April 22, 2015 
Highlights

WASH Advocacy Workshop in Zanzibar

 

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) professionals from Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia gathered in Zanzibar for three and a half days of WASH advocacy capacity building.  The WASH Advocacy Strategy Workshop, hosted by ACRA-CCSFundaci?n Avina,and WASH Advocates, aimed to catalyze change by strengthening political will for safe, affordable, and sustainable access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. It focused on the advocacy planning process and capacity building for local civil society organizations from East and Southern Africa. Two amazing trainers from PATH facilitated the workshop which covered the key steps to creating a policy advocacy strategy for WASH including identifying policy goals, effective ways to target decision-makers and influencers, plans to measure success, etc. Each participant left with a draft strategy that could be used to influence policies, laws, regulations, and budgets for WASH in their respective countries and communities. The biggest advocacy challenge facing most organizations working on WASH sector programs is staff capacity and a strong advocacy plan. 

USAID Water and Development Strategy Webinar Series


Please join USAID's Water Office for a series of webinars to better understand their Water and Development Strategy. The webinar series will include sessions on Sanitation, WASH and Nutrition, Sustainability of WASH Services, Drinking Water Quality, and Agricultural Water Management. The first webinar on April 28 will focus on Sanitation, with presentations by USAID's Katy Sill and Jesse Shapiro to discuss the impacts of sanitation, critical challenges to improving sanitation, the sanitation ladder and service chain, and programmatic interventions to improve sanitation. For more information on the series and information on how to register, click here.

Proposed Indicators for Monitoring SDG Targets on WASH

 

The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme has developed a list of proposed indicators for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals targets on WASH. While these proposed indicators build directly on the indicators used to monitor the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they also address the unfinished business of the MDGs by measuring sustainability of services, elimination of inequalities, and hygiene, in and beyond the household. In addition to monitoring access, the proposed indicators will report on WASH service levels including quality, availability, acceptability, and affordability. They also include indicators on hand washing and menstrual hygiene management, which were not previously monitored.

PPPHW Launches Hygiene Advocacy Toolkit for Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda


The toolkit, found here, provides background, facts, and tools necessary to help WASH advocacy efforts.  Developed by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing in consultation with the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme's Communications and Advocacy Working Group, the toolkit covers background on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the role of hygiene in the SDGs, the evidence for hygiene, and tools such as sample sign-on letters, advocacy opportunities, and more!

7th World Water Forum

 

Every three years, the World Water Forum mobilizes creativity, innovation, and know-how around water. Serving as a stepping-stone towards global collaboration on water challenges, the Forum is a unique multi-stakeholder platform where the water community and the policy and decision makers from all regions of the world can work together to find joint solutions. It is the largest international event which seeks to advance the cause of water.  The  World Water forum was held April 12 - 17, in Daegu & Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea.  Learn more about the event here
Upcoming Events

State Department's Annual 6K Walk for Water


The U.S. Department of State will be hosting their annual 6k Walk for Water on April 23, 2015, as part of the Department's 2015 Earth Day celebrations.  The Embassy of Sweden will host a water break at the halfway point, where walkers will hear from experts from the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and WASH Advocates about water issues from around the world. New this year, the walk will be a featured event in the Department's annual Take Your Child to Work Day celebrations.  Register for the walk
here.

Reports

World Vision and KPMG: Survey of the cumulative impact of water, sanitation and hygiene

 

On World Water Day, World Vision, and KPMG released a new report on the impact of WASH implementers and their efforts to address the global water and sanitation crisis.  The results showed that organizations involved in the survey reached nearly 7 million people with clean water.  Survey respondents also reported a total of $187 million in investments across WASH activities in 2014 as well as a 30% growth in people reached between 2013 and 2014.  The full report can be accessed here

WASH and Health Care Facilities

 

The first multi-country review of WASH services in health care facilities found that 38% lack access to even rudimentary levels of water, 19% lack sanitation and 35% do not have water and soap for handwashing.  When a higher level of service is factored in, the situation deteriorates significantly.  A summary of the key findings can be found here, and the full report can be accessed here

Healthy Start: The First Month of Life

 

On World Water Day, WaterAid released Healthy Start: the first month of life to mark the launch of their new four-year child health campaign. Tragically for one in five babies who die in their first month in the developing world, just being washed in clean water and cared for in a clean environment by people who had washed their hands could have prevented their untimely deaths.  This report demonstrates the costs to developing countries and the world of failing to invest in robust health systems which both ensure that water, sanitation, and hygiene are available in health centers and incorporate them as part of public health investments to prevent illness and disease.

