Source Weekly 2010, 06
Published - 03 Sep 10
International
Right to water and sanitation: UN General Assembly passes landmark resolution
After more than 15 years of contentious debate on the issue, the United Nations General Assembly has passed a landmark resolution declaring "the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights".
World Bank: policy review calls for a more integrated approach to water management
Following a mid-cycle review of its 2003 water strategy, the World Bank says it is moving from stand-alone water supply projects to those that link water use to resource management. It also promises to employ “the full extent of its instruments” to help address the backlog in reaching the sanitation Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Human rights: obligations related to private and other non-State service provision in water and sanitation
The human rights framework does not express a preference for public or private models for the provision of water and sanitation services, as long as the human rights to water and sanitation are guaranteed. This is one of the main conclusions of the latest report of the UN Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Africa South of Sahara
Botswana, Gabarone: acquiring a taste for recycled water
According to Matida Mmipi, Public Relations Manager of Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), residents of greater Gaborone could be drinking reclaimed water soon.
Uganda: primary schools first priority WASH United - Uganda initiative
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) United - Uganda initiative to increase latrine coverage and empower the local people to demand easy access to safe water started in primary schools as a first priority.
West Africa: surge in cholera cases confirmed by WHO
Cholera is surging again in parts of the world, a World Health Organization expert said, pointing to epidemics in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Middle East and North Africa
Palestine: UN Human Rights Committee says Israel denies access to water
For the first time ever, the Human Rights Committee has addressed denial of access to water and sanitation as violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), says the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE).
Syria: water well upgrades offer solution for drought-hit northeast
An innovative approach to water resource management in Syria is estimated to be helping 18,000 people affected by a three-year long drought.
Asia & Pacific
India, Himachal Pradesh: 5000 youths to be recruited to maintain water schemes
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of India’s Himachal Pradesh state [pop. 6 million] announced on 13 August 2010 that the state government would be considering recruitment of local water guards on a part-time basis to manage the drinking water supply schemes in different parts of the state. He said the recruitment would generate employment to about 5,000 rural youths besides ensuring regular supply of water to the people and also maintenance of the schemes
India, Andhra Pradesh: groundwater regulation under consideration
Stopping private investments in borewell digging and institutionalising community level participatory groundwater monitoring systems are two suggested measures to halt unsustainable groundwater use in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The Special Commissioner for Rural Development proposes these measures in “Managing Groundwater with Sustainability and Equity” a draft discussion note.
Indonesia, Jakarta: struggling to provide clean water to all
The city of Jakarta, with a population of nine million people, is struggling to provide clean water to all its residents. In some poor neighbourhoods international organisations like Mercy Corps and its Communal Master Meter project (small community-managed piped water system), are trying to help. However, their impact is minimal because the infrastructure problems are so complex and expensive to fix.
Nepal, Chitwan: a toilet revolution
Take a Pee & Get One Rupee. If you have travelled on the Prithvi Highway last year, you must have noticed this seemingly-ridiculous slogan in Darechowk, near Kurintar. Of course, if you have used public toilets before, then you may be more used to paying a rupee to urinate. Instead, members of The Sewa Nepal, a local NGO, pay anyone a rupee if he or she uses their toilet. And no, they are not joking.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Central America: SWASH+ program expands to 150 more schools
With new funds from the Inter-American Development Bank and The Coca-Cola Foundation, the SWASH+ program will provide safe drinking water, restroom facilities, and improved hygiene education to over 15,000 more students at 150 schools in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
Costa Rica: Congress reaches broad consensus on water bill
Six of the seven political factions in Costa Rica’s congress have reached a consensus on a new water bill, which aims to protect the country’s water resources and make access to potable water a constitutionally protected right.
Peru: baseline data to guide handwashing intervention
A new WSP study found that only half of caregivers in 3,526 households in rural Peru wash hands with soap at times of fecal contact, and that 10 per cent of children under five presented diarrhoea symptoms in the previous 48 hours – although on average 55 per cent of caregivers did not seek medical advice.
Names
UK: Gordon Brown to walk for WaterAid
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will take part in a charity walk to raise funds for WaterAid. Mr Brown and his wife Sarah are supporting WaterAid’s Coast Along initiative on 11 September 2010 to raise money for WASH projects in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region.
Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy: water expert leads School of Global Sustainability at University of South Florida
Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy, scientific director of SWITCH (Sustainable Water Management Improves Tomorrow’s Cities Health) project, in which the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre participates, has been selected as the Director of the new School of Global Sustainability at the University of South Florida (USF).
India: Minister Joshi to head National Drinking Water and Sanitation Council
The Indian Government has set up a high-level National Drinking Water and Sanitation Council, headed by Rural Development Minister C.P. Joshi, to bring inter-sectoral convergence and coordination between the central government and the states.
African Water Facility: Dr. Akissa Bahri new coordinator
Tunisian scientist Dr. Akissa Bahri has been named Coordinator of the African Water Facility at the African Development Bank (AWF/ADB) as of 14 June 2010.
Coca-Cola: Kerala tribunal seeking compensation for Plachida water problems
The Kerala state cabinet has on 30 June 2010 set up a Plachimada Claims Tribunal to realise compensation of Rs 216.26 crore (US$ 46.2 million) from Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Company for the ecological damages it caused Plachimada village in Palakkad district of Kerala.
Vacancies
Country Director, Pure Water for the World, Haiti
Pure Water for the World (PWW) is seeking a Country Director to lead its operations in Haiti with special emphasis on implementation of projects, development of partnerships, and fund development
Apply before Tuesday 31 August 2010
Environmental Health Advisor, Concern, Ireland or UK
Concern Worldwide, an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation, is seeking an Environmental Health Advisor for the Health Support Unit that will be based in either Dublin, Ireland, or London, England.
