The Water Research Commission (WRC) together with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) have partnered to develop a short-term programme to support the employability of graduates who have the passion and ability to contribute towards the water and sanitation (and linked) sectors in South Africa across multiple disciplines. The graduate programme aims to support unemployed graduates through a Water Graduate Employment Programme (Water GEP). The unemployed graduates will contribute towards the Water and Sanitation and linked sector over a period of 3 months. The Water GEP objective is to catalyse work exposure, capacity and marketability of graduates towards improved employability.

The Water GEP aims to match graduates with hosts; (supervisors/mentors/institutions/organisations) based on graduate needs, existing and aspirational skills and sector needs.

Graduates will be matched in the following areas:

  • Academia/Universities through the network of water and sanitation research and knowledge generation partners e.g., as research aides.
  •  Industry and SMMEs to contribute towards ongoing projects gaining business skills; or graduates to be given innovation grand challenges to develop their innovation and entrepreneurship skills.
  • Water sector entities requiring short-term support e.g., in areas such as water data and information management, monitoring, delivery and service models, community engagement and infrastructure solutioning to name a few.

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