Karl Wehrle is an internationally recognized expert in the sector of water supply and environmental sanitation. He has over 30 years experience in the sector obtained in different positions and localities. His expertise covers the various key aspects of the sector with special emphasis on sector policy and programme development; design, planning, monitoring, networking, evaluation and implementation of projects and programmes as well as operation and maintenance aspects and training of professionals. He advocates and supports the achievement of sustainability through a “participative (learning) approach” with the involvement of government agencies, local communities and the private sector, as well as through organisation development, and institution and capacity building. He gained (and continuous to gain) his experience and learning from collaboration with multilateral and bilateral agencies, community organizations and non-governmental organizations in Cameroon, Cabo Verde Lesotho, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Moldavia, Bolivia Alöbania, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Karl Wehrle has built up the area of expertise water supply and environmental sanitation within Skat, which has become a globally recognised player in the sector. He has also been prominently involved in building up a Swiss based sector network called Aguasan, which acts today as a very efficient community of practice. Aguasan is globally recognized for its annual workshops, the organisation of which lies in the hands of Karl Wehrle. As the leading person of the backstopping mandate for the sectoral services of the Swiss Development Cooperation, Karl Wehrle participated in meetings with multilateral organisation and contributed to learning processes at the global level. In his entire career Karl Wehrle never gave up his strong personal links to the target groups. He actually spent over six months in the field during his sabbatical year in 97/98.