Source - International News
Towards better monitoring: taking drinking water equity, safety and sustainability into account
07 Jan 12
While current figures indicate that access to improved drinking water has increased from 77 per cent to 87 per cent between 1990 and 2008, the real percentage of people with sustainable access to safe drinking water is likely to be significantly lower. This is one of the conclusions of a new report that the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) released on 20 December 2011.
Monitoring: new tools meet demand for more transparency in the water sector
16 Nov 11
Water NGOs are leading the way in promoting new monitoring tools. A Child’s Right has launched an online monitoring system called Proving It and FLOW, a mobile phone tool developed by Water For People, is being widely used in West …
Drawing the threads together: sustainable services and behaviour changes
08 Nov 11
Agencies, donors and NGOs alike need to regard sustainability as a critical mission and to re-think fundamentally their role in the sector, conclude the organisers of the WASH Conference 2011. The conference, which was held in Brisbane, Australia, from 16-20 …
Higher water tariffs are associated with lower water loss
02 Nov 11
“Our Smart Water Networks Forum is aiming to help water utilities do the right thing: investing in operation and maintenance and sustainability of their data-driven smart water networks and not only focusing on pipe and pumps”, Smart Water Networks Forum …
Prioritise slum dwellers for water and sanitation investment, says WaterAid manifesto
28 Oct 11
Investment in water and sanitation in the rapidly urbanising cities of the developing world is key if we are to avoid uncontrollable poverty and ever worsening slums, says WaterAid in a manifesto released on 3 October 2011.
“Clean hands save lives”: Global Handwashing Day 2011 celebrated by millions of people worldwide
28 Oct 11
Millions of people across the globe celebrated the 4th annual Global Handwashing Day on 15 October 2011, emphasising the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective, simple, and affordable way to prevent disease.
Right to water: new UN resolution supports sustainable service delivery approach
25 Oct 11
A new resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council at its 18th session calls on states to ensure enough financing for sustainable delivery of water and sanitation services. Passed by consensus on 28 September 2011, resolution A/HRC/RES/18/1 has taken last year’s landmark decision to recognise the right to water and sanitation as legally binding in international law, a step further.
Sanitation: advances bypassing the poor and rural communities
30 Sep 11
The UN's latest Millennium Development Goals Report notes that progress in sanitation has largely bypassed the poor while rural populations remain disadvantaged. At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2049 to provide 77 per cent of the global population with improved sanitation.
Leading sector organisations launch Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sustainability Charter
30 Sep 11
On 27 July 2011, more than 20 leading international water and development organizations signed and launched the WASH Sustainability Charter. This Charter is a collaboratively-developed mission and set of guiding principles to help lower risk of failure and advance lasting solutions in water, sanitation and hygiene education (WASH).
Water crisis: world needs water leadership say former heads of government
01 Jul 11
Former heads of government have agreed to establish a new panel to help fill a "serious void in leadership related to global water issues". The formation of the new water panel was announced at the 29th meeting of the InterAction Council held from 29-31 May 2011 in Québec City, Canada.
