Technology Applicability Framework (TAF) –a tool for scaling up and monitoring of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Technologies for providing sustainable service delivery By André Olschewski and Benedict Tuffuor.

1. André Olschewski – Skat Foundation Switzerland
Benedict Tuffuor – TREND Ghana
IRC Symposium, Addis Ababa, 12.04.2013

2. Uptake [number of units providing
services]
Trialled
Technology
Low
High
Time
Today20 years ago
Successful
Technology
Rope Pump in Africa
Rope Pump in Nicaragua
Promising
Technology

3.  What is the TAF
 Concept of the TAF
 Methodology to apply the TAF
 Example from TAF application
 Outlook
April 2013

4.  The TAF is a decision support tool for assessing and
monitoring applicability of a specific WASH technology for
provision of sustainable services in a specific context
 Target users of the TAF include government
(national, local), private
sector, NGO, academia, development partners
 The TAF is based on a stepwise and transparent process
that provides concrete information to design mitigation
measures for improving performance of the technology used
and of the introduction process
 It is an participatory, facilitating and easy to use tool that
triggers sharing of lessons learned between all actors
including local and national level
April 2013

5. Usage Context
- Need
- Market
- Policies
- Capacities
- Economy…
Context factors on
Supply side
WASH Technology
- Functions
- Features
- Requirements
Sustainable WASH Services
Physical
Context
- Conditions
- Applicability
Context factors on Demand side
Introduction process
- Implementation
- Supply Chain
- Operation & Maintenance
- Life Cycle Costs
- Capacities
- Follow up……
April 2013
Monitoring

6. April 2013
Regarding technology introduction process and use:
- Supporting sustainable WASH Services incl. LCC and Equity
and Inclusion
- Do no harm to environment
- Innovation in WASH sector
- Strengthening governance and accountability
TAF uses screening and assessment to assess critical factors
related to inputs, on outcomes (service level) but also on the
process of introduction involving all relevant actors.
Requirements for the tool “TAF”: Easy to use for all target
users of TAF, applicable in different contexts, supporting
inclusiveness, fostering accountability by involving all actors
also during interpretation of results, linking to concrete actions

7. Context
Technology
SCREENING
Need
and
Applicability
Technical Function
Characteristics
Performance
ASSESSMENT
of technology applicability
using 18 indicators
Perspective
of key actors
User-Buyer
OtherInstitutions
Dimensions
Soc
Econ
Env
Inst
Know
Tech
TAF
Technology Applicability Framework
Producer-Provider
Cost model
Dimensions:
Soc = Social
Econ = Economical and Financial
Env = Environmental
Inst =
Institutional, legal,
organisational
Know = Knowhow and skills
Tech = Technological
April 2013

8. Technology Introduction Process
defines tasks for actors involved in each phase of introduction process
TIP
- Generic concept
- For water, sanitation and hygiene technologies
- Applicable for different cost models, e.g. market-based approach
April 2013
Uptake + O&MTIPPING
POINT
INVENTION
High
Technology
Time
Successful
Technology
Introduction
UPTAKE & USE
Uptake [number of units
installed providing services]
Actors
Invention
TippingPoint
Uptake+Use
Specific tasks
per actor and
phase
Technology Introduction Process
Actors Actors
Technology Introduction Process
(TIP): the concept

9. Economic
Social
Environmental
Organisational
Institutional
Legal
Skills and
Knowhow
Technological
April 2013

10. Sustainability Dimensions
- Social
- Economic
- Environmental
- Organisational, legal, institutional
- Skills and Knowhow
- Technological
User,
Buyer
Producer,
Provider
Regulator,
Investor,
Facilitator
Perspectives of Key Actors
in Introduction Process
= 18 TAF Indicators
TAF uses multiple entry points to
address critical factors concerning
sustainability of services provided
by a specific WASH technology
April 2013

