The potential of collaboration between NGO and Universities between practicality and research.

The CeTAmb LAB (Research Laboratory on Appropriate Technologies for Environmental Management in resource-limited Countries), University of Brescia, is currently partner in a cooperation project managed by the Italian NGO ACRA CCS, aimed at improving health and hygiene conditions of poor communities living in the peri-urban areas of Iringa Municipality, Tanzania. The CeTAmb LAB is, together with BOKU (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), technical partner in collaboration with local and international institutions. The interaction between NGO and Universities in cooperation projects offers important opportunities of sharing knowledge and competencies. It helps academics in increasing operational and professional skills, while providing NGOs the possibility to research and exploit innovative tools and methodologies. This relation, if adequately structured, has a huge potential in incrementing the value of partners’ work and actions carried out in international projects.