The International Year of Sanitation (IYS) 2008 was a big success. Throughout the year, WSSCC promoted five important messages, that basic sanitation:

• improves health,
• fosters economic development,
• promotes social development,
• protects the environment and
• is universally achievable.

WSSCC takes sanitation to new audiences at Clinton and UBS Meetings

IYS was a springboard to reach out to new audiences about sanitation and hygiene. Two events epitomised this effort in September 2008 - the UBS Global Philanthropy Forum and the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. General estimates put private investments and philanthropy worldwide at $209 billion (Euro 166 billion) in 2006, while ODA from 22 countries contributed another $106 billion (Euro 84.2 billion).

At the UBS event in Singapore, WSSCC Executive Director Jon Lane spoke about the importance of sanitation and, with the World Toilet Organization, hosted a side event in - appropriately - a hotel restroom. Mr. Lane had three messages to the gathered philanthropists, most of whom had never considered the sanitation gap.

• Back the people and organisations pioneering new approaches, like market-led sanitation;
• Use your entrepreneurial skills to push creative ideas forward;
• Use your contacts and reputation to persuade other people about the importance of sanitation.

WSSCC also took sanitation messages to the Clinton meeting in New York to make CGI members aware of the issue and encourage them to take action. WSSCC made a commitment to raise an additional $30 million for the Global Sanitation Fund as part of a broader 'Water and Sanitation Mega-Commitment' totalling some $60 million.

For more information, contact Mr. David Trouba, WSSCC Programme Officer Communications, troubad@who.int.

Tags: advocacy, financing, sanitation