Apply before Sunday 12 September 2010
Assistant Coordinator Thematic Platform Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Water Integrity Network (WIN), Germany
The WIN Secretariat is looking for an assistant coordinator who will support the process of the upcoming evaluation, the development of a thematic platform about corruption, water and climate change and assist in the development plan, amongst other things.
Apply before Wednesday 15 September 2010
Post Doctoral Fellow Microeconomics of Sanitation and Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture, IWMI, Ghana
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) seeks the right person to analyse problems relating to human waste, as used in agriculture, then form policy recommendations to enhance livelihoods in the rural/urban interface.
Apply before Thursday 30 September 2010
Senior Researcher and Programme Coordinator, Knowledge and Capacity Development in the Water Sector, UNESCO-IHE, The Netherlands
The UNESCO-IHE Department of Hydroinformatics and Knowledge Management (HIKM) is looking for a Senior Researcher and Programme Coordinator, Knowledge and Capacity Development in the Water Sector.
Apply before Wednesday 15 September 2010
Research
Pro-poor water services: investment scenarios for Kampala, Uganda
Water service to the urban poor presents challenges to political leaders, regulators and managers. A new study identifies technology mixes of yard taps, public water points (with and without pre-paid meters) to meet alternative constraints, and reflecting populations served and investment requirements.
Bridging the gap: high science in low-tech emergency settings
A new project is trying to find out why there is so little progress in bringing the benefits of new innovations in water supply and sanitation technologies to operations in humanitarian emergencies.
Lessons Learned
Indonesia: the multi-subsector approach less effective for urban services assistance
The multi-subsector approach (vis-à-vis other approaches) should not be adopted in urban projects unless there is adequate local capacity, a set of clear financial procedures, a local champion for the project, and a single coordinating authority. This is one of the recommendations from a 2010 evaluation by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) of its urban services projects in Indonesia.
Bangladesh: lessons from recent sanitation initiatives
Strong national policy support for innovative action can dramatically transform government, partner, and community actions into a participatory social movement, is one of the key lessons from a recent evaluation of the successes of Bangladesh’s Total Sanitation Campaign. This campaign led to more than 90 million people in Bangladesh gaining access to, and using, latrines in a five-year period.
Technology Update
Mobile technology: cell phones, Google Apps help bring basic sanitation and more transparency in Kenya
Nuru International, a US-based NGO is using some free Google platforms and Nokia phones to increase sanitation in Kuria, Kenya.
Finance
Grants: sanitation challenge offers seed funding for innovative technologies
Submit an original and innovative idea in 2-page proposal for a decentralised, non-waterborne sanitation technology and get a chance to win US$ 100,000 to develop the idea further.
Apply before Tuesday 02 November 2010
Capacity development grants: EU Water Facility has €40 million for water partnership projects
The ACP-EU Water Facility has launched a €40 million call for Partnerships for Capacity Development in the ACP Water & Sanitation Sector. These are not-for-profit partnerships intended to lead to better water and sanitation governance and management, and sustainable development and maintenance of infrastructure.
Apply before Wednesday 06 October 2010
New Publications
Peri-urban water and sanitation services : policy, planning and method
Collection of papers initially developed to support a distance-learning course at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands.
Water policy entrepreneurs : a research companion to water transitions around the globe
This volume focuses on the role of policy entrepreneurs in revolutionizing water management worldwide.
Urban catastrophes : the WatSan dimension
This paper is about the future of water and sanitation stress (Wat/San) in urban slums and how such stress is likely to exacerbate other humanitarian crises over time.
Step by step : achieving sustainable sanitation : lessons from civil society experiences
This report highlights the outcomes of research and discussions on the experiences of civil society organisations involved in implementing sustainable sanitation campaigns in India
WASH technology information packages : for UNICEF WASH programme and supply personnel
The WASH technology information packages (TIPs) are a practical set of guidelines and selection tools for WASH programme and supply staff.
New on the Net
This Wormy World: Global Atlas of Helminth Infections
This web site is an open-access information resource on the distribution of soil-transmitted helminths (roundworm, whipworm and hookworm) and schistosomiasis.
Conferences & Events
Water and Poverty Alleviation: a Dialogue for Action
Durban, South Africa, 11-13 October 2010
This dialogue will present the experiences of the Danida supported DWA-COGTA-SALGA Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) programme initiated in 2000 in three water management areas of South Africa.
Water Crisis and Choices: ADB and Partners Conference 2010
Manila, Philippines, 11-15 October 2010
This conference brings together over 40 ADB partner organisations, 80 panellists and 500 water decision makers to raise awareness of water issues and solutions in the Asia and Pacific region. ADB will present its Water Operational Framework 2011-2020.
Water and Health: Where Science Meets Policy
Chapel Hill, NC, USA, 23-26 October 2010
The conference will deal with critical concerns relating to drinking water sanitation, hygiene and water resources with a strong public health emphasis, relevant to both the developing and developed worlds. Included is a presentation and discussion on the UN-Water Global Annual Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) .
International Code Council World Toilet Summit
Philadelphia, PA, USA, 30 October – 3 November 2010
The 10th World Toilet Summit (WTS) will focus on the innovative designs, trends, and sustainable, market-based sanitation solutions and the huge profits businesses can realize while at the same time helping to eradicate the global sanitation crisis.
IWRM Karlsruhe 2010
Karlsruhe, Germany, 24-25 November 2010
At the conference, there will be 60 presentations from international water resources management (IWRM) specialists from a total of 18 different countries, including Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, India, Israel, Jordan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Palestine, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Viet Nam.
