Program Overview

The Cap-WASH Program is meant to contribute to capacity building and knowledge management for African local/national WASH Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). In Africa, like in other regions, there are large, well-experienced international, regional and national NGOs in the Water delivery, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) field, yet there is a number of local/country CBOs and NGOs which lack the necessary technical capacity to deliver positive contributions to solving WASH challenges. Local NGOs/CBOs in Africa still require significant support and technical assistance to improve their capabilities in sustainable, state-of-the art, locally tailored WASH approaches. To address this need, USAID will invest in activities to help fill the significant knowledge and capacity gap among African local/national NGOs and CBOs working in the WASH sector. Given the modest level of resources of the present program, we will develop activities that will build on existing efforts ongoing in the region. Objective 1: Conduct a review of existing networks for African WASH NGOs/CBOs at the regional and/or sub-regional level, as well as resources/platforms created to support them through capacity building and knowledge management services. Objective 2: In consultation with the implementers of institutions in the international WASH sector (e.g., WaterAid, UNICEF, World Bank/WSP, WSSCC, and others), identify an appropriate niche for USAID support to African NGO/CBO capacity building and/or knowledge management. Objective 3: Implement at least one cost-effective intervention to support African WASH NGOs/CBOs and increase their ability to design and implement sustainable WASH service programs.