Launched by the Water and Sanitation Program in 1984 to support training in low-cost water supply and sanitation, the ITN is a network of local, regional, and international training institutions. ITN Centers provide training, disseminate information and promote local applied sector research on low-cost water supply and sanitation options. The ITN is a developmental instrument that has global linkages and a regional resource base, yet remains responsive to the specific training needs of countries. More than training schools, the ITN is a vital partnership of training centers, host agencies, governments, and donors that have specialized in water and sanitation issues, including the Water and Sanitation Program. The Network links affiliated institutions serving Asia and Africa.
New centers are under development.
The ITN receives financial support from a wide range of governments, multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental agencies. To achieve sustainability, centers are encouraged to operate on a commercial basis, providing some services for a fee. The ITN has a comprehensive audiovisual series on low-cost technologies and approaches. Each center has adapted these materials to its own cultural and linguistic needs. Centers have also developed many of their own tools and materials.