Overview
The Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and UNICEF represents a strategic partnership to strengthen Ghana’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector through evidence-based planning, innovation, and capacity development.
The PCA is designed to address persistent systemic challenges in the delivery of safely managed sanitation and drinking water services, particularly within the context of rapid urbanisation, climate variability, and infrastructure deficits. It aligns with national development priorities and contributes directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, with a specific focus on safely managed sanitation (SDG 6.2) and safely managed drinking water services (SDG 6.1).
Anchored in a systems-strengthening approach, the PCA integrates technical standard-setting, decision-support tools, digital innovation, and human capacity development to support sector actors across the sanitation service chain—from containment through emptying, transport, treatment, and safe reuse or disposal.
Strategic Objectives
The KNUST–UNICEF PCA is guided by four interrelated objectives:
- Strengthen regulatory and technical frameworks for climate-resilient, safely managed water and sanitation systems.
- Support evidence-based planning and investment decisions through predictive modelling and analytical tools.
- Enhance sector capacity and institutional performance through structured training and knowledge platforms.
- Promote innovation and digital transformation in WASH service delivery, monitoring, and regulatory oversight.
This work directly informs national strategies led by agencies such as:
- Ghana Water Limited (GWL)
- Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA)
- Small Water Enterprises
- Sachet Water Producers
Implementation Approach
The PCA adopts a multi-stakeholder, participatory implementation approach, ensuring that all outputs are co-developed with key sector actors. This includes:
- Stakeholder consultations and validation workshops
- Technical working groups involving government, academia, and practitioners
- Iterative development and testing of tools and platforms
- Integration of field data and empirical research into programme outputs
Planned engagements include sector-wide workshops with sanitation stakeholders and the National Development Planning Commission to refine the predictive model, as well as targeted sessions with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission to assess the usability of the digital WSP platform.
Expected Outcomes and Impact
The KNUST–UNICEF PCA is expected to generate significant sector-wide impacts, including:
- Improved quality and safety of sanitation infrastructure through enforceable technical standards
- Enhanced decision-making capacity at national and sub-national levels
- Increased access to safely managed sanitation and drinking water services
- Strengthened institutional capacity and workforce development in the WASH sector
- Improved regulatory efficiency and transparency through digital innovation
Ultimately, the PCA contributes to building a climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable WASH sector in Ghana, capable of meeting current and future service demands.
Partnership and Collaboration
The success of the PCA is anchored in strong institutional collaboration. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology provides technical leadership, research expertise, and innovation capacity, while UNICEF provides strategic guidance, global experience, and programme support.
The partnership also engages key national stakeholders, including:
- Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate
- Public Utilities Regulatory Commission
- Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources
- National Development Planning Commission
- Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs)
This collaborative framework ensures that all programme outputs are not only technically sound but also institutionally embedded and scalable.