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Published on: 29/10/2013

Many governments, development partners, international organisations, and the private sector in developing countries promote specific WASH technologies to improve WASH services. WASHTech , an EU-Funded action research project has developed a decision-support tool that helps to assess if a specific WASH technology is applicable in a certain context. For example, the Rope Pump has been successful in Nicaragua; would it work as well in Togo or Tajikistan?  

Using 18 indicators, the Technology Applicability Framework (TAF) provides a comprehensive assessment of the likelihood for a successful scaling up of a technology. The indicators consider different aspects of sustainability and the perspectives of technology users, technology producers and the regulator, facilitator, or funder of the technology introduction process.

The TAF is a stepwise process to screen and assess technologies. Data is collected in the field and then verified and interpreted at a multi-stakeholder workshop. All relevant actors including users, producers, and regulators participate and bring their views and perceptions to this workshop.

Based on the results of the workshop, a graphic profile is developed, showing the strengths and weaknesses of the technology, as well as gaps in knowledge.

The TAF has undergone testing in Uganda, Ghana and Burkina Faso and will be taken forward by the Direction des Etudes et de l'Information sur l'Eau (DEIE)  in Burkina Faso, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) and the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate in Ghana, and the Appropriate Technology Centre (ATC) under the Ministry of Water & Environment in Uganda.

Please see the link below for more information about the TAF.

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