Abstract
Training and capacity building are long established critical components of global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) policies, strategies, and programs. Expanding capacity building support for WaSH in developing countries is one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. There are many training evaluation methods and tools available. However, training evaluations in WaSH have been infrequent, have often not utilized these methods and tools, and have lacked rigor. We developed a conceptual framework for evaluating training in WaSH by reviewing and adapting concepts from literature. Our framework includes three target outcomes: learning, individual performance, and improved programming; and two sets of influences: trainee and context factors. We applied the framework to evaluate a seven-month community-led total sanitation (CLTS) management training program delivered to 42 government officials in Kenya from September 2013 to May 2014. Trainees were given a pre-training questionnaire and were interviewed at two weeks and seven months after initial training. We qualitatively analyzed the data using our conceptual framework. The training program resulted in trainees learning the CLTS process and new skills, and improving their individual performance through application of advocacy, partnership, and supervision soft skills. The link from trainees' performance to improved programming was constrained by resource limitations and pre-existing rigidity of trainees’ organizations. Training-over-time enhanced outcomes and enabled trainees to overcome constraints in their work. Training in soft skills is relevant to managing public health programs beyond WaSH. We make recommendations on how training programs can be targeted and adapted to improve outcomes. Our conceptual framework can be used as a tool both for planning and evaluating training programs in WaSH.
Highlights
2.4 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, and 946 million lack access to any sanitation facility and practice open defecation (OD) (WHO/UNICEF, 2015)
We reviewed and adapted training evaluation theory, developed a conceptual framework for use in evaluating training in WaSH, and applied it to a community-led total sanitation (CLTS) management training program for government officials in Kenya
This study involved the development of a conceptual framework for evaluating training in WaSH, a CLTS management training program delivered by Plan International Kenya (Plan) to government officials in Kenya, and an evaluation of the training program in Kenya using the conceptual framework
Summary
2.4 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, and 946 million lack access to any sanitation facility and practice open defecation (OD) (WHO/UNICEF, 2015). J. Crocker et al / Social Science & Medicine 166 (2016) 66e76 these skills (Evans et al, 2014). Crocker et al / Social Science & Medicine 166 (2016) 66e76 these skills (Evans et al, 2014) This gap is partly due to training that is not matched to needs, and to ill-equipped training institutions (Cavill et al, 2011). With population growth and the United Nations’ adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which expand national WaSH targets to include universal access and increased quality of WaSH services (UN General Assembly, 2015), the gap between human resource capacity and targets will grow. Expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water and sanitation related activities and programmes ...” (UN General Assembly, 2015) SDG Target 6a is to “... expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water and sanitation related activities and programmes ...” (UN General Assembly, 2015)
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