Economic Assessment of Sanitation Interventions in Southeast Asia

 

Globally, the sanitation MDG target is off track. Many countries in Southeast Asia will not reach the target by 2015, even though some have made substantial progress. Many countries have recently revised their sanitation strategies in order to rapidly scale up sanitation and aim for universal access by 2030. According to a January 2015 study from the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) of the World Bank, sanitation has significant economic and social returns in the six countries studied (Cambodia, Yunnan province of China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Vietnam) and benefits in both urban and rural settings exceed costs in almost all cases. The high socioeconomic returns on sanitation investment indicate that it should be promoted as a central development priority. 

No Ceilings: The Full Participation Report Highlights WASH

 

The Clinton Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently released the first No Ceilings: The Full Participation Report. The report examines the evidence on the gains and gaps in progress for women and girls over the last 20 years. The report states, to unlock their potential, the essential needs of women and girls must be met, including access to WASH. While significant gains have been made in WASH worldwide, women and girls are disproportionately affected by a lack of access. The report emphasizes that women and girls are also a part of the solution to the global WASH crisis. For example, in West Bengal, public investments in drinking water increased when 

women took office, as they were more likely to raise concerns about WASH issues.

Water in the World We Want: Catalysing National Water-Related Sustainable Development

 

UNU-INWEH and UNOSD, together with partners at the Global Water Partnership and McMaster University, have undertaken an analytical exercise to identify what implementation to achieve proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will look like at the country level. This initiative directly builds upon a global assessment of the role of water in sustainable development that was concluded in 2013. Through a series of country case studies, expert opinion, and evidence synthesis, the report explores the critical role that water plays (including sanitation and wastewater management) in sustainable development; current disconnects between some national development plans and the proposed SDGs; opportunities for achieving sustainable development through careful water management; and, implementation opportunities. The report can be found here

Conferences

2015 Water and Health Conference: Where Science Meets Policy - Call for Abstracts

 

The Water Institute at UNC  is soliciting abstracts for posters and oral presentations for the 2015 Water and Health Conference to be held at Chapel Hill, North Carolina on October 26-30, 2015. Papers related to the conference themes relating water and health are invited. The official announcement, registration forms, and more information can be viewed here .  
Due by April 24, 2015

They are also accepting proposals for side events to be held during the Conference, including meetings, workshops, networking sessions, training courses and open forums. Side events are an opportunity for individuals or groups to bring together a range of stakeholders to focus on a specific area of interest.  To submit a proposal, submit the online form  by April 24.
World Water Congress XV

International Water Resources Association (IWRA)

 

The congress will explore Global Water as a resource for economic, social and environmental development.  Opportunities, challenges, and constraints for water management and its role in development will be discussed.  The conference will be held in Edinburgh, Scottland from May 25 - 29.  The official announcement, registration forms, and more information can be found here

XIII International Conference on Water, Sanitation, Food Security and Waste Management


The XIII International Conference on Water, Sanitation, Food Security and Waste Management is the premier interdisciplinary forum for the presentation of new advances and research results in the fields of Water, Sanitation, Food Security and Waste Management. The conference will take place from May 11-12 in Montreal, Canada, and bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and scholars from around the world. The official announcement, registration forms, and more information can be viewed here

AfricaSan

 

AfricaSan is one of AMCOW's path-breaker initiatives to promote political prioritization of sanitation and hygiene.  The theme of this year's AfricaSan conference is "Making Sanitation for All a Reality in Africa."  The conference is scheduled to be held in Dakar, Senegal from May 25 - 27, 2015.  The official announcement, registration forms, and more information can be found here

WASRAG Water Summit


WASH is one of the six areas of focus for Rotary International, The Rotary Foundation, and Rotary Clubs around the world. Rotarians with a particular interest in WASH have come together through WASRAG - the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group - to share experiences, learn, and provide program support to clubs, districts, and their partners. Each year WASRAG sponsors a one-day Summit, held immediately before the Rotary International Convention that focuses on important aspects of WASH. The 2015 Summit theme is WASH in Schools, and will be held on June 4, 2015 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Registration information can be found here.

31st Aguasan Workshop Disaster Risk Reduction in WASH: Towards Resilience and Adaptive Management in the Water Sector

 

Aguasan is hosting a workshop for water professionals, DRR specialists, and wider development practitioners. This event will take place from June 22 - June 26, 2015 in Spiez, Switzerland. The official announcement, registration forms, and more information can be viewed here.

