SKAT

Type

SKAT provides technical assistance through consultancy and the provision of information to institutional and individual partners around the world.

Brief Overview

Established in 1978, SKAT seeks to disseminate information about technological advances in its fields of focus, especially with regard to the lessons that have been learned through their implementation. SKAT maintains a database of documents pertaining to these areas of expertise, publishes information about how to proceed with projects, engages in networking and training to facilitate these services, and supplies answers to technical questions through its “Technical Enquiry Service.”

Contact Information

website: http://www.skat.ch/

SKAT
Swiss Centre for Development Cooperation in Technology and Management
Vadianstrasse 42
CH-9000 St.Gallen
Switzerland

telephone: (+41) 71 228 54 54
fax: (+41) 71 228 54 55
e-mail: info@skat.ch

Stated Goals

“SKAT shares learning processes designed to build awareness, knowledge, and capacities. SKAT seeks to provide balanced contributions to technical cooperation and to initiate sustainable development processes that empower target groups to achieve self-reliance.”

Regions of Work

Eastern Europe, the Confederation of Independent States (CIS), South and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America

Areas of Work

1. Water and Sanitation
2. Transport Infrastructure
3. Urban Development
4. Architecture and Building

Methods

SKAT works in the realms of specialist consultancy and the design, research, and development of both services and products. It offers the following four primary services:

1. Consultancy and Backstopping
2. Project Execution
3. Networking
4. Information Management and Dissemination

Examples of Upgrading Project

The Dar es Salaam Urban Health Project (DUHP) was begun in 1990. Its primary goal was to rehabilitate the urban health services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The government of Switzerland and Tanzania funded the project jointly. SKAT became involved in 1992, when it was contracted to evaluate the advances made by the project, especially with regard to maintenance and rehabilitation. In 1999, SKAT provided backstopping and support services to encourage “capitalization” of the experience and the development of “handing-over” strategies. As consultants, SKAT assisted its partners by providing knowledge and experience, thereby maximizing both the efficiency and sustainability of the project.

Project Selection Process

As a private consultancy office working mainly for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and GTZ in Germany, SKAT does not select its projects. It is the agencies themselves that deal with the selection process. However, for SKAT to become involved in the projects, the following issues are very important:

1. Existence of CBOs/NGOs in the neighborhood that facilitate empowerment through grass-roots efforts
2. Extent of poverty in the target areas
3. Institutional set-up: are local authorities or other relevant public bodies responsive and willing to take a pro-poor approach?
4. In Switzerland: country must be a LLDC country