Source Weekly 2008, 7

Published - 07 Nov 08

International

Monitoring: UK and Netherlands allocate €6 million, UN-Water presents pilot report

A new joint initiative from the UK and the Netherlands will allocate €6 million over five years to an annual report and high level meeting focused on reviewing progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on water and sanitation. At the same time, the UN-Water launched the Global Annual Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS).

Hygiene: millions of children take part in Global Handwashing Day

Millions of children and adults from over 70 countries took part in Global Handwashing Day on 15 October. The aim of the initiative was to show how washing the hands with soap can effectively prevent disease.

Bangladesh: new economical method of testing for toxins in drinking water

After many years of studying toxins in drinking water in Bangladesh, a group of volunteer researchers has come up with a cost-effective strategy to ensure that the water is safe to drink.

Bhutan: rural water supply schemes falling into disrepair

A survey by Bhutan's health ministry shows that up to 65% of the country's rural water supply schemes are in need of repair. A little over 12% are not functioning at all, presenting a risk of contamination.

India: 11th Five Year Plan aims for 100% urban sanitation

The Indian government has included 100% urban sanitation as a goal in its 11th Five-Year Plan. Its ultimate aim is for people in urban areas to have access to safe sanitation facilities by 2012.

Pakistan: Ministry of Environment confident of achieving targets for International Year of Sanitation

The Pakistani Ministry of Environment is confident that it will achieve the targets set for the 2008 International Year of Sanitation. With most prevailing diseases being caused by poor hygiene and sanitation practices, reaching the government's targets is crucial.

WaterLinks: network for water operators partnerships in the Asia and the Pacific

WaterLinks is a joint initiative of the Asian Development Bank, the International Water Association and USAID aimed at strengthening the ADB's Water Operators Partnership (WOPs) programme.

Douglas and Zeta Jones accept US$1.9 million donation for children's water and sanitation projects

Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones accepted a donation for US $1.9 million in Dubai on 6 October on behalf of the charity Free the Children. The money is to be used to help provide clean water for underprivileged children.

JICA reborn as sole provider of Japanese ODA

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been restructured and is now the sole provider of the country's official development assistance.

Chief of Water and Sanitation Programme, DACAAR, Afghanistan [re-announcement]

DACAAR is seeking candidates for the post of Chief of its Water and Sanitation Programme in Afghanistan. It is offering a contract of one year, with a possibility of extension.

Apply before Tuesday 28 October 2008

Senior Water and Sanitation Officer, UNHCR, Switzerland

Main responsibility: provision of expert technical support and advice as well as strategic planning and policy making on activities within the areas of water, sanitation, hygiene and related technical sectors as an integral part of UNHCR programmes.

Apply before Friday 31 October 2008

Hygiene: survey of handwashing practices in Bangladesh

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) has conducted a survey of handwashing practices in the country, with the primary objective of promoting handwashing at key moments.

Risk surveys: targeting appropriate interventions to minimize deterioration of drinking-water quality in developing countries

Drinking-water in developing countries frequently becomes recontaminated after collection and during storage. This study proposes a ‘disease risk index’ (DRI) to reduce the risk of consuming recontaminated drinking-water.

Project performance: lessons from the Asian Development Bank

A recent study by the Asian Development Bank has revealed that around 30% of the ADB's projects are evaluated as less than successful. This has led to a number of lessons to be learned.

Privatisation revisited: lessons from private sector participation in water supply and sanitation

A study by the Asian Development Bank shows that private sector participation has not shown encouraging results in the water supply and sanitation sector. In particular, private resources have not been adequately mobilised to solve problems in the sector.

Support in stressed environments: transportable infrastructures for development and emergency support

The TIDES (Transportable Infrastructures for Development and Emergency Support) project aims to encourage information sharing and develop communities of interest in stressed environments.

Handwashing: the Tippy Tap - simple and safe

The Tippy Tap is a simple and hygienic device for handwashing, which is very easy to set up and use. Researchers in the Netherlands have come up with a more modern design.

UK/Netherlands: joint water and sanitation initiative to help millions in Africa and Asia

A joint UK/Netherlands initiative to provide millions of people in Africa and Asia with safe drinking water and good sanitation was launched in New York this week.

Water supply and sanitation services for the poor: the Gram Vikas experience

This book describes the Rural Health and Environment Programme run by NGO Gram Vikas in Orissa, one of the poorest states in India.

The big necessity: adventures in the world of human waste

This book describes the author's travels through the world of human waste and its disposal. With four out of ten people in the world having no toilet, it explores this global public health crisis and some innovative proposals for solving it.

Compendium of sanitation systems and technologies

This compendium helps identify and evaluate sanitation options in the context of the Household Centered Environmental Sanitation (HCES) planning approach.

Guide to advocacy for integrity in the water sector

This advocacy guide, published by the Water Integrity Network (WIN), offers practical tips for advocacy to curb corruption in the sector. It consists of a series of articles based on the project cycle of an advocacy plan.

Sanimap: World Sanitation Project Map

At the World Water Week in Stockholm, the Japan Water Forum and the Water Web Alliance launched the World Sanitation Project Map, Sanimap is a new type of communication tool for tackling water problems.

Slippage of WASH Services: Causes, Costs and How to Counter

Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad, India, First week of March 2009

The main objectives of the workshop are to quantify the scale and extent of the challenge of “slippage of WASH services” and to increase the understanding of the main causes. Secondly the workshop is about disseminating the results of the research and workshop, and scaling-up of good practices related to the WASH slippage challenge.