Jobs

The Water Institute at UNC 

Director for Research


The Water Institute at UNC is recruiting an Open Rank Research Professor (at any academic rank, including assistant, associate or full professor) to serve as Director for Research. The successful applicant will work with the Director of the Institute Dr. Jamie Bartram, Associate Directors Dr. Pete Kolsky, Marissa Streyle, and other staff to oversee implementation of the overall research effort of the Institute and develop and maintain strong and effective partnerships with collaborators. 
The successful applicant will conduct and guide research in their area of expertise. They will also teach and mentor graduate and/or undergraduate students and guide post-doctoral researchers in methods and applications within their domain(s) of expertise. They will lead and manage the identification, development, and submission of proposals aligned with the Institute's focus areas. In cooperation with the Director and Associate Directors of the Water Institute, they will support the implementation and progressive refinement of the Institute's strategic plan. For more information, please see the UNC Human Resources website.


 
Knowledge Management Associate


The Knowledge Management Associate will provide support to a project on community-led total sanitation (CLTS) with Plan International and a project on household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) with the World Health Organization and the United Nations' Children's Fund. The Associate will gather, organize, and analyze relevant technical information and research findings and then propose and develop formats for sharing knowledge in an appropriate and accessible way for diverse audiences. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment or equivalent combination of training and experience; preferred candidates will have a graduate degree. For more information, please see the UNC Human Resources website.

 

Catholic Relief Services

 

Shelter & Settlements Program Manager, Philippines

 

The Program Manger will be responsible for the overall implementation of the Anibong Shelter & Settlement Program, including adherence to donor guidelines, good stewardship of resources, achievement of program outcomes, and the direct management of program staff.  For more information and to learn how to apply, please click here.


Emergency Shelter/WASH Program Manager, DRC 


The Emergency Shelter and WASH PM will spend 50% of his/her time leading the implementation of CRS' Emergency Shelter and WASH project in Katanga. The other 50% of his/her time will be spent serving as the co-facilitator for the National Non-Food Items (NFI) and Shelter Cluster, under the supervision of the UNICEF National NFI & Shelter Cluster Lead.  For more information and to apply, please click here.


Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), Loughborough University, UK

 

Lecturer


An exciting opportunity exists for a Lecturer to join the Loughborough University team. They are seeking an engineer with a PhD related to international WASH or emergency relief and disaster preparedness, who has relevant working experience in low- and middle-income countries. Highly motivated candidates should possess excellent analytical and research skills, strong communication and reporting skills, and be willing to work in challenging environments. Click
here to find out more.

 

Engility (International Resources Group)

 

Senior Specialist, Water and Environment (WASH focus)

 

International Resources Group seeks an experienced Senior Specialist for their Water and Environment Team who will focus on WASH, nutrition, and behavior change communication activities to be based in Alexandria, VA. The Senior Specialist for Water and Environment ensures supervision and technical services to on-going contracts and support to capturing new business in existing and adjacent markets. The candidate should have strong experience delivering water and environment sector programs in developing countries. For more information about the position's requirements and application process, please click here.

 

Medair

 

WASH Adviser

 

Medair is seeking a WASH advisor to be stationed in Jacmel, Haiti. The advisor will provide technical advice and support to management and project staff, deliver training, and ensure quality programming. They will also be responsible for coordinating and networking with government authorities, clusters, and other NGOs to champion best practice.   For more information about the position's requirements and application process, please click here.

 

WASH Project Manager

 

Medair is seeking a WASH project manager to work in Maroantsetra, Madagascar, to plan, develop, monitor, and evaluate assigned WASH project(s). This involves assessing WASH needs, designing projects, writing proposals, and effectively managing and reporting on projects in line with the objectives, timeframe, and budget. For more information about the position's requirements and application process, please click here.

 

GOAL

 

WASH Coordinator

 

GOAL seeks a WASH Coordinator to be located in Malawi. The WASH Coordinator will manage GOAL Malawi's WASH programs ensuring quality and compliance with donor, GOAL, and national policies and achievement of results. The coordinator will also manage GOAL's long-term construction targets and redesign the WASH strategy and oversee its implementation. For more information about the position and the application process, please click here.

