From 25-27 September 2024, GIZ and NALAS co-organised three parallel training of trainers (ToTs) in local languages for 53 water professionals from the Western Balkans. The ToTs were organised in Tirana, Albania, within the Regional Capacity Development Network for Water and Sanitation Services (RCDN).

The water professionals, nominated by their municipal and public utility associations, bring a valuable knowledge and field expertise in water and wastewater management, that is now enhanced with the methodological principles and tools that will help them develop and deliver high quality, interactive trainings, based on the adult learning principles and following the highest RCDN Quality Standards.

During the ToTs, participants explored the training management cycle, RCDN quality standards for training, assessment-based preparation, adult learning, training design, enhanced their presentation skills, experienced new training methods, improved their facilitation skills, explored working with questions, learnt how to deal with challenging situations and how to monitor and evaluate trainings’ success.

In the end, each of them was part of a team that designed and delivered fantastic, inspiring, interactive sessions using the skills gained during the ToTs and proving that they are ready to step in the trainers’ world. As a result, municipal and public utility associations got a great resource for their training centres, as capacity development of water sector professionals in the region is a necessity.

A huge credit for this success goes to the Master Trainers that we trained and mentored during the summer, as well as to their mentors from GIZ and NALAS team.

All this was best summarised by Ms. Zorana Petrovic, one of the Master Trainers: “Participants were excellent, motivated, inspired, active, and committed. Not less important was the brilliant organisation of the event, the meticulous preparation, mutual understanding and support of the trainers and organisers, from the very beginning, during the preparation – including the training for Master Trainers and plentifully available materials, as well as the implementation of the training course itself. The good preparation ensured that the training was serious, but at the same time relaxed, exactly in line with the RCDN quality standards we talked about in Tirana”, says Ms. Petrovic.

“To be more objective, I’ll try to look at the numbers: 50+ participants, 14 organisations, 3 parallel trainings, 3 days, 3 languages, 16 sessions, 8 coaches, 3 supervisors… Without exaggeration, I can say that this is one of the best training courses have ever been happy to participate in.”, concludes Ms. Petrovic.