The Stockholm International Water Institute brings together experts, policymakers, development practitioners, entrepreneurs, and more every August for World Water Week events, knowledge sharing, and networking. This year World Water Week will address the theme “Water for Society – Including All.”
The GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) Utilities Programme improves access to basic energy, water, and sanitation services in underserved communities using mobile technology and infrastructure. The program's goals include leveraging mobile technology and infrastructure to enhance access to affordable and reliable energy, clean and safe water and sanitation services in underserved communities. The program receives support from the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID).
For many low-income households in the developing world, incomes are highly variable and uncertain. High up-front costs combined with irregular incomes result in unequal access to water, sanitation, and irrigation. Households typically can, and should, cover the costs of accessing water resources, but they cannot do this without help.
Celebrated annually on October 15, Global Handwashing Day (GH Day) is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
World Toilet Day (WTD) is an annual global event organized by UN Water to raise awareness of the crucial role that sanitation plays in reducing disease and creating healthier communities. WTD falls every year on November 19. The theme of WTD 2019 is "Toilets For All," which means leaving no one behind as the world strives to achieve universal access to sanitation.
The finance gap remains a critical barrier to achieving universal sanitation and hygiene coverage across Africa. In recognition of this challenge, African countries recently reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Ngor Declaration on Sanitation and Hygiene at the joint AfricaSan5/Fecal Sludge Management5 Conference.
The lack of access to safe drinking water is felt disproportionately by those who are disadvantaged socially, economically, demographically or geographically, and explicit consideration of these groups is required to understand and address disparities.
Under the African Urban Poor Improved Water Supply and Sanitation (AUP-IWS) program, USAID/Ghana implemented the Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene for Urban Poor (WASH-UP) program from 2009 to 2012. WASH-UP started in October 2009 in slum communities of the two major cities of Accra and Takoradi, Ghana.
Meeting the Sustainable Development Goal for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030 requires utilities serving the poorest households to play critical roles. Yet these utilities are frequently unable to cover their current operational costs, much less expand access, through existing tariffs and transfers. New models and approaches are needed to identify new sources of sustainable subsidies for these utilities.
With International Women’s Day celebrated March 8 and World Water Day on March 22, it is a month for big ideas—about women and about water. On March 21, the intersection of these two crosscutting development issues and their respective global campaign days brought together advocates, practitioners, academics, and organizations passionate about championing women’s roles in improving access to water for a jointly hosted event titled “Call to Action: Supporting Women through Water.” The U.S.
