The Centre for International Capacity Development (CICD), Universität Siegen is currently heading three major projects with a focus on water and sanitation related issues. Two EU and one DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) funded project, which are mainly focusing on Eastern Africa and run in close cooperation with German (GTZ Kenya and Tanzania, DAAD) as well as regional partners (Kenyatta University (KU), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Makarere University (MAK), and University of Zambia (UNZA)).

These projects include the following:

First, the EU-funded project, ‘Capacity Building for Integrated Watershed Management in Eastern Africa’ (IWMNet).

Second, “University Capacity Building for Integrated Sanitation Management in Eastern and Southern Africa (UCDISM)” is a EU funded project closely linked with IWMNet. The overall aim is to strengthen capacity in addressing sanitation related issues within the region. The programme builds on the International Masters programme in Integrated Watershed Management; it is designed to strengthen training and research capacity at universities in Eastern and Southern Africa in sanitation management. The projects aim is thus to improve water and sanitation governance with emphasis on establishing an international practice-oriented Masters programme in Integrated Sanitation Management (ISM) at UDSM in cooperation with KU. It plans to upgrade all partner universities’ capacity through regional knowledge transfer as well as training of professionals in project management. For further information please see www.ucdism.eu

Moreover, the German Alumni Water Network (GAWN) has been established to coordinate activities for former students of German Universities and development associations in Germany. It is the outcome of a joint effort of DAAD and six universities who offered alumni summer schools in 2005 in coordination with IFAT 2005. It provides online contact information from and for DAAD Alumni active in the water sector. The database is managed and organised at present by the Universität Siegen on behalf of DAAD. Furthermore, a consortium of nine German Universities co-operate for strengthening the German Alumni Water Network GAWN by offering access to their existing alumni networks and by organising summer schools and expert seminars in different continents. For further information please see www.gawn.de