In recent years solar technology has been introduced in Zimbabwe’s urban and rural water supply programmes. Unfortunately there has not been corresponding effort to build and strengthen skills to construct service and maintain the SPWS infrastructure. Effort, investment and focus seem to be skewed towards SPWS infrastructure as compared to investing in building skills sets to scale up and sustain the technology to keep the water flowing.

Studies and experience have shown that large investment in new technology development alone does not necessarily lead to an increase in water coverage. In order to ensure a successful adoption and uptake of a technology there should be a deliberate, systematic and continuous process of skills building and strengthening within the structures of key institutions such as District Development Fund (DDF) and local authorities. Institute of Water and Sanitation Development is offering this course on Operation and maintenance of solar powered water supply systems which aims to re-skill public and private water technicians to plan, design, install, test, operate and maintain Solar Powered Water Systems in different contexts.