Source - Africa South of Sahara
Uganda: government setting up Hand Pump Mechanics Associations in all rural districts
25 May 12
Forming associations for hand pump mechanics in Uganda has enhanced the services they provide and ultimately improved functionality, a new study [1] shows. One such association in Kabong district succeeded in improving functionality of water sources from 20% in 2006 …
Africa: UN-Water survey shows improved government performance in water resource management
15 May 12
A new study covering 40 African countries shows that they are making good progress with integrated approaches to water resources management. Over 75 per cent of the member countries of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) are implementing national national water laws and nearly half are executing national plans for integrated water resources management in line with the Africa Water Vision for 2025.
Ethiopia: RiPPLE established as an independent organisation
04 May 12
RiPPLE, established in 2006 as a research programme consortium, is evolving and growing and since April 2012 has been established as an independent organisation to serve the Ethiopian WASH sector. A new Executive Director has been appointed.
Liberia: President Sirleaf finally signs WASH Compact
22 Mar 12
After a delay of more than half a year, the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, finally signed the Liberia WASH Compact in January 2012. The signing follows almost two months of lobbying by the WASH Working Group, an alliance of civil society organisations (CSOs).
Nigeria, Ogoniland: communities demand oil pollution clean-up and compensation
27 Dec 11
Residents of Ogoniland in Rivers State, Nigeria, are demanding compensation from Royal Dutch Shell and clean-up of the oil that has polluted water sources and destroyed their livelihoods.
Ghana: donors urged to help prevent corruption in the water sector
05 Dec 11
The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has appealed to donor agencies to introduce anti-corruption policies and tools in all their water sector activities. This was one of the recommendations of Ghana’s National Water Supply Integrity Study [1] undertaken by GII as …
Africa: Jimmy Carter spearheads final drive to eradicate Guinea worm disease
25 Oct 11
Former US president Jimmy Carter says US$ 100 million is needed to finally eradicate Guinea worm disease. The UK has pledged a third of this amount if other donors are prepared to cough up the rest.
Africa: political stability and country leadership key to water and sanitation progress
03 Oct 11
Political stability has heavily influenced progress in improving access to water supply and sanitation services with low-income stable countries outperforming low-income fragile and resource-rich countries. ”This breaks with the common perception that access to sanitation and water increases with GDP”, …
AfricaSan 3: ministers commit to look first “in our own backyard” for sanitation financing
03 Oct 11
African ministers have committed to do what they can ‘in our own back yard’ by using local finance for sanitation rather than depend on hand-outs. They were following the advice of President Kagame of Rwanda who opened AfricaSan 3, the …
Ghana: only 0.1% of budget committed to sanitation
14 Jul 11
In spite of the Government's pledge to commit 0.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to sanitation, the 2011 budget made provision for 0.1%, said CONIWAS Executive Secretary Benjamin Arthur. The government was also not fulfilling its promise to commit 200 million dollars every year towards water and sanitation activities beginning in 2011.
