It is generally accepted that scientific research offers a tool for meeting the development demands in the area of water and sanitation. It is stressed by the authors that research should be performed by researchers in the countries most affected, on topics identified by these researchers and in their own environment. For researchers in developing countries the resources and scientific infrastructure constitutes a hindrance to scientific research. To address the situation this paper presents a strategy for scientific capacity strengthening. The strategy builds on a number of activities including; training courses on scientific methodology, literature review, fundraising, sampling, laboratory practices, statistical methods, experimental designs, participatory approaches, oral presentation, posters and manuscript development, as well as thematic workshops, workshop for revision of proposals, contacts with end-users, research grants, networks, purchasing and maintaining scientific equipment and scientific conferences. The strategy builds heavily on collaboration with local organisations. It has been concluded through assessments of activities arranged in Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Togo that the strategy has been successful.