Issue 13

Published - 15 Dec 08

South Asia - General

Asia: 5th Dialogue on Environmental Education focuses on water and sanitation education

The Fifth Dialogue on Environmental Education, held in Japan on 2-3 October 2008 within the framework of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, focused on the theme of education in water and sanitation issues.

Afghanistan: children forced to abandon school through drought and poverty

Children in Chemtal district, in northern Afghanistan, are being forced to drop out of school because of drought and poverty. They have to work or spend many hours a day collecting water.

Bangladesh: 22 million under-fives immunised against polio

Government health workers and 600,000 volunteers in Bangladesh have immunised 22 million children under the age of five against polio. The aim is to make the country polio-free by 2011.

Bangladesh: community participation project brings clean drinking water to 10,000 Bangladesh villagers

A unique project run by the Social Development Foundation and the World Bank has brought clean drinking water to 10,000 villagers in 12 districts in rural Bangladesh. The project gives communities full ownership of the system.

Bhutan, Trashigang: farmers build toilets to practice new skills

Farmers in Trashigang, Bhutan, have been constructing toilets to practice skills they have learned while participating in a rural skills development project. Building the toilets enables them to practice carpentry, masonry, plumbing and wiring.

India, Sikkim: first state to achieve 100% sanitation

The Indian state of Sikkim has become the first state in the country to achieve 100% sanitation. It was presented with a gold medal by Indian president Pratibha Patil.

India, Assam: government officials stage plays to raise sanitation awareness

Government officials in the Indian state of Assam have been staging plays to promote good sanitation practices. The plays are part of the Indian government's Total Sanitation Campaign.

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley: increases in water tariffs expected

The Water Tariff Fixation Commission is expected to increase water tariffs by between 10% and 30% in the Kathmandu Valley, despite a persistent shortage of water in the area.

Nepal, Kathmandu: squatters seek NGO help to defeat river pollution

Squatters in Narayan tole in Kathmandu, have called in local and international NGOs to help them deal with pollution from the nearby Samakhusi River. They now have wastewater treatment plants so that only clean water is discharged into the river.

Pakistan, Sindh: US$ 300 million ADB loan to improve water and sanitation in secondary towns

The Asian Development Bank is providing a loan of US$ 300 million to enable the Pakistani province of Sindh to improve water and sanitation services in its secondary cities. The loan will also help the Sindh government establish local government-owned urban services corporations.

Sri Lanka: Brandix and Deutsche Bank water filter project provides safe drinking water for over 2,000 families

A community project run by Brandix and Deutsche Bank has provided more than 2,000 families in Sri Lanka with filters to purify drinking water. The families were chosen because they were at high risk of contracting water-related diseases.

Sri Lanka: ADB funds to upgrade water and sanitation systems in dry zone

The Asian Development Bank is to provide more than US$ 80 million to upgrade water and sanitation systems in Sri Lanka's Northern and Northwestern Provinces. Water resources are scarce in this 'dry zone' and current supply systems are obsolete and neglected.

Guinea worm: 'close to eradication', says Carter Center

The US-based Carter Center says that health workers are on the verge of eradicating Guinea worm, a parasitical disease that has affected millions of people in Africa and Asia. Cases have been cut by 99.7% and there are hopes that the disease will be completely wiped out by 2010.

WES Specialist, UNICEF, Bangladesh

UNICEF is looking for a WES (Water, Environment and Sanitation) Specialist for its office in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Apply before Tuesday 16 December 2008

Urban Development Specialist (Water Supply and Sanitation), ADB, Philippines

The South Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank is looking for an Urban Development Specialist (Water Supply and Sanitation). The Specialist will be stationed in Manila, the Philippines.

Apply before Monday 22 December 2008

Specialised Course on Water Safety Plans

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 16-19 March 2009

This is a specialised course to provide the knowledge and skills required to address water quality problems in Bangladesh on the basis of a Water Safety Plan (WSP) approach.

Innovation: what makes it stick?

Why are some innovations a success while others fail? Asian Development Bank urban development specialists Hubert Jenny and Alexis Ngo looks at how to make innovation stick in the water and wastewater sector.

Community-managed toilets: Tiruchirappalli sets a good example

The city of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India, is setting a good example with its community-managed toilets (CMTs). The city authorities, communities and NGOs have joined forces to install nearly 340 CMTs, most of which also have bathing and washing facilities.

Water supply: impact on gender and income in Gujarat, India

This paper investigates the impact of domestic water supply on economic development and gender relations in rural households in a drought-prone area of Gujarat, India.

Ecosan: light-weight concrete composite pans

The Energy, Environment and Development Society, based in Madhya Pradesh, India, has developed light-weight concrete composite Ecosan pans, with the support of UNICEF New Delhi and the Stockholm Environment Institute. The products were unveiled at the recent SACOSAN conference in New Delhi.

Suez Environnement launches Water for All Competition

The Suez Environnement - Water for All Foundation, under the auspices of Institut de France, has launched a competition for higher education or research institutions, which focuses on improving access to drinking water or sanitation services for urban populations in developing countries.

Apply before Tuesday 30 December 2008