Polytechnic’s WASHTED launches five year plan with main focus on research
The Centre for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Appropriate Technology Development (WASHTED), a semi-autonomous unit within the University of Malawi, the Polytechnic has launched a five-year strategic plan with one of its pillars to be a research leader in water, sanitation, hygiene and appropriate technology for health.
The strategic launch took place at Polytechnic campus on Tuesday where all WASHTED stakeholders and some donors were in attendance.
Speaking during the launch, Polytechnic Principal Grant Kululanga, said WASHTED remains a key partner for government in contributing to social economic development.
Kululanga said the launch of the strategic plan is clear indication that WASHTED under Polytechnic is serious with its vision to become the only premier centre of excellence, when it comes to issues that changes the lives of people.
“The strategic plan being launched today has five pillars namely research, capacity building, consultancy and outreach, finance and resource mobilization and governance and management. Consultancies and outreach activities are key to the WASHTED strategy,” he said.
Kululanga further said advisory, evaluation and analysis skills to ongoing and completed projects in Malawi was important to engage with the broad range of projects that bring technology, behavior change and policy together to improve lives of communities across the country.
“This is the first strategic plan for WASHTED since its onset in 2003. Previously, it was using Polytechnic and University of Malawi strategic plans in addition to Directors Terms of Reference,” said the Polytechnic Principal.
Kululanga further urged staff and partners of WASHTED to make use of the strategic plan, saying it is easy to launch a plan but implementation is another job.
He challenged staff of the WASHTED to turn strategic plan into practical, adding doing so could improve the development of the country.
WASHTED Director Salole Masangwi said the strategic plan will go a long way in addressing the needs of the organization and the public.
Masangwi said the development of the strategic plan is a key part of management strategy and that indicators set out in this plan would ensure that WASHTED continues to develop and maintain the standard of excellence to which it is dedicated.
WASHTED was established in 2003 with the support of its long term partner, the University of Strathclyde.
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