The Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP) launched in 2015 aims to achieve improvements along the entire urban sanitation chain in the state of Tamil Nadu, India by demonstrating innovations in two model urban locations – Tiruchirappalli city, and Periyanaicken-palayam and Narasimhanaicken-palayam town panchayats in Coimbatore district. To help scale up Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) in all urban areas of Tamil Nadu, TNUSSP also focused on state-wide initiatives on governance, capacity building, behaviour change communication, and gender & inclusion.





Capacity Building 

In order to effectively undertake FSM and achieve safe sanitation in Tamil Nadu, it was essential that all stakeholders – representatives of urban local bodies (ULBs), masons and desludging operators were equipped with latest knowledge and required skills. A training needs assessment was conducted among masons and officers of ULBs to understand the existing knowledge and practices.
 
The findings helped TNUSSP design training programmes for government officers, which also drew on national and international experiences, and helped participants engage in the operational aspects of planning, implementing and monitoring FSM. National as well as international exposure visits for officers, and training programmes for engineers in the ULBs were organised to educate them on the latest developments in FSM technology.
 
The training programmes for masons helped them learn the right construction methods, the proper usage of toilets and on-site systems as well as the crucial role they played in building safe and sustainable structures. Desludging truck operators were sensitised on various aspects such as vehicle design, equipment and operational safety procedures to ensure efficient and safe sludge management practices. 

Assessments and reports related to capacity building are presented here.

Training Needs Assessment: Urban Local Bodies: Fecal Sludge Management

	A Training Needs Assessment of officers in the Urban Local Bodies was conducted with a focus on institutional, administrative, financial and human capacity and assessed the existing gaps in these capacities. This report presents the findings of the assessment.  Link to report 

Training Needs Assessment for Masons: Fecal Sludge Management

	The Training Needs Assessment of masons was conducted to understand their current knowledge and practices in the construction of toilets and containment structures and identify training needs. The findings of this assessment are presented in this report. Link to report 

Summary Report of Trainings on FSM: TNUSSP Phase I



Capacity building initiatives are one of the key statewide initiative undertaken by TNUSSP to effect changes across the entire sanitation chain. A range of orientation and training programmes were held for officers at the state level and for ULB, engineers, masons and desludging operators. This report presents details of the programmes undertaken.  Link to report 

Assessment of Training Programmes on FSM: TNUSSP Phase1 



Capacity building programmes were conducted for a range of stakeholders – Government officers, engineers, masons and desludging operators. Assessment aimed to understand the extent to which training participants remembered key concepts, put learning in to action, and challenges and success stories.  This report presents the findings of this assessment.   Link to report