Back to GWP.org
Caribbean

GWP-C and Partner Agencies Host First-Ever International Online Training Programme on the Preparation of SFDs for Caribbean Countries

The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) in partnership with GEF CReW+, UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme and Cartagena Convention Secretariat, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Caribbean WaterNet (Cap-Net), held a first of its kind international online training on the “Preparation of Shit Flow Diagrams (SFDs) for Caribbean Countries.”

An excreta flow diagram (also often described as a shit flow diagram), offers a new and innovative way to engage sanitation experts, political leaders and civil society in coordinated discussions on identification of areas for intervention across the sanitation chain in cities.

The SFD training programme for the Caribbean, took place from March 21st – April 4th, 2022 and sought tosensitise and equip practitioners in preparing the SFD and using it for preparing city-wide sanitation strategies. Furthermore, it focused on providing practical hand-on experience in the preparation of SFDs.

The workshop specifically targeted:

  • Managers, regulators, officials of water and wastewater utilities, mid-level to senior technicians, university graduates, NGOs, statutory bodies, government agencies and the private sector.
  • Individual practitioners/consultants, researchers, academia with prior basic knowledge or relevant experience working in the water and sanitation sector.

Twenty-eight (28) participants from the following countries participated in the training: Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Montserrat and Trinidad and Tobago. The programme was administered in two (2) parts as seen below:

Part A: Context-Setting and Introduction (Self-Paced): March 21st – 28th, 2022

  • Setting the context and understanding the need for SFDs.
  • What is an SFD (Graphic and Report).
  • Evolution of SFDs and various applications of SFDs.

Part 2: Action Learning (Instructor Led): March 29th – April 4th, 2022

  • Methodology of Data Collection and Analysis; preparation of SFD Graphic and SFD Lite Report; and mock studio exercise on the practice of SFD.
  • Demonstration of SFD Graphic Generator Tool and SFD PI.
  • Process of SFD Report preparation including peer-review.

A short opening ceremony was held on March 29th, 2022 to commence the instructor led (Part 2) portion of the training. Speaking at the opening session were:

Mr. Dhruv Pasricha, Programme Officer at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) who set the context for the training for participants and shared about the work and various activities of the CSE.   

Ms. Simone Lewis, GWP-C’s Regional Coordinator thanked participants and collaborators for being part of the SFD regional training and was able to share valuable information on the work of the GWP-C.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Mr. Christopher Corbin, Programme Officer at the UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) and Cartagena Convention Secretariat.

He also provided remarks on behalf of the GEF CReW+. In Mr. Corbin’s presentation he shared valuable information on wastewater management and sanitation in the wider Caribbean Region; implementing solutions for integrated water and wastewater management; the need for SFDs in the Caribbean; and related work of UNEP CEP and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, as well as the GEF CReW+ Project.