Improving Peer Learning through MILE

Municipal Benchmarking Initiative: Water Services Master Class #1 – Blue Drop, Green Drop and Water Loss Management

In support of the Municipal Benchmarking Initiative (MBI) (and for which Emanti Management is the Project Manager), the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) has agreed to assist SALGA with developing and promoting “benchmarking-orientated” training sessions. These sessions will occur bi-monthly and will aim to train participants in key water service delivery functions and the role that benchmarking can play to improve performance.  The first such training session was a two-day event that occurred 14th and 15th February 2012 at the Botanical Gardens in Durban. This Water services Master Class #1 focussed on:

• Hints and tips to assist municipalities towards achieving the Blue and Green Drop Certification.
• How to manage and curb water losses in an endeavour to meet the presidential targets of halving water losses by 50% by 2014.

and included both classroom training/discussion and a practical site visit. Master Class #1 was very well received and attracted approximately 80 participants. Feedback from participants was very positive and further enhancements to the Master Class programme are planned.

In 2009 eThekwini Municipality initiated the formation of the first-ever local government-driven, practitioner-based Institute of Learning. The Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) is being run as a five-year pilot programme, and current MILE partners include academic institutions (e.g. universities), development organizations (e.g. SA Cities Network), national government (e.g. DCOG, Treasury) and training and capacity enhancement institutions (e.g. SALGA, DBSA, LGSETA, etc). MILE regularly conducts water services related Master Classes in the past and aim to continue so in the future. Importantly, MILE is also not only limited to KwaZulu Natal, but is able to operate in other provinces. An ideal opportunity exists for the MBI to link with this exciting initiative.  

Master Class #1 will shortly be held in both Johannesburg (11 – 12 April 2012) and Cape Town (17 – 18 April 2012). Importantly, attendance at these Master Classes is FREE OF CHARGE to Municipalities.  

Following completion of this first round of Master Class #1, content for Master Class #2 will be formulated and sessions held.

Considering the current progress and potential success of the above initiatives, the Emanti lead project team aims to:

• Build upon the current good progress and further enhance current MILE training initiatives 
• Explore and develop additional or similar initiatives

If you would like to find out more, or participate in one of the Master Class sessions, please contact us.