Assessing human resource capacity needs to meet the MDG targets on water and sanitation in Ghana

Abstract

Achieving the MDG targets for water and sanitation (WatSan) has gained much attention in the run-up to the year 2015. While the cost of achieving these targets are known, the human resource capacity needs to do same is unexplored. In an attempt to fill this knowledge gap, this study, generally, was to test a methodology for assessing the human resource requirements to meet the WatSan MDG targets in Ghana. Consultative stakeholder meetings, structured questionnaires and key informant interviews were employed to elicit information regarding the existing human resource capacity, supply of human resource from training institutions and human resource demand for the sector. A total of 45 organisations comprising of 6 public sector institutions, 6 NGOs 14 private sector organisations and 19 training institutions were involved in the study. The study points out that, the MDG target deficit for sanitation coverage is approximately 8 times more than that of water. The private sector (46%) and NGOs (9%) are more involved in the water sector based on employee distribution as opposed to the sanitation sector which is dominated by the public sector (82%). There is a high demand for Administration and Finance and Social Development personnel for the water sector contrary to the  sanitation sector where a high demand exists for Technical WatSan and Other Technical personnel to meet the MDG targets. The human resource assessment method was found to be useful. The study proposes development of recruitment policies and training plans that align with the short and long-term targets of the WatSan sector and more private sector and NGO involvement in the sanitation sector.

Keywords: Human resource capacity, water, sanitation, coverage, Millennium Development Goals