Source Bulletin 50

Published - 22 Nov 07

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Features

50th Source Bulletin and IRC publications CD ROM - Bridging the knowledge gap

The 50th Source Bulletin on paper carried a copy of the CD ROM with all the electronic IRC publications in Adobe Acrobat (PDF-format) that IRC has published since 1998.

Effectiveness of Indian incentives for rural sanitation questioned

In 2006-2007, a record number of 9,746 Gram Panchayats applied for selection under the Government of India’s Nirmal Gram Puraskar incentive-based sanitation promotion award programme. However, fewer than half - 4,437(45.5%) of GPs - were selected, the majority - 5,309 (54.5%) - being rejected during the verification process for not meeting the eligibility standards.

Offline services aim to bridge cost and bandwidth e-gap

Many efforts aim to provide the water and sanitation community with free and open source resources on the World Wide Web. Internet water wikis abound, covering working knowledge, collaborative communities, microfinance and a marketplace. Yet seven out of eight people worldwide are not able to access the Internet.

From the GWA Secretariat

Although I feel as if 2007 has just begun, it is already coming to an end, and it is time to wish the readers of Source Bulletin an enjoyable break at the end of December and the very best wishes for 2008. I hope that in the New Year we will all actively contribute to the improvement of the water situation of poor women, men and children!

Flowing upstream: The challenge of mainstreaming gender in water governance

On 6 September 2007, the Steering Committee of the Gender and Water Alliance elected Sara Ahmed as the new Chairperson of GWA. Here she outlines the challenges ahead.

Tonga: Participatory approaches for rainwater harvesting

For many low-lying Pacific Islands, rainwater is the primary, and in some cases only source of freshwater. Very often the amount of water available for use is limited by the amount of storage and the quality of water is compromised by a lack of knowledge and understanding of how to operate and maintain rainwater harvesting systems.

Impressions from WASH Practitioners’ Marketplace

Streams of Knowledge, NETWAS and partners organised a Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) knowledge fair in Mombasa, Kenya from 26 to 28 September 2007. The fair brought together some 150 WASH practitioners to discuss knowledge and capacity building needs. It

Nile countries groundwater capacity building explored

Capacity building activities in Integrated Water Resources Management have largely focused on the development and exploitation of surface water resources despite the fact that most people in Africa depend on groundwater. Recognising this, Cap-Net has already supported investigations into the groundwater capacity building needs in West and Southern Africa.

Flood management partnership strengthens resilience

Floods have been part of people’s lives throughout the ages. Besides being a destructive force of nature, they at the same time replenish water resources, wetlands and groundwater whilst often providing floodplain areas with rich soil and helping to maintain biodiversity.

Communication tools freely available online

Cap-Net together with MetaMeta Communications has developed a resource web site on water related training and education communication materials.

Collaboration overcomes constraints

The Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) a transboundary groundwater reservoir spanning Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, is one of the world’s largest underground basins influenced by an estimated 70 million people. Cap-Net partners developed a tailor-made capacity buidling programme for this complex transboundary basin.

Water and Sanitation Resource Centre established in Uganda

The Resource Centre of Uganda idea was born in 2002 with support from IRC. It was first hosted by SNV, then UWASNET and is now being supported by a consortium hosted by Network for Water and Sanitation (NETWAS) Uganda.

Honduras: MoU signed for networking for knowledge management on WASH

RAS-HON (Red de Agua y Saneamiento Honduras) and IRC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a five-year programme of increased collaboration to disseminate good practice and for advocacy and institutional strengthening.

IRC symposium 2008: Governance and partnerships for sanitation of urban poor

Urban sanitation faces many challenges such as extreme poverty, high unemployment, high population (and housing) densities, water scarcity and lack of infrastructure. IRC is planning to address these issues during a three-day symposium from 19-21 November 2008 linking its 40th anniversary with the International Year of Sanitation. The title is Governance and Partnerships for Sanitation and Hygiene in Informal Settlements and Peri-Urban Areas.