Source Weekly 2009, 10

Published - 16 Oct 09

International

Climate change: high adaptation costs for water sector, World Bank study says

Water supply and flood management, ranks as one of the top three climate adaptation costs in both the wetter and drier scenario, with Sub-Saharan Africa footing by far the highest costs, says a new World Bank report.

Global Handwashing Day 2009: focus on schoolchildren and swine flu

Millions of children and adults in over 80 countries celebrated the second annual Global Handwashing Day on 15 October 2009. About 200 million children took part last year.

Awareness raising: first clown in space hosts show to save Earth’s water

Cirque du Soleil founder hosted a show from space linking events in 14 world cities to raise awareness about clean water.

Harpal Sirshwa, 22 year-old villager from Nilokheri, Haryana, India

I will have to work hard to afford a toilet. We won't get any bride if we don't have one now.

Ghana: inadequate water hampers school feeding programme

Recent research conducted by SEND-Ghana shows that 45% of schools in sample districts under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) do not have access to water. .

Kenya: private water supply deal sparks cost inflation fear

Kenya is seeking a private sector solution to its burgeoning water supply shortages in a deal that could see a steep rise in costs and deny access to millions of low-income urban residents.

Tanzania: Ministry pledges increase of budget for rural water programme

Development partners and stakeholders have recommended an increase of funds allocation from the Treasury to the Water Sector Development Programme in an attempt to achieve set targets.

Uganda: water sector loaded with corruption, US$ 32.5 million lost over last 5 years

A World Bank sponsored baseline survey on integrity in Uganda’s water supply and sanitation sector found that between US$ 5 million and US$ 10 million meant to improve access to safe water for drinking in Uganda is lost to corruption annually.

India, Andhra Pradesh: US$ 150 million for rural water supply and sanitation

Over 2,600 villages in the state of Andhra Pradesh will get improved water supply and sanitation thanks to a US$ 150 million World Bank loan. The Andhra Pradesh Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project will provide piped water to 2.1 million people and sanitation services to 1 million people over a five-year period.

India, Karnataka: fluorides, nitrates in water crippling villagers

Excessive levels of fluoride in groundwater are destroying teeth and paralysing villagers in the Indian state of Karnataka, where most drinking water is supplied through borewells.

Nepal: ADB project to improve water supply and sanitation services in small towns

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting a Nepal Government project to improve water and sanitation services in small towns throughout the country. It has approved a US$ 45.1 million grant for the Second Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project.

Papua New Guinea: cholera patients battle stigma

The first known outbreak of cholera in Papua New Guinea in 50 years, has not only killed many people but also stigmatised survivors.

Central America: water conservation alert

The non-governmental Latin American Water Tribunal issued a dramatic warning about future water shortages in the region. The amount of available water per capita in Central America has dropped by 60% since 1950 and is expected to be only 21% of the 1950 figure by 2050.

Jamaica: water commission loses US$ 11.4 million due to fraud

Jamaica’s National Water Commission (NWC) has lost over US$ 11.4 million in revenue in 2009 due to fraud and theft, a local newsaper reported.

Peru: president Garcia sets aside US$ 7.4 million for rural water and sanitation

Peru’s President Alan García has signed a supreme decree that authorises the transfer of US$ 7.4 million for 139 municipalities to carry out 174 potable water and sanitation projects.

Relief International and EnterpriseWorks/VITA merge

Relief International (RI), a relief and development organisation based in California has joined forces with EnterpriseWorks/VITA (EWV), a Washington, D.C-based non-profit that combats global poverty through sustainable, enterprise-oriented solutions.

Jessica Biel: actress joins celebrity climb to Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for water

Actresses Jessica Biel and Isabel Lucas are joining up with rapper Lupe Fiasco to climb Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise awareness for clean water.

Nestlé: family blogger event fallout

“Hoping to convince 20 mommybloggers to say nice things about their products, Nestlé have inadvertently opened the floodgates for hundreds of bloggers and thousands of readers to learn more about the company’s less savoury practices”, says blogger Linda Lowen.

Senior Programme Officer for the East African Region, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Uganda

To work on a wide variety of IRC projects and initiatives, in particular on the Triple-S (Sustainable Services at Scale) project, which is being implemented in Ghana and Uganda. The other East African projects cover presently the full WASH spectrum.

Apply before Saturday 31 October 2009

Project Officer for the West African Region (Francophone and Anglophone), IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre,The Netherlands

To help manage IRC projects in the West African region and to work with partners to initiate and facilitate change across WASH and IWRM related sectors.

Apply before Saturday 31 October 2009

Senior Fundraising Coordinator, Water Integrity Network, Germany

Fundraising for country based WI action programmes and projects

Apply before Friday 30 October 2009

Urban Rainwater Harvesting

New Delhi, India, 03-07 November 2009

The Anil Agarwal Green Centre in New Delhi offers an advanced course for working professionals.

Decentralised Water Supply and Sanitation

Delft, The Netherlands, 05-23 July 2010

This 3-week course provides theoretical background and practical expertise in the field of low-cost decentralised water supply and sanitation alternatives specifically suitable for the small towns, peri-urban areas and urban slums, small island communities, tourist resorts etc.

Health impact: water, sanitation and hygiene interventions to combat childhood diarrhoea

The notion that water quality treatment in the household and hygiene interventions are necessarily the most efficacious and sustainable interventions for promoting reduction of diarrhoea is challenged by the results of a synthetic review of impact evaluations examining effectiveness of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in reducing childhood diarrhoea.

Hygiene promotion: the role of media exposure, poverty and infrastructure on handwashing in Kenya

Structural constraints can limit hygiene practices in the very disadvantaged sections of a population, thus jeopardizing the potential success of hygiene promotion campaigns in those most at risk of disease.

Small water enterprises: data gaps in evidence-based research in developing countries

A review of the current literature on small water enterprises (SWEs) found that there were no rigorous, evidence-based, peer-reviewed scientific studies proving their effectiveness in providing potable water.

Water safety plans: assuring drinking water quality in rural South Africa

There has been exponential growth of small treatment plants situated in rural areas with limited technical support. Water safety plans help determine whether the drinking water supply chain as a whole can deliver water of a quality that meets health-based targets.

Rainwater harvesting: increasing food security in South Africa

It is estimated that 19 million people in South Africa are rural survivalists with traditional agrarian lifestyles. At least 15 million individuals of these are living below the poverty level. In contrast farming contributes only 10% of material income for rural livelihoods.