Building Your Water & Climate Career

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Building Your Water & Climate Career

Welcome to Building your Water and Climate Career, an online course for aspiring water and climate professionals that will guide you through the different steps involved in finding the right job in the sector.

 

 

Just a few things to know before you embark on this course 

 

  • Structure of the course: 4 different Modules comprising of 5 to 10 sub-topics each
  • Who is it for? Recent graduates or young professionals seeking to broaden their career options, whether you are looking for your first job in the sector or you simply want to seek new opportunities 
  • Pre-requisites: Interest in environmental topics, particularly in water and climate change 
  • Content: Tools and guidance that will set you up for successfully embarking on a career in the water & climate sectors and that will make you more employable
  • Time for completing course: we recommend you complete at least 2 topics per week. Each topic should take you around 1-2 hours. 

 

 

Program funding partners

Erasmus +

Website 

erasmus

 

Swiss Agency for Development and 

Cooperation (SDC)

Website 

 

sdc

 

Agence de l'eau Artois - Picardie

Website 

agence de l'eau

 

Program implementing partners

Solidarité Eau Europe (SEE) 

Website 

swE

Secrétariat international de l’eau (SIE)

Website 

isw

Global Water Partnership (GWP)

Website 

gwp glo

GWP Central and Eastern Europe 

Website

gwp eur

GWP Hungary 

Website

gwp hung

cewas

Website

cewas

Good Planet Beligium 

Website

good planet

 

 

 

 

 

 

    3.2 Developing innovative solutions part I

    قراءات أخرى

    Eight Practical Steps to Design for the Market

    This blog post provides insights on how to develop radically innovative products and services for the poorest people around the globe. It provides additionally eight steps to help designing a branding and marketing strategy and a last mile supply chain that will put a product in the hands of a million or more customers.

    POLAK, P. (2016): Eight Practical Steps to Design for the Market. URL [Accessed: 23.07.2018]

    3.3 Developing innovative solutions part II

    قراءات أخرى

    The Field Guide to Human-Centred Design

    Part of the IDEO mission is to spread human-centred design to social sector practitioners around the world. The Field Guide to Human-Centred Design reveals our process with the key mindsets that underpin how and why we think about design for the social sector, 57 clear-to-use design methods for new and experienced practitioners, and from-the-field case studies of human-centred design in action.

    Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

    IDEO.org (2015): The Field Guide to Human-Centred Design. Canada: URL [Accessed: 23.07.2018] PDF

    Eight Practical Steps to Design for the Market

    This blog post provides insights on how to develop radically innovative products and services for the poorest people around the globe. It provides additionally eight steps to help designing a branding and marketing strategy and a last mile supply chain that will put a product in the hands of a million or more customers.

    POLAK, P. (2016): Eight Practical Steps to Design for the Market. URL [Accessed: 23.07.2018]

    3.4 Sustainable Business Model Canvas

    قراءات أخرى

    Cooperative model for financially sustainable municipal solid waste composting (NAWACOM, Kenya) - Case Study

    OTOO, M., KARANJA, N., ODERO, J. and HOPE, L. (2018): Cooperative model for financially sustainable municipal solid waste composting (NAWACOM, Kenya) - Case Study. In: Otoo, M. and Drechsel, P. (Eds.). Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries. Oxon (UK): Routledge - Earthscan. Section III, Chapter 3, pp.362-370. URL [Accessed: 26.03.2019]

    Briquettes from agro-waste (Kampala Jellitone Suppliers, Uganda) - Case Study

    GEBREZGABHER, S. and MUSISI, A. (2018): Briquettes from agro-waste (Kampala Jellitone Suppliers, Uganda) - Case Study. In: Otoo, M. and Drechsel, P. (Eds.). Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries. Oxon (UK): Routledge - Earthscan. Section II, Chapter 3, pp.41-51. URL [Accessed: 26.03.2019]

    A public-private partnership linking wastewater treatment and aquaculture (Ghana) - Case Study

    AMOAH, P., MUSPRATT, A., DRECHSEL, P. and OTOO, M. (2018): A public-private partnership linking wastewater treatment and aquaculture (Ghana) - Case Study. In: Otoo, M. and Drechsel, P. (Eds.). Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries. Oxon (UK): Routledge - Earthscan. Section IV, Chapter 15, pp.617-630. URL [Accessed: 26.03.2019]

    Water Business Kit Kenya: A guide to starting your own water treatment and vending business

    The IFC publications provides hands-on insights and checklists for developing a safe water business. The theoretical information is illustrated by examples and a case study in Kenya.

