Ageing infrastructure, global change and rising demand continue to threaten water security, and while technological solutions are important, cultivating a skilled workforce is crucial to mitigating these challenges.

The water sector requires a diverse range of skills, including engineering, social science, process control, environmental management, policymaking and IT.

A continually retrained workforce is better equipped to tackle South Africa’s water challenges.

However, Africa is struggling to meet the targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, the goal which aims for inclusive and equitable quality education.

The 2024 United Nations SDG report indicates that only 17% of targets are on track, with half showing minimal progress and over one-third regressing.

“With only five years left to achieve SDG 4, South Africa must expand vocational and skills training and foster government-private sector partnerships to create more apprenticeships,” said Water Research Commission senior project manager Lesego Gaegane.

In South Africa, only 20% of students enrol in universities and marginalised groups face significant barriers, while the youth unemployment rate in 2024 was 45.5%, underscoring the need for practical training.

“The NatSilt Programme plays a role in this regard. It provides technical solutions for managing dam siltation while focusing on capacity-building and human resource development in the water sector.”

The programme, which enhances access to education, career opportunities and knowledge in water management, infrastructure maintenance and ecosystem sustainability, is in line with SDG Target 4.4, and contributes to both SDG 6 and SDG 4 and promoting greater inclusivity in the water sector.

This supports SDG 4’s target of providing equal access to vocational and tertiary education by 2030 and increasing the number of youth and adults with relevant technical and vocational skills for employment.

Each of its four occupation-based skills programmes, namely dam siltation manager, dam siltation partnerships and network coordinator, dam siltation practitioner and dam siltation process controller, are accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, catering to different levels of the workforce.

“These qualifications ensure that both formal and non-formal learners can access quality education and training, regardless of their prior learning background,” said Gaegane, noting that a critical feature of these skills programmes is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework, which allows individuals without formal qualifications to participate and progress in their careers.

“This is significant in promoting inclusivity, as it opens doors for workers from underprivileged backgrounds to access education and technical training that would otherwise be unavailable to them.”

Using RPL ensures that disadvantaged groups can access training, helping to reduce gender and wealth disparities.

While SDG Target 4.4 aims to increase relevant skills for employment, South Africa's vocational training system remains underdeveloped, with only 5% of youth enrolled in technical and vocational education and training colleges in 2022.

The NatSilt Programme initiated a specific project aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to implement training on the skills programmes.

The project's goal is to train moderators, facilitators and assessors for these programmes, while also preparing the DWS Infrastructure Branch Training Centre (IBTC) staff to engage in e-learning for future qualifications.

The skills programmes will be handed over to the DWS IBTC, which will be responsible for offering them to internal staff and the broader water sector.

“This transition marks a significant shift towards Internet-based learning within the DWS, facilitated by the adoption of the eSilt learning platform.”

Key activities include sustainability planning and enhancement of course materials with interactive elements on the eSilt platform.

“This platform ensures greater accessibility to educational resources nationwide, supporting lifelong learning and continuous professional development in dam infrastructure and environmental management.”

This capacity-building initiative is crucial for effective dam siltation management, given the complexities involved in managing sedimentation across multiple sites and the need for collaboration among various water sector professionals.

Additionally, the project created a monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning system to assess the effectiveness of training efforts.

The initiative, through specialised training sessions, equipped the DWS with a capable pool of assessors, facilitators and moderators to deliver these qualifications.

The long-term sustainability of this project is essential for ensuring continuous support for dam siltation management in the future, particularly as new stakeholders and professionals join the water sector.

To promote professional development, the training sessions focused on skills in facilitation, e-learning, mentoring and work-based learning.

These topics were revisited over four training sessions, culminating in the certification of 19 DWS staff.

“The skills and competencies gained from this project will contribute to a more skilled and effective workforce within the DWS and the broader water sector, particularly in areas like dam management and ecological resilience,” said Gaegane.

The training emphasised the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge, preparing a workforce capable of adapting to future water management challenges.

Aligning occupational qualifications with career pathways is essential for meeting the immediate needs of the water management sector, where responsibilities span across multiple areas.

By improving the skills of professionals in this field, the NatSilt Programme sets a foundation for more effective and sustainable water management practices in South Africa.

The country can enhance learning quality and meet specific sector needs by aligning skills development in critical sectors such as water resource management with education.

The focus should be on scaling these programmes, improving educational infrastructure, and ensuring that learning addresses South Africa's socioeconomic and environmental challenges, Gaegane concluded.