From 20–22 August 2025, I had the privilege of spending three days in Dowa, co-facilitating a borehole drilling supervision training with Grace Mpange from the Ministry of Water. The gathering brought together supervisors from the Dowa District Water Office and Self Help Africa teams from Dowa and Thyolo.
Our mission was simple but powerful: to give frontline supervisors the skills and confidence to ensure that groundwater projects are done right—safe, sustainable, and built to last.
What struck me from the start was that this wasn’t about teaching people who knew nothing. These supervisors are already out in the field, making tough calls every day. But many had never been given proper induction or specialized training. Too often, they’re handed big responsibilities without the backing of clear standards or the confidence to challenge shortcuts. This training set out to change that.
Supervision, after all, is more than oversight. It’s about protecting communities, safeguarding water resources, and making sure that drilling is carried out to the highest technical standards. Good supervision can prevent costly failures, keep workers safe, ensure the right materials and methods are used, and provide the reliable data needed for planning.
Over the three days, we dug into a wide range of topics: ethics in groundwater governance, the nuts and bolts of technical supervision, Malawi’s policies and regulations, and digital data collection with mWater tools. We walked through everything from borehole siting to drilling, casing, gravel packing, development, pumping tests, and safety practices.
But the real magic happened when theory gave way to practice. Out in the field, participants watched the drilling process up close, tested pumps, collected data, and applied safety protocols. Their excitement was contagious.
One participant told us, “The field trip made my day as I applied everything I learned in class.” Another said, “The practical session simplified the theory session.” For many, those hands-on moments turned abstract ideas into skills they could carry back to their work.
By the end of the training, the shift was clear. Supervisors spoke with more confidence, ready to take their roles seriously. “The actual drilling supervision in the field was the most valuable part,” one shared. Another added, “I feel confident to supervise a drilling project after this training.”
And, I have to admit, I received a little feedback myself. During the reflections, one participant said, “Gloria Musopole from BASEflow is brilliant. She knows her field very well.” It was simple, but I'm not ashamed to admit it put the biggest smile on my face. Training can be hard work, but moments like that remind me why I love what I do—and why creating these spaces matters.
This training was also something of an experiment for us at BASEflow. Improving drilling and drilling supervision is at the heart of our strategy for strengthening Malawi’s water sector. We see this work as a partnership—working with drillers while also training frontline staff to raise the overall standard of groundwater development. Importantly, the training itself was made possible through joint financing from Self Help Africa and the Crap Foundation, whose co-investment allowed us to bring this initiative to life. That’s why this wasn’t just “another training.” It was our first attempt at shaping a curriculum we can refine and build on. And already, the feedback is helping us see where to adjust. Unsurprisingly, participants valued the practical sessions most, but they also told us three days wasn’t enough—there needs to be more time to absorb the technical information and even more time to practice in the field. We’ve taken that on board, and we’ll use it to improve future sessions—so that whether it’s drillers or district staff, the training is sharper, more effective, and better suited to the real demands of supervision in Malawi.
For me, those three days were a reminder that supervision is not just technical. It’s about stewardship—protecting communities today while safeguarding water for generations to come. Watching participants grow in knowledge and confidence was the best outcome we could have hoped for. And with their thoughtful suggestions for future trainings, the journey of strengthening groundwater supervision in Malawi is only just beginning.