    International Finance Cooperation (IFC) (2013): Water Business Kit Kenya: A guide to starting your own water treatment and vending business. Washington, D.C.: URL [Accessed: 09.08.2018]
    SSWM factsheets

    Business model development

    اللغة إنجليزية
    Business model development

    المُلخص التنفيذي

    business model development

    A business model is a conceptual framework to describe how a social enterprise, start-up or NGO creates, captures and delivers value. The Business Model Canvas (BMC) developed by Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010) serves as hands-on tool to design truly customer oriented business models to meet needs in the market. However, it also covers the aspects of customer segmentation, customer relations, and revenue streams etc. to translate a business idea into a practical business model.

    The business model development factsheet provides you with an overview on how to apply the Business Model Canvas. In order to conceptualize an in-depth business model, a broad range of tools from the blueprint and validate phase factsheets are available that have also to be taken into consideration.

    Stay up to date about water entrepreneurship!

    Subscribe here to the new Sanitation and Water Entrepreneurship Pact (SWEP) newsletter. SWEP is a network of organizations joining hands to help entrepreneurs design and develop lasting water and sanitation businesses. 

    What is a business model and why is it important for your business?

    Factsheet Block Body

    The term business model is widely used in theory and practice and reflects core aspects of a business as such. Osterwalder and Pigneur describe it as “[…] the rational of how an organization creates, delivers and captures value” (2010, p.14). To translate these 3 core tasks into concrete building blocks they developed the Business Model Canvas. The Business Model Canvas comprising of customer segments, value propositions, (distribution) channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships and cost structure. This method can help safe water businesses to capture the strategy of how to create value for specific target groups, called customer segments and how to reach these customer segments with safe water or household water treatment solution (HWTS) at what price. An important dimension at an early stage is to determine the revenue streams so that the business can become cost-covering or profitable. In a next step, business model covers the aspects of what resources are needed, how to finance the business, with whom to collaborate in order to make the business work etc. When reflecting on your existing business or defining a new idea it is crucial to address these topics, specifically when you are working in the complex BoP market.

    Business Model Canvas
    The Business Model Canvas. Source: OSTERWALDER AND PIGNEUR AND STRATEGYZER AG (2010)

    For whom is business model development essential?

    Factsheet Block Body

    Developing a business model is essential for profit and socially oriented safe water firms who are starting to concretise a business idea. It will help to assess and refine the business idea as well as reflecting and improving the model of a current business. It is applicable for profit-oriented operations as well as for not-for profit oriented ones.

    How to create a new business model or refine an existing one?

    Factsheet Block Body

    With the help of the prominently used Business Model Canvas (BMC) (OSTERWALDER & PIGNEUR 2010), a company can refine, reflect or define its business model and take strategic decisions on how to proceed and implement its developed ideas. The goal of the BMC is to assist water entrepreneurs in understanding their business idea and how the business operates to encourage discussions, foster analysis and leverage creativity to design a business model that works.

    A thorough explanation of the different building blocks of the Business Model Canvas can be found here.

    To further explore the core elements of your business model, we refer to the other tools of the blueprint phase of this toolbox: value proposition, value creation, simple vs. complex business models, innovative ways to reach non-users and retailers and mobile sales force.

