BY BETELHEM BEDLU
ADDIS ABABA-The Ethiopian Water and Energy Institute (EWTI) said it is working to nurture skilled labor force and implement the research findings to achieve its vision of becoming a center of excellence in water industry.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Tamene Hailu (PhD), EWTI’s Director-General indicated that as a responsible sector for technical training in the water sector, EWTI emphasizes creating skilled professionals through improved water sector training and delivering quality service.
“The institute is revitalized with an aspired vision to become a center of excellence in capacity building and technology transfer in the water sector in East Africa by 2030.”
The director general further stated that the institute is also working to realize nationwide rapid development in the water sector through capacity building, research, and study for technology transfer. The institute is also equipped with a specialized laboratory and competence services that improve the sector’s overall implementation capacity.
EWTI and Japan international cooperation agency (JICA’s) technical support programs are aligned and designed to reduce regional and social disparities in access to safe drinking water by capacitating trainers found in EWTI and supporting drilling rigs and machinery.
As the only institution that provides practical training on drilling technology nationally, EWTI is devoted to strengthening its performance in offering water drilling training. Also, training has been offered to state and federal professionals and water engineers on drilling, maintenance, and other areas, Tamene added.
As to him, due to the possible extension of the project that EWTI carried out with JICA and the acquisition of a drilling rig worth over 100- million- Birr, now attention turns to capacity development for the maintenance and operation of the rig.
Since JICA’s support mainly relied on the human development aspect, the EWIT’s overall performance is not at the desired level. On one hand, the Institute, besides the capacity building, is determined to provide research and study that could bring about significant improvement in solving challenges in the water sector at the national level.
Similarly, the institute is working with 46 TVET institutions and several higher education institutions through its technology and knowledge transfer programs. “This would not only enhance technology transfer, but it would play a vital role in creating more skilled manpower in the sector.”
Similarly, special focus has been given to save the foreign currency that the nation had to pay to carry out laboratories abroad through conducting it locally.
Moreover, by setting a vision of becoming an autonomous institution, EWTI is undertaking several measures to apply income-generating activities. Thus, it is trying to come up with ways to find another source of income. In this regard, JICA plays a pivotal role in making the Institute’s business plan, the director-general remarked.
The Ethiopian Herald 5 February 2023
