Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

Visit of K. Dongo (Côte d’Ivoire) at EAWAG/SANDEC

Dr. Dongo’s visit proved not only to be stimulating for his own research but also fed back interesting local context specific insights of the Abidjan situation and case to the researchers at Sandec which thus enriched their understanding and elaboration for ongoing projects at Sandec (not necessarily active in Côte d’Ivoire). The interaction with Sandec staff led to the development of a proposal for two Master thesis. One for collaboration with Univ. Bern on “Gender in Sanitation” and another with EPFL focusing on Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and the issues of organic waste management in a neighbourhood of Abidjan. Both proposals were accepted for funding and these were conducted in the first half of 2010 in partnership between Sandec and CSRS.

Dr. Dongo was able to participate in the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the context of developing and transition countries held from august 25h to September 14th in Biel, thereby not only gaining knowledge insights but also enabling closer contact and exchange with the University of Applied Science Bern-Burgdorf-Biel (organizers of this training). Furthermore the international attendance of this training module also allowed Dr. Dongo to connect and exchange with other participants from developing and transition countries and build up professional ties and contacts. Dr. Dongo was also able to attend a four days scientific workshop on Urban Water modeling at Eawag as well as three days seminar on “How to chair scientific meetings” also organized by and held at Eawag. Finally Dr. Dongo also attended a conference held at the University of Geneva focusing on gender studies, and a conference on transdisciplinary research (held at the University of Bern) where he orally presented a scientific paper.

The specific objective consisting in the elaboration of joint Master curricula was successfully achieved. It is entitled: “Master of Water end Environmental Sanitation (WES)”. The modules have been elaborated and revised by all partners for more understanding and can easily be implemented. Relevant inputs from Sandec, EPFL, University of Geneva (Gender department) were very fruitful and constructive. The only constraint met during the elaboration of the Master program was how to finance collaborators (trainers) from the north to come in Côte d’Ivoire and participate to the training courses. Strategies consisting in applying for financial support from donors have been suggested as an important issue to overcome this preoccupation.

Concerning the objective of writing a scientific paper, a manuscript was drafted and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. The article entitled “Modeling good and nutrients (Na; P) flows to optimize sustainable management of urban environmental sanitation in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’’ was finalized and all co-authors have provided their inputs.

Contacts

Dr. Kouassi DONGO       
01 BP 1303 
Abidjan 01  
Côte d’Ivoire
E-Mail: kouassi.dongo@csrs.ci / k_dongo@yahoo.fr

Chris ZURBRÜGG
Eawag/Sandec
P.O.Box 611
8600 Dübendorf
Switzerland
E-Mail: Christian.Zurbruegg@eawag.ch