    But first comes first: developing a business model in practice:

    During workshops, gathering different stakeholders, you can discuss how your business model can be developed/improved to create a unique business model by using the BMC:

    • See here how it can be done.
    • Use this extensive step-by-step description of how to identify the different building blocks of the BMC in 20 minutes here.
    • An online template version to work with can be found here.
    • Interesting information about business model creation here.
    • Gain inspiration with the toolkit for particular water and sanitation business development:

    Having brainstormed and filled out the BMC for your company is the first step towards a successful business. But having a BMC is not the end of the work, rather the work starts now: You have to prototype and validate your business ideas to see how they perform in the real world and adjusted to the needs of your customers (see tool on human centred design).

    3.5 Pitching your ideas

    قراءات أخرى

    Win the Business With This Elevator Pitch

    This article published by the Harvard Business Review gives some important pointers when it comes to talking style and being convincing with your elevator pitch, accompanied by an examples of both an ineffective and an effective elevator pitch.

    MARTIN, S.W. (2012): Win the Business With This Elevator Pitch. Cambridge: Harvard Business Review URL [Accessed: 14.01.2013]

    The Perfect (Elevator) Pitch

    This Business Week article describes some key aspects of a good elevator pitch and how to create it, rehearse it, and tailor it for a specific audience.

    PINCUS, A. (2007): The Perfect (Elevator) Pitch. New York: Bloomberg L.P. URL [Accessed: 14.01.2013]

    Listen as Start-ups Pitch investors for funding

    The Pitch provides podcasts about business pitches and background information for entrepreneurs. Each episode takes you behind closed doors to the critical moment when aspiring entrepreneurs put it all on the line. The Pitch delivers on the high-stakes promise of a live pitch without shying away from the nitty gritty details of what happens after everyone shakes hands and walks out of the room.

    THE PITCH (EDITOR) Listen as Start-ups Pitch investors for funding. URL [Accessed: 20.04.2018]

    3.6 Marketing

    Download Materials
    قراءات أخرى

    Marketing and the 7Ps

    Descriptions on what marketing is comprised of, why marketing is important, the 7Ps of marketing, marketing strategy planning and future trends in marketing.

    CIM (2009): Marketing and the 7Ps. The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

    Introductory Guide to Sanitation Marketing

    This Guideline, developed by the WSP, is a toolkit for practitioners to define sanitation marketing and key components of a sanitation marketing initiative and provide an overall framework for scaling up rural sanitation programs using a marketing approach.

    DEVINE, J. ; KULLMANN, C. (2011): Introductory Guide to Sanitation Marketing. المُدخلات: Water and Sanitation Program: Toolkit: URL [Accessed: 11.12.2015]

    Sanitation Marketing: A handbook for Sanitation Managers and Private Sector Players

    This handbook outlines key facts about sanitation marketing, a step-by-step approach to development and implementation of a sanitation marketing project and also suggested key references for further reading for a wide range of audiences but more specifically, policy makers, program managers, business entrepreneurs in sanitation, financial institutions and behavioral change communication specialists.

    NABEMBEZI, D. NABUNYA, H. (n.y): Sanitation Marketing: A handbook for Sanitation Managers and Private Sector Players. Ministry of Health Uganda and PLAN Uganda URL [Accessed: 11.12.2015]

    3.7 Analyse your market

    قراءات أخرى

    Competitive Analysis

    A guideline on how to conduct a competitors analysis.

    SAASNET (n.y): Competitive Analysis. Understanding Your Competition. State Association of Addiction Services (SAAS) URL [Accessed: 16.12.2015]

    3.8 Learn to manage your finances

    قراءات أخرى

    Business Builder 4. How to Prepare a Cash Flow Statement

    Before handling a cash budget yourself you should understand the cash flow in your company. This report gives an overview over cash flow and the components in a cash flow statement. Further, it gives you advice on how to prepare a cash flow statement, as well as explaining two methods for constructing the statement. It closes with a chapter on analysing a cash flow statement.

    ZIONS BANK (2005): Business Builder 4. How to Prepare a Cash Flow Statement. المُدخلات: Zions Business Resource Center: URL [Accessed: 11.12.2015]