WASH in the News

4/21/15 A Severe Lack of Clean Water Is Killing Indigenous Children in Colombia


According to National Institute of Health director Fernando de la Hoz, "More people die of drought and dirty water in Colombia than from the armed conflict. And the risk of dying from illnesses related to water is four or five times higher in La Guajira than anywhere else in the country." La Guajira's child mortality rate has reached levels comparable to Rwanda, and not far behind Ethiopia. While the well-publicized crisis has drawn a steady flow of aid and investment to the region over the past decade-including a $90 million World Bank project and a $270 million dam-there is still no water fit for human consumption in La Guajira.A close look at La Guajira's water projects suggests that a lack of public oversight has played a large role in the crisis, along with government policies favoring business interests over human rights. (Vice)


4/20/15 Pee-power toilet to light up disaster zones


A toilet that uses urine to generate electricity will soon light up dark corners of refugee camps after being tested by students in the UK. The pioneering toilet, the result of collaboration between global aid agency Oxfam and the University of the West of England in Bristol, uses live microbes which feed on urine and convert it into power. "By lighting bits of the camp using this technology we can create a safe environment so that women can go out, use the toilets at night, do things at night in a safer environment," said Andy Bastable, head of water and sanitation at Oxfam. (Reuters)

 

04/19/2015  
$300 Million From African Development Bank to Support Post-Ebola Recovery

African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka announced $300 million to support the national Post-Ebola Recovery program of Ebola-affected countries during the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington. AfDB's funding will provide support to Governments of Ebola-affected countries by investing in health, education, water and sanitation, agriculture and financial sectors. (e-Turbo News)

 

04/18/2015  India is Ground Zero for the Global Sanitation Crisis


Almost half of the 1.2 billion people in India have no access to a toilet at home. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that every home in the country would have a toilet by 2019, a need is being felt to develop behavioral changes towards sanitation alongside infrastructure. John Kluge, co-founder and chief disruption officer of Toilet Hackers, who was in New Delhi for a convening Clean India: Stimulating Behavior Change and Usage convention, speaks to Ranjita Ganesan about his suggestions on how the problem should be approached. (Business-Standard)


Yesterday, K-water hosted the 4th Asian Water High Level Round Table (AWHoT) at the Hotel Hyundai in Gyeongju. During the event, 29 representatives from countries all over Asia discussed local and regional water problems and exchanged opinions for possible solutions to different case studies. Members at the round table discussed numerous topics. In the second meeting last October, water supply and sanitation, water resources infrastructure and financing, and the relationship between water and energy were all prioritized. Members continued to discuss these topics in the most recent meeting. (Korea JoongAng Daily)


L?o Heller, UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to water and sanitation, said, "What is needed is a better application of resources - by identifying and targeting those who still do not have access; by practicing effective mechanisms for affordability; by integrating the principle of equality and non-discrimination in policies and programs and by putting in place the necessary physical and regulatory frameworks to monitor who are benefiting from interventions and who are being left behind." Heller said, "No one should be left without access to water and sanitation under the new post-2015 development framework." (Environmental News Service)


The world has declared that access to clean drinking water is a human right. The problem is, urbanization, poor practices in agriculture, deforestation and pollution are contributing to the water shortage problem. Sanitation and water are crucial parts of a world health model. Investment in this infrastructure and also "water education" is a necessity for the rest of the world. For people who think we should focus on "America first," we need to be reminded of one word, "Ebola." Our world is now a very small place, and because of air travel most of the world is quickly accessible. (Talk Radio News)


A new report on water insecurity says floods and drought amid climate change and a lack of investment in reliable water supplies is weighing on the global economy by tens of billions of dollars a year.  According to the report from the University of Oxford published at the start of the World Water Forum in Korea, South Asia has the largest concentration of water-related risks. East and Southeast Asia face rapidly increasing flood threats while the United States has the greatest exposure to flood risk. (Bloomberg)

 

4/13/15  Clean Water Still High Priority in Vanuatu, says Oxfam


One month after Cyclone Pam stormed through the small island nation of Vanuatu, water remains scarce, with small islands dependent on rainwater for the most in need, Oxfam says. "Cyclone Pam blew water tanks for kilometers in some areas and contaminated water sources, including wells," Oxfam said in a press release. The international aid agency said it had been trucking-in clean water to thousands of people to prevent the spread of disease. Efforts are now turning to developing more sustainable solutions. (Jakarta Post)
 

4/9/15 U.N. calls for $111 million for crucial aid for North Korea


Funding for U.N. agencies in North Korea fell from $300 million in 2004 to less than $50 million in 2014 and the country urgently needs money for food and agriculture, health and nutrition, and water and sanitation programs, the world body said. Many health facilities do not have functioning water systems and seven million people need access to clean water and proper sanitation to prevent malnutrition and reduce cases of diarrhea and other diseases, the United Nations said. Children in rural areas and those in institutions such as nurseries, kindergartens, and orphanages have little access to water and sanitation. (Reuters)


