & Dire Dawa

Training in Session, Dire Dawa Photo credit: Harole Yoseph, RiPPLE

50 trainees drawn from private enterprises and local government offices in Dire Dawa City Administration working on urban agriculture came together for 7 days training on productive use of waste and sustainable financial management and site visits. The training was organized and provided by RiPPLE in collaboration with WASTE/RUAF. The forum was mainly meant to share international and national experiences in the sector, discuss the relevance and potential of linking WASH and Food Security through productive re-use of water and Urban Agriculture in Dire Dawa, and agree on an action plan on future directions for the EWA on this topic. A series of presentations by experts from academic institutions such as Arbaminch University, CLARA project and skills training was provided by international experts from ETC-RUAF, WASTE and ICCO. This was also followed by field visits to several urban garden and waste disposal demonstration sites as well as a visit to the agriculture Bureau of Dire Dawa Administration. At the end of the session participants expressed their commitment to work towards strengthening the LPAs on WaSH, awareness raising, WaSH, recycling, hygiene and cost recover, improved liquid and solid waste management and improved urban agriculture. The participants also expressed readiness to arm urban agriculturalists with skills of business plan development, link enterprises with potential financial institutions such as micro-credits and banks as well as support the creation of visible and small scale technologies for informal waste collectors in Dire Dawa. The training was concluded with a discussion on future directions and reflections on how to improve WASH project, particularly on the waste management and urban agriculture. in collaboration with RiPPLE and other EDWA partners