Spreading the word further

This paper outlines the findings of a DFID funded Knowledge and Research (KAR) project aimed at improving the impact of KAR research through identifying and comparing appropriate dissemination strategies. It is written for those commissioned by DFID to carry out research in the water and sanitation sectors. However, it should have relevance to researchers in the wider development sector, to DFID personnel with interest in research and dissemination issues, non-DFID research contractors, and other commissioning donor agencies

Connecting women: the potential and use of electronic conferencing

The topic for this paper emerged as a result of my role in managing many electronic conferences in my work at the Water Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), Loughborough University, UK . It soon became clear that certain disparities existed between levels of the men’s and women’s participation in these forums, although the extent and reasons for this were unclear. This paper aims to investigate the extent of these differentials, and to explore some of the reasons for women’s greater reluctance to take part in electronic discussions of this type. The findings are based on a rapid, initial exploratory survey, the purpose of which was to identify whether there was an issue here worth looking at. The results suggest that there is more to learn about the gendered nature of e-conferencing and that an in-depth study would be beneficial to provide guidance on the design and implementation of future women-friendly e-conferences

Learning lessons from history for public health reform: reflections on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Learning lessons from history for public health reform: reflections on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs

Women in water supply, sanitation and hygiene programmes

This paper demonstrates the fundamental linkages between the United Nations' third millennium development goal (MDG) 'to promote gender equality and to empower women' and MDG 7 'to ensure environmental sustainability', with target 10 'to halve the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2015'. A synthesis of the evidence gathered for the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) shows the connections between women's wellbeing and water supply, sanitation facilities and hygiene practice. The paper shows that if women's interests relating to water and sanitation provision are at the centre of planning and implementation of programmes, this has a direct impact on women's life experience, their potential and opportunities. This work goes on to provide examples of the benefits to women when they themselves are involved in the planning, implementation and operation of water supply, sanitation and hygiene programmes

Gender mainstreaming in IWRM

THE GENDER WATER Alliance (GWA) was established in June 2000, to promote gender mainstreaming (GM) as an integral part of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). GWA is an international network open to all organisations and individuals involved in IWRM and currently consists of 171 members from all over the world. It is hosted by a secretariat at the IRC-International Water and Sanitation Centre in the Netherlands and governed by a steering committee elected by the members. It is an Associate Programme of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) funded by governments of the Netherlands and United Kingdom. As a network the Alliance is working to achieve equity and equality amongst women and men, irrespective of age, colour, religion, culture, languages or income, in the use, management, and development of sustainable water resources. This is by advocating for equitable distribution of responsibilities, burdens and benefits. http://www.genderandwateralliance.org/ The GWA conducted a series of e-conferences (Jan-May 2002) and the Water Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) facilitated and consolidated the lessons learnt from these on behalf of the alliance

Menstrual hygiene in Ugandan schools: an investigation of low-cost sanitary pads

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a largely overlooked issue in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. Every day, millions of menstruating girls and women in low-income countries struggle to find clean water for washing, private places for changing and adequate blood absorbing materials. This study aims to explore the difficulties experienced by schoolgirls in Uganda in managing menstrual hygiene and investigates the extent to which low-cost sanitary pads are part of the solution. Low-cost sanitary pads, either re-usable or disposable, are a timely, simple and innovative means of improving menstrual hygiene and of addressing a broader set of problems related to MHM in schools. Other factors highlighted are: pain relief, education, safe water provision,clean and private latrines, hygienic and secure bathing facilities, use of soap, sealed waste disposal points, private drying places, anal cleansing materials and effective facility operation and management strategies

Disposal of dead bodies in emergency conditions

This technical note provides guidance on the disposal of dead bodies in emergency situations. Where there are many fatalities, the collection and disposal of bodies becomes an urgent need, mainly due to the possible social and political impact and trauma involved. It offers guidance to emergency relief teams to be concerned with the mental health of the community and its need to carry out the cultural obligations and traditions to take care of the dead, rather than potential disease transmission. Downloading statistics of this publication were extremely high following the 2004 Asian Tsunami

E-conference report on town water supply and sanitation E-conference

The electronic conference on ‘Town Water Supply and Sanitation’ was organized by WEDC on behalf of the World Bank’s ‘Town Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative’ (TWSSI), with funding from the Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership (BNWP). Under Phase One of the TWSSI a draft report has been prepared, Town Water Supply and Sanitation. This report is a first attempt to set out a strategy for town water supply and sanitation, and the objective of this e-conference is to help review and comment on the findings of selected chapters, identify any remaining gaps in knowledge, discuss the tools needed for implementation, and reach consensus on the basic messages presented in the report. Although Phase One of the TWSSI has considered towns of up to 200,000 population, it has generally been found that it is towns in the 2,000 to 50,000 population range that fall within a "management gap", and are the prime focus of the report

Sanitation ‘secrets’ and menstrual hygiene management: what can perimenopausal women tell us?

An increasingly ageing population brings a rise in the number of perimenopausal women, who commonly experience changes and irregularities in their menstruation, which they wish to conceal from view and keep ‘secret’. The WASH sector has paid attention to the menstrual hygiene management (MHM) needs of adolescent girls, whilst the MHM needs of perimenopausal women are ignored. Using narratives provided by women in Ghana through oral history interviews, participatory mapping and PhotoVoice, and using a vignette method to engage stakeholders, this paper discusses how MHM during the perimenopause is affected by inadequate sanitation provision. Sanitary materials which fail to provide effective menstrual protection also raise related issues of access to sanitation, toilet and bathing infrastructure design, and the need for good solid waste management. The sanitation needs of menstruating perimenopausal women can be addressed through adapting existing hardware and software solutions

Improving water utility management and performance in developing countries

Public urban water utilities in developing countries share enormous challenges in meeting the water needs of their growing urban populations as a result of poor utility management practice. This article summarizes the results of a project initiated by the African Water Utility Partnership (WUP), supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) which has pioneered a successful partnership between Severn Trent Water International, the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) and six African water utilities. Important policy lessons emerged from this innovative partnership approach to utility management improvement and opportunities were identified for scaling up these approaches to other utilities