Bill Gates recently testified that one of his biggest global fears is a massive pandemic, the likes of which we've not seen...a pandemic bigger than the influenza of 1918-1919 that killed somewhere between 20 and 40 million people, more people than World War I.  This is why we can't forget that building up health infrastructures around the world is also in America's best interest. It's about beds and buildings and a whole lot more. Some 50 diseases and illnesses that cripple, deform, blind and kill millions of adults and children each year are caused by a lack of access to safe water and sanitation. (The Hill Opinion)


A recent WHO survey of health facilities in 64 low and middle-income countries found that more than one-third do not have an improved water source -- one that protects water from contamination, especially fecal contamination -- or soap for hand washing and other hygiene needs.  Of those that do have a water source, the majority don't have water that is truly safe to drink, a reliable supply or even water on the premises themselves.  In fact, the WHO survey counted a facility as having access even if the water source was 500 meters away. That's the equivalent of five American football fields, a distance too great for most people to carry a 40 pound jerry can of water; it's painful to imagine a woman in labor doing so, and yet many have no other option. (The Huffington Post)


In a world preoccupied with the plight of starving children, the terrible truth is that more children are killed by their food than by the lack of it. Microbes, viruses, parasites, fecal matter and chemicals are a common part of the daily diet of millions of children across the developing world, and they might kill more than 1,100 children under five each day. Every year 400,000 children die from consuming contaminated food and water.  Millions more suffer from repeated bouts of diarrhea which leaves them malnourished and stunts their growth and cognitive development.  Half of all deaths caused by malnutrition are linked to repeated diarrhea, and not a lack of food. (Reuters)


WaterAid has launched its new four-year "Healthy Start" campaign showing the devastating impact that a lack of safe water and sanitation has on the health of children in developing countries. The goal for "Healthy Start" is that decision leaders and policy makers ensure that survival rates and health outcomes are improved for children by integrating water, sanitation and hygiene within their policies, activities and rhetoric. (All Africa)


Yemen's conflict is driving an already impoverished country towards humanitarian disaster, displacing tens of thousands of families and exposing many more to the threat of disease and malnutrition, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF said on Monday. The huge displacement of people, with families fleeing the worst-hit cities, also means deteriorating hygiene and sanitation conditions and possible spread of disease. (Reuters)


Tuesday, April 7 is World Health Day, a day originally created to recognize the founding of the World Health Organization. Today, organizations like Food for the Hungry (FH) celebrate World Health Day by recognizing the successes of global health programs like the establishment of defecation-free zones in Ethiopia and Kenya. FH helps communities with water programs that protect their villages by first educating them about the causes of diarrhea and sickness and helping the village build both a latrine and a handwashing station to cut down on disease transmission. (Outbreak News Today)


Tetra Tech, Inc. announced today it has been awarded a $1 billion multiple-award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID) to support the implementation of USAID's Water and Development Strategy. Under the five-year Water and Development IDIQ, Tetra Tech will support USAID in responding to increasing pressures on limited water resources from climate change, population growth, and energy demands, by providing engineering and consulting services to improve access to clean water and sanitation, and strengthen global food security through the sustainable management of water in agriculture. (Business Wire)


In the past week, sustainable development, the environment and technology have been at the forefront of domestic and international attention. Ambassadors from around the world joined business owners and policymakers at the UN for World Water Day while the Supreme Court heard arguments on behalf of states and associations versus the EPA. Various organizations are attempting to address worldwide water shortage such as desalination, sterilization of liquid waste, or harnessing energy from waves to affordably purify water.  Water scarcity can be used as a catalyst to accelerate innovation .The goals of all these activities are to improve the health of people around the world through better and viable nutrition, access to improved and sufficient water sources, and increased peace. (Forbes)

 

3/29/15  More Than 47,000 to Gain Access to Improved Water

 

About 47,507 people in selected rural and peri-urban communities in three countries - Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger - have gained access to improved drinking water under the USAID West Africa-Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WA-WASH) Program. The five-year program, being implemented at a cost of US $20 million to increase sustainable access to safe water, has also delivered sanitation facilities to an additional 18,566 people. (All Africa)

 

3/27/15  Mozambique: Icelandic Aid for Water, Sanitation in Zambezia

 

The Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) on Thursday announced a grant of $3.5 million which will be used to expand access to clean drinking water and decent sanitation in rural areas of the central Mozambican province of Zambezia. The funding is intended to establish adequate sanitation for 300,000 people living in five districts, improve access to drinking water for 48,000 people and ensure that 40 schools, catering for 14,000 pupils, have access to water and improved sanitation. (All Africa)

 

3/24/15  Water.org, Bank of America Partner to Provide Clean, Safe Water to Southern India

 

Bank of America has announced a $1-million grant to Water.org, a global organization providing innovative, community-led and market-based water solutions, in an effort to empower 100,000 people in southern India to obtain safe water and sanitation solutions, accelerating positive change in their homes and communities. This will be achieved through Water.org's WaterCredit program, which enables people in need to access small loans for water connections and toilets. (Water World)

 

3/23/15  Ethiopia Meets MDG Target for Drinking Water, Says Government

 

The Government of Ethiopia announced a remarkable achievement in the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector as it met Target 10 of the MDG 7c for access to drinking water supply. The2015 assessment report by the UNICEF/WHO Global Joint Monitoring Programme for Water and Sanitation (JMP) indicates that Ethiopia has met the target of 57% of the population using safe drinking water and has attained the target by halving the number of people without access to safe water since 1990. (New Business Ethiopia)

 

3/22/15  Manipuri Activist Wins Award

 

Manipuri activist Urmila Chanam's global campaign, 'Breaking the Silence,' was adjudged the most powerful campaign in the country and won the National Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity. Using technology, innovation, and social media to question traditional norms that are harmful for girls and women worldwide, 'Breaking the Silence' stormed the National level awards for having reached close to 6,000 adolescent girls and 80 school teachers in 2014 alone with training on menstrual hygiene, environment friendly disposal of used sanitary material, and distribution of sanitary pads for free. (E-Pao)

 

3/21/15  Michelle Obama Urges Cambodian Girls to Stay In School

 

United States first lady Michelle Obama urged Cambodian students to stay in school and take advantage of their education to demand greater freedoms and more equality in their Southeast Asian country.  Mrs. Obama was on a five-day trip to Asia to promote the U.S.-led education initiative "Let Girls Learn," which she and the president announced earlier this month. The community-based program, to be run by the Peace Corps, is meant to help get 62 million girls around the developing world back into classrooms.  Mrs. Obama spoke to students at a high school filled with dirt paths and red brick buildings that unlike many schools in rural Cambodia has running water. (Nation News)

 

3/21/15  Water Man of India, Rajendra Singh, wins the "Nobel Prize for water  

 

An award known as "the Nobel Prize for water" has been given to an Indian campaigner who has brought water to 1,000 villages.  Mr. Singh, known as the Water Man of India, uses a modern version of the ancient Indian technique of rainwater harvesting. It involves building low-level banks of earth to hold back the flow of water in the wet season and allow water to seep into the ground for future use. (BBC)

 

3/20/15  'Yolanda Rehab Efforts Next to Focus on Sustainability'

 

The Catholic Church's rehabilitation program for the families affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda will focus on interventions to sustaining resilient communities as it enters the next phase on April, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippine's social arm said on Friday. Among the proposed interventions is the formation and organization of various groups within the community that would be in-charge of the maintenance and repair of the shelters, and water and sanitation facilities. As of February, NASSA-Caritas Philippines has already constructed 2,241 disaster resilient shelters, repaired 264 houses, and built 3,540 various water and sanitation facilities. (Philstar Nation)

 

3/18/15  Rwanda: Over 30,000 Rwandans to Benefit from New Water System

 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Natural Resources built a new water system to serve more than 30,000 residents in Kayonza, Rwanda.  The system, constructed over the last two years under USAID's Rwanda Integrated Water Security Program (RIWSP), will provide sustainable access to water for residents in Mwiri and Rwinkwavu. Other beneficiaries include the district's main hospital, two health centers, seven public schools, markets and trading centers. (All Africa)

 

3/17/15  Tanzania Says India to Finance $380 Million of Water Projects

 

India agreed to finance as much as $380 million of water projects in Tanzania's commercial capital of Dar es Salaam and in coastal regions of the nation.  The Indian government has pledged to provide $100 million for facilities in Dar es Salaam, and may provide a further $280 million to finance the second phase of the supply of clean and safe water from Lake Victoria to residents in Mwanza, Shinyanga and Simiyu regions, the president said in a statement on its website. (Bloomberg Business)

WASH Advocates | 202-293-4003 | bdelancey@washadvocates.org | http://www.washadvocates.org
1506 21 Street, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036