Water Resources and Irrigation Management Capacity Building Network Project

These universities collaborate in the knowledge network CKNet-INA (Collaborative Knowledge Network, est. June 2005). The network covers expertise in the field of infrastructure, water and environmental management. The three project specific objectives are:

1. To support the development of the CKNet-INA Knowledge network and knowledge base in the field of Water Resources and Irrigation Management (WRIM) in addressing the human resources and institutional capactiy building needs at national, regional and local levels
2. To develop and strengthen a decentralised Capacity Builders’ Training Capacity and Delivery System in WRIM (incl. Water Quality Management, e-Learning system for Online Education and training purposes.)
3. To develop and deliver demand oriented WRIM Course Programmes and related modules, incl. Water Quality Management and gender participation, by academic staff of the participating knowledge centres for external target groups.

In 1999 the Government of Indonesia initiated political reforms by decentralising part of the government tasks to the regions. As a consequence, local governments became responsible for supervising regional executives and determining major policies on a regional level.

The reform and decentralization of the Indonesian water sector required capacity building of all new or reorganized agencies and institutions to make them aware of their new role and to enable them to take up their responsibilities and tasks in the new water resources and irrigation management paradigm.

The Government of Indonesia, in collaboration with the World Bank prepared a huge reform program concerning the establishment of institutional capabilities to manage water resources and irrigation systems in a sustainable manner (WISMP) and to provide support for a comprehensive package of capacity building initiatives in the urban water supply and sanitation sector (WASAP).

In 2003 IHE-Delft, on request of the World Bank, organized a national WISMP workshop that addressed a new role for universities in this process: to develop a national capacity building network and to delineate a process for development and strengthening of the network to facilitate continuous development and updating of educational programs at institutes for higher education.

Moreover information was provided on international experiences and linkages with other similar networks in other countries like Cap-Net, WaterNet and NileNet. This workshop marked the moment that the CKNet, after several informal initiating meetings among the potential members, became more active.

A crucial step in the further development of the CKNet was realized with the financial support of NUFFIC through its NFP Programme. Twenty representatives of the ten member universities were enabled to follow a course program (implemented by IHE-Delft and PT IHE Indonesia), in which they were trained in training needs assessment, developing demand oriented short courses in the perspective of the new paradigm and in aspects of knowledge management and networking.

During a Seminar in June 2005 the rectors of the ten participating universities signed a Charter in which they formally established a Collaborative Knowledge Network (CKNet-INA). The CKNet-INA Charter defines the mission, vision and the basic collaborative activities for the ten universities and gives guidance to the further steps to be taken to bring the network towards more maturity.

The focus of this project is on building the capacity in water resources and irrigation management of especially four out of ten leading universities in Indonesia collaborating in the CKNet-INA network. These four universities have been selected on the basis of their regional coverage and their experience in delivering water related educational and training programs.

The project will also fulfil a pilot function for the CKNet-INA network. It will enable the network partners to learn and to get experience in their collaboration and how to develop their network further.

On the basis of conducted Capacity Building Needs Assessments and with the input of Training Demand Assessments in the sector, Capacity Building programmes will be implemented to enable the CKNet-INA/WRIM partners to deliver demand responsive programs to strengthen the capacity of both professionals and institutions active in the WRIM sub-sector.

The project activities will enhance and/or strengthen:

• The CKNet-INA network: organisational setup, rules of operation, strategy development, marketing, network meetings, etc.
• The flow of knowledge in the field of WRIM (collaborative work environment, exchange of knowledge sources, a knowledge map of education & training, etc.)
• Capacity building needs assessment and a program to address gaps in WRIM knowledge and skills
• Analysis and development of on-line education and training facilities
• Capacity building in WRIM topics for more than 200 staff
• Selected training course program in the Netherlands in WRIM relevant topics for selected qualified lecturers
• Implementation of Training Demand assessment in and with the water sector
• A training of trainers program to ensure proper and effective knowledge transfer skills for training of professional in WRIM
• The development and delivery of new demand responsive course programs on a regular basis.

Until April 2008, the experiences and achievements reached for al three objectives include:

For Objective 1:

• Establishment of the CKNet-INA Website and Knowledge Management Platform (http://www.cknet-ina.org)
• Establishment of the Network Governance or Anggaran Dasar (AD), a virtual organisation and new way of collaboration in spirit of the charter signed by the 10 rectors of the founding Universities

For Objective 2:

• A Capacity Building Needs Assessment workshop was held in Bandung 5-7 June 2007.
• A short course on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) planning was held in Bandung between July 30 and August 3 2007.
• A short course on legal and institutional arrangement in IWRM was held in November 2007.
• CKNet became a member of the South East Asian Capacity Building Network (AquaJaring) and the Capacity Building network in IWRM (CapNet). The steering committee members of AquaJaring requested CKNet to organise a workshop on TDA/CBNA for members of AquaJaring in 2007. The workshop was held in September 2007 in Bandung Indonesia, with participants from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Indonesia.

For objective 3:

• To conclude the training demand assessment (TDA) activities in the regions. The WRIM project held a National Water Sector Stakeholders meeting. The purpose of this event was to present the final results of the TDA activities carried out in 2006 in the 6 regions conducted by 7 universities of CK-Net-INA members to the national water sector stakeholders.
• In august 2007 CKNet was invited to attend a meeting organised by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Dept of Water Resources and irrigation. The result of this meeting was that CKNet can become a partner in the water reform programs as capacity building program provider. Preparatory activities are underway to formulate the first training program for the Indonesia water sector in 2008.
• In April 2008 a first network product, a short course on Integrated Water Resources Management and planning was launched during the Open Network Conference in Jakarta.

No significant changes in the project activities are foreseen for the year 2008 and 2009.

Activities for 2008 will include:

• Network Knowledge sharing through the formation of Communities of Practice (CoP’s) around a specific topic.
• Two open network conferences, to be held in April and December.
• Development of a marketing strategy, development of a business and strategic plan for CKNet.
• The knowledge map that was developed in 2006 wil be updated on a continuous basis, at least once a year. This map will become part of the website of CKNet.
• Three courses are scheduled to be developed and delivered to the CKNet members on:

- Economic and Financial Instruments for IWRM;
- Performance Benchmarking;
- Asset Management.

• Two training of trainers programs are envisaged for 2008.
• The Fellowship Program to follow short courses abroad will continue in 2008 and 2009.

CKNet-INA Universities involved:

1. Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember: ITS, Surabaya (WRIM University)

2. Universitas Andalas: UNAND, Padang (WRIM University)

3. Universitas Hasanuddin: UNAND, Makassar (WRIM University)

4. Institut Teknologi Bandung: ITB, Bandung (WRIM University)

5. Universitas Gajah Mada, UGM, Yogyakarta (WRIM University)

6. Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Semarang (Non-WRIM University)

7. Universitas Merdeka (UNMER), Malang (Non-WRIM University)

8. Universitas Bina Nusantara (UBINUS), Jakarta (Non-WRIM University)

9. Universitas Indonesia (UI), Jakarta (Non-WRIM University)

10. Universitas Katolik Parahyangan (UNPAR), Bandung (Non-WRIM University)