Water and sanitation in UNICEF 1946-1986

UNICEF is today one of the world's major agencies supporting water and sanitation programmes in the developing countries. UNICEF is involved in such programmes in almost 100 countries, stressing simple technologies and social strategies linked with other UNICEF activities in the fields of health, nutrition and education. The evolution of UNICEF's involvement in water and sanitation over the organization's first 40 years, 1946-1986, can be divided into three distinct phases: (1) 1946-1967 - demonstration projects (less than $2 million); (2) 1968-1980 - development of technologies, targets and policies ($2-$50 million); and (3) 1981 through 1986 - clarification of objectives and links with PHC and CSDR (over $50 million). This monograph, an abridged version of ?The WET History - Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation in UNICEF 1946-1986?, sets out to trace this development. Part I of the monograph outlines UNICEF?s two-fold role in water and sanitation including technological background and social approaches. Part II describes the three phases of UNICEF?s development with specific details of its role in the 1968-1980 period in promoting new technologies for water supply and sanitation facilities in various projects in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. In outlining the 1981-1986 period, the monograph stresses changing insights such as the concentration on infant and child health, the integration of water supply and sanitation with other health measures, a recognition of the social and economic aspects of water and sanitation programmes, the need for active community participation (particularly women) in water and sanitation projects, and the vital importance of health education to support water and sanitation programmes. The acronym GOBI - standing for growth monitoring, oral rehydration therapy, breast feeding, and immunization - symbolized the practical and very direct measures UNICEF was now emphasizing. The planned introduction of these elements into water and sanitation programmes in Nigeria and other African countries, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas is described. Part III provides a summary of UNICEF?s past and an outlook for its future. Annexes contain statistics, a selected bibliography and an index.