Opinions and voices for change
Navigate the blogs from our experts, water, sanitation and hygiene sector colleagues and guests. Narrow down your search by using the filters.
The issue that was at the heart of the discussion is that good intentions are not enough and premature failure of water infrastructure in rural and small towns in low income countries is a well-known problem to all in the room. But what can be done in practice to avoid waste of investment in... Read more...
In an increasingly urbanising world, with an estimated 863 million people living in slum-like conditions in 2012 (UN, 2013), there is a clear need to start tackling one of the most pressing issues of urbanisation: the sanitation problem that arises when a large number of people are living together... Read more...
In Bangladesh millions of toilets have been constructed. How do you know if they're being used safely? Smart new software may provide the solution. Read more...
As a group at Cranfield University we reviewed 130 case studies of community managed rural water services, to identify key success factors. We conclude that a certain level of socio-economic wealth is necessary, but not sufficient. A combination of different Plus factors, both internal and external... Read more...
IRC believes in a world where water, sanitation and hygiene services are fundamental utilities that everyone is able to take for granted, forever. But we are concerned about the pervasive issue of violence against women being subsumed under the urgent need to promote public attention to the global... Read more...
Il a fallu aux pays développés une centaine d'années et des financements publics considérables pour rendre universel l'accès à l'eau potable. Read more...
Si les projets d'amélioration d'accès à l'eau conduits sous l'égide de l'aide au développement relèvent plutôt d'interventions d'ordre humanitaire, et que l'approvisionnement en eau grâce à l'aide humanitaire peut favoriser le développement même par petites touches, que faut-il en conclure ? Read more...
Menstruation is an integral and normal part of human existence, but a taboo subject and neglected in most WASH programmes. It's time to better understand challenges around menstrual hygiene management and to act. Read more...
Que doivent faire les gouvernements et leurs partenaires de développement pour assurer que le secteur de l'AEPHA soit plus performant ? Lisez le dernier billet de la série de quatre contributions publiées sur ce blog et participez au débat sur « des services d'eau pas la charité » en laissant vos... Read more...
The developments in the sanitation sector are moving quickly. We are seeing some interesting new further development within the sector emerging. As cited in the last blog on the Uganda Unclogging the blockages of sanitation workshop, there is a new wave of freshness in the air in which we see the... Read more...
A study on whether water sources classified as "improved" are indeed safe triggered debate on the level of effort that needs to go into water quality monitoring and into measures to improve water quality Read more...
It took high income countries 100 years to universalise the access to water and required long-term and massive public financing. Read more...
In this article John Butterworth explains why better access to water and sanitation will pay dividends in helping the most vulnerable people adapt to climate change. He argues that providing water and sanitation services for everyone builds resilience, and should be key part of the climate change... Read more...
Veel van de geschenken die NGO's hebben gebracht zijn Trojaanse paarden gebleken, betoogt Stef Smits, senior programme officer van IRC, in deze opiniebijdrage voor Vice Versa . Maar hij is hoopvol over de strategische partnerschappen tussen ministerie en maatschappelijk middenveld. 'Ik hoop op een... Read more...
Met nog twee weken te gaan tot de verkiezingen voor het Europees Parlement, staat de EU volop in de publieke belangstelling. Maar een van de grootste vormen van betrokkenheid van burgers bij Europees beleid lijkt in het verkiezingsspektakel verloren te gaan. Read more...
If rural water supply provided under the development heading is in fact more a relief and water supply through relief creates development but in pockets, then what does that teach us? Read more...
M&E are key to improving both the performance and the sustainability of WASH services. But how much do they cost and how should it be paid for? Read more...
What does it take - from governments and their partners in development - to create WASH sectors that work? Read the latest blog in the series of four and join the debate on services not gifts by leaving your comments on this page. Read more...
Usando el concepto cebolla para ayudar al monitoreo de los servicios de agua y saneamiento en Centroamérica y el Caribe Read more...
The Sierra Leone WASH sector has asked an IRC-led consortium to set-up a structure for sector learning and to create a common platform for easy access to all sector information. Read more...