What is EWTEC?

In 1998, Ethiopian Ministry of Water Resources established the Groundwater Development and Water Supply Training Center together with Japan International Cooperation Agency to focus on capacity building activities in the water sector. Accordingly, Japanese experts started transferring technology on groundwater development and water supply initiating 4 basic courses. A total of 717 engineers from various organizations were trained though these courses.

In 2005, the project entered its second phase and the center was renamed the Ethiopia Water Technology Center, or EWTEC. Since then, 1,212 engineers have been provided on-the-job training (OJT) led by Japanese experts, and 19 training courses have been developed for advance skills.

See the website during the Project Phase 2 (English and Japanese)

Our aim is to increase access to improved water sources by providing training on groundwater resource and water supply management to professionals in both the public and private sector, including non-government organizations (NGOs) and technical and vocational colleges (TVETCs), and provide support for other rural water supply schemes. Starting this year, Phase 3 will usher EWTEC into a new chapter in its growth, increasing its capacity to function in a self-sustaining manner as it renews its commitment to the cultivation and education of human resources for groundwater development and water supply.

Project Summary

(1) Project Title

Groundwater Development and Water Supply Training Project Phase-3 (Ethiopia Water Technology Center/EWTEC) in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

(2) Contents of the Project

*To establish training management system, secure and maintain the quality of training.

*To upgrade ability of guidance of EWTEC staff

*To planning coordination with other donors and international organizations to support the future autonomy of EWTEC

(3) Project Period

December, 2008 - 2013 (5 years)

(4) Counterpart Authority

Ministry of Water and Energy

(5) Target Group

Core public sector such as Regional Water Bureau and Zonal and Woreda Water Office, public enterprises, private drilling company, private consulting firm, NGO and TVETC involved in the water sector.

Necessity of Cooperation

In the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, only 42% of the total population has access to safe drinking water, according to the United Nations (UNICEF: 2006).

Ethiopia is going forward with water resources development and water supply projects to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in cooperation with donors including Japan. However, appropriate human resources are lacking to take on these tasks in the administrative agencies as well as the private sector.

On the other hand, there are many problems in school education, which provides human resources to the administrative agencies and private sectors. In particular, education in water supply technology departments of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETC) is below level.

In response to this, Japan embarked on the technical cooperation project “Groundwater Development and Water Supply Training Project” in January 1998 intended for the Ethiopia Water Technology Center (EWTEC) and assisted the cultivation of human resources in the water supply sector.

Framework of Cooperation

(1) Project Purpose

Function of EWTEC as a core organization for cultivation of human resources in groundwater development and water supply in Ethiopia is established.

(2) Outputs

1. Mechanisms to sustain constant quality improvements in EWTEC's training activities are fully established

2. Technical knowledge and skills on water supply and management are improved for technicians and engineers from the Regional Water Bureaus, woredas, private sector and NGOs, and TVETC instructors.

3. Capacities are developed to provide technical instructions of course coordinators, instructors, mechanics and drillers who conduct training at EWTEC.

4. Sustainable institutional management capacity of EWTEC is strengthened.

>>See Project Design Matrix (PDM)

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