Source South Asia 2008, issue 5

Published - 18 Aug 08

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: sanitation practices make children vulnerable to sexual abuse

Children in Afghanistan are frequently the victims of sexual abuse. Sanitation practices, such as open defecation and having to walk long distances to collect water, make them even more vulnerable. Offenders often go unpunished while the victims receive little support.

Bangladesh: hygiene promoters teach safe sanitation practices

UNICEF is training more than 1,000 community hygiene promoters across Bangladesh to encourage people to adopt safer hygiene practices. The programme is supported through the Sanitation, Hygiene Education and Water Supply Bangladesh Project, which is funded by the UK Department for International Development.

Bangladesh: Denmark to provide US$ 4.8 million in help for rural water schemes

The Danish aid agency Danida is to provide US$ 4.8 million to improve rural water supply in northwestern Bangladesh. The project will supply water to around 400,000 people.

Bhutan: traditional water-sharing system 'feudal and unfair'

As water-related problems accumulate in Bhutan, policy-makers call for legislation to regulate water-sharing. A draft Water Act was prepared in 2002, but has been in hibernation ever since.

India, Maharashtra: Experts meet to discuss state policy on urban sanitation

On 10 July 2008, the Water Supply and Sanitation Department of the State Government of Maharashtra (WSSD-GoM) organised a Consultation Meet on Strategies of Urban Sanitation in Mumbai. The meeting was convened to discuss options for state strategies on sanitation, with the ultimate aim of developing a comprehensive state urban sanitation policy.

India: protests about pollution of Ganges

Hindu spiritual leaders, environmental scientists and water advocates are threatening large-scale protests if the Indian government does not take steps to tackle pollution in the River Ganges.

India: BORDA introduces Health Impact Assessments for community-based sanitation projects

German NGO BORDA has introduced Health Impact Asseements for all its community-based sanitation projects in India. The HIAs, developed in the spring of 2008, can be used to evaulate the impact of completed and ongoing projects.

India, Kerala: WASH campaign launched

The WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) networking programme has been launched in the south Indian state of Kerala. In the first phase of the programme, kindergarten teachers will be trained to raise awareness about best practices in sanitation and hygiene education and water conservation

Nepal: unsafe drinking water and sanitation in prisons

Inmates and staff in two of Nepal's prisons have been subjected to unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation. In a third prison, the International Red Cross has assured the prisoners a safe supply of water by installing a water tank.

Nepal: government prepares for possible diarrhoea epidemic

The Nepalese government is making preparations to control a diarrhoea epidemic, expected during the monsoon season between July and September. Deaths have already been reported in some of the more remote areas of the country.

Nepal: toilets used to distil wine or store fodder

Local people in the remote Nepalese settement of Tistung continue to defecate in the open, despite every household being equipped with a toilet. They use the toilets to store fodder and firewood or distil wine.

Pakistan, Islamabad: government schools lack toilets and drinking water

More than 70% of schools in the south Kashmir district of Islamabad lack drinking water and toilet facilities. Primary schools are worst hit, but many middle and secondary schools are also affected.

Pakistan: mixed results from Citizen Report Card on water and sanitation

The Citizen Report Card survey conducted by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to assess water and sanitation services in nine towns has produced mixed results. The poor and people living in informal settlements in particular have inadequate access to WASH services.

Sri Lanka: NIRAS wins capacity building contract in water sector

NIRAS, one of Denmark's largest firms of consulting engineers and planners, has won a capacity building consultancy contract in the water sector in Sri Lanka, financed by Danida. NIRAS won the contract ahead of three Danish competitors.

South Africa: Democratic Alliance turns to Law to get water reports

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is using the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to try to establish whether the death of 140 children in Ukhahlamba in Eastern Cape was directly related to contaminated water supplies.

Haiti: report indicts US government and IDB for violations of the rights to clean water and health

In 1998, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) awarded USD 54 million (EUR 34 million) in loans to the Haitian government to improve the country’s public-water system. However, according to a new report from Partners In Health and three other groups the IDB failed to distribute these loans.

Corruption in the water sector: overlooked threat for development and sustainability

New report shows how corruption undermines the global response to the water crisis, climate change and food shortages.

Sulabh International to set up sanitation university

Sulabh International, the pan-India social service organisation known for its efforts to provide better sanitation facilities, is setting up a sanitation university to provide education on hygiene and waste management. The new university will offer postgraduate degree courses that are recognised throughout the world.

India: WASMO wins Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration

WASMO, set up by the government of Gujarat to improve livelihoods by providing safe srinking water, has been awarded the Indian Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

Sunita Narain ranked 59th in Foreign Policy's Top 100 Public Intellectuals

Sunita Narain, Director of India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has been ranked 59th in the Foreign Policy list of top Public Intellectuals.

Water Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Action Contre La Faim is looking for a Water Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator (m/f) to organise and supervise the implementation of its technical strategy in water sanitation and hygiene.

Apply before Friday 12 September 2008

WatSan Projects Manager, Kabul, Afghanistan

The Projects Manager will manage WatSan projects in line with their objectives, budget and timeframe.

Apply before Sunday 31 August 2008

Water and Environmental Sanitation Specialists, India

UNICEF India is seeking six Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) Specialists for its Child's Environrment Programme. The positions are open to Indian nationals only.

Apply before Saturday 30 August 2008

MS program in Sustainable Water Sanitation, Health and Development

Pakistan, Norway and Nepal, September 2008 - September 2010

The COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan, in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Tribhuvan University Nepal, is to offer a two-year MS program in Sustainable Water Sanitation, Health and Development.

Household treatment: low-tech clay filters save on fuel costs and cut disease

Clay water filters first used in emergency relief operations in Central America are providing also households in South and Southeast Asia with safe drinking water.

Arsenic detection: UNICEF Bangladesh purchases 50 "digital arsenators"

The digital arsenator is a digital field instrument developed by Walter Kosmus of Karl-Franzens University in Austria. It is capable of measuring arsenic in water down to ppb levels.

Asia: Islamic Asia Infrastructure Fund proposed

The Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank plan to establish a Shari'ah-compliant private equity fund for infrastructure projects (including water and sanitation) in member countries common to the two institutions.

Clean your act: a wastewater recycling manual and film

'Clean your act' is a popular hands-on manual and film offering tips on how to treat and recycle wastewater.

Water financing and governance

This paper focuses on the need to fund the water resources functions that are essential for security and sustainability and to examine the relationship between the different governance and organizational structures in the sector and their ability to secure funding for essential goods and services.