11. • TAF follows stepwise procedure in 4
steps
• TAF process is based on desk work,
field visits & workshops
• All actors are involved in field visits,
workshops and interpretation!
• TAF process supports sharing of
experiences, accountability and
governance.
• Structured TAF process is easy to use,
involvement of all actors fosters
transparency and inclusiveness.
April 2013

12. +
0
-
High value, neutral or positive, supportive characteristics
Potential impact, could become critical, needs follow up
Low value, negative, critical, hindering characteristics
? Unclear information, should be clarified
Interpretation per dimension
per particular perspective
As entire profile
or for specific topics such as O&M
April 2013
SustainabilityDimensions
Technology
Skills &
Know-how
Institutional
& Legal
Environ-
mental
Economic
Social
(4) (5) (6)
(7) (8) (9)
(10) (11) (12)
(13) (14) (15)
(16) (17) (18)
(1) (2) (3)
? ?
?
?
User/
Buyer
Producers/
Providers
Regulators/
Investors/
Facilitators
+ +
+
+
+
+
0
0 0
0
-
-
-
-
Key perspectives

13. April 2013

14. April 2013

15. Dimension
Perspective
User / Buyer Producer / Provider Regulator / Investor / Facilitator
Social Clear willingness to invest No active promotion; producer has
strategically limited promotion
No need for behavior change and major
social marketing
Economic Affordable if Capex is
subsidised and if it is
targeted at small towns
There is some profit margin –
Producer willing to continue
production. Huge marketing
potential but producer will not be
able to do it all alone
No subsidies for sanitation in line with
national policies
Environmental There can be a potential for
risks though not high.
Further info on effluent
quality needed.
Potential for local production without
harmful input resources
Further info on reuse of manure &
effluent needed. MMDA monitoring units
need training & equipment which come
at a cost
Institutional,
Organizational
and Legal
Required legal structures
are feasible
No legal requirements to
register WASH technologies,
but it helps for acceptability
Regulation of quality of construction
supervised by an engineer. Quality
of effluent checks not being done by
EPA
Not fair to say it doesn’t meet quality
standards since it has not been checked.
Alignment with policies – has not been
submitted for approval so cannot say
Skills and
Knowhow
Users can deal with
technology appropriately
with respect to O&M
In terms of product development,
sufficient skills and capacities exist.
But not proven in the promotion and
marketing side
Different orgs at the nat’l level-answering
the question lumps them together and
will present a mixed picture as some
have and some don’t have the capacity
Technological User satisfaction high
though it is in the
developmental stage
Viable models for selling exist Potential exists for support. Unless the
right orgs are approached, the support
won’t come. April 2013

16.  There can be a potential for risks for environment though
not high. Further info on effluent quality needed.
 Further info on reuse of manure & effluent needed.
 MMDA monitoring units need training & equipment which
come at a cost.
 Potential exists for support. Unless the right
organisations are approached, the support won’t come.
 There is some profit margin – Producer willing to
continue production. Huge need and potential for
marketing but producer will not be able to do it all alone.
 Affordable if CapEx is subsidized and if it is targeted at
small towns.
April 2013

17. TAF methodology could be applied for:
- monitoring of the performance of an existing WASH
technology and of the introduction process
- to define concrete mitigation measures to increase
technology performance but also of the introduction
process
- for assessing readiness of an alternative technology
for introduction
April 2013

18. • TAF was tested in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda
on 13 different WASH technologies
• In all three countries government institutions were
appointed as hosts for the TAF
• TAF is now used to monitor emerging technologies
• TAF and TIP will be used to develop/adapt guidelines
for validation and introduction in all three countries
• TAF and TIP: available as open source by end 2013
April 2013

19. For Information on WASHTech,
washtechafrica.wordpress.com
or email to: WASHTech@irc.nl
For details on TAF and TIP:
andre.olschewski@skat.ch
c/o Skat Foundation
April 2013

20. Thank you!