WaterAid News

WaterAid at 2nd Africa Water Week

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:39:00 +0000

This year's Africa Water Week, 9-13 November 2009, focuses on various African Union declarations and commitments on water and sanitation, such as those adopted in Sharm El Sheikh in July 2008.

There will be specific emphasis on examining actual action taken and turning these political commitments into concrete actions.

WaterAid's Media Relations Manager, Ann Noon, will be blogging direct from Africa Water Week in Johannesburg, South Africa, starting on Monday 9 November.

Find out more on WaterAid's website here

Visit the Africa Water Week website

'Beech boys' to take on the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:16:00 +0000

Two fantastic WaterAid supporters are taking part in the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Challenge, starting on 6 December 2009.

Norman Beech, manager of the outdoor pursuit centre at the University of Birmingham, and his son James, will cover over 2,500 nautical miles from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in the West Indies.

The duo want to break the trans-Atlantic world record currently held by another father and son team at 78 days. Norman and James hope to complete it in 65 days or less.

James also aims to be the youngest rower to cross the Atlantic, hoping to cross the finish line just before his 19th birthday.

Ahead of their sail across the Atlantic, the pair have been talking about the possible dangers that may await them:

James: "We might come across the occasional whale or shark, but as long as the whale is not going to bump into the boat and as long as we are not in the water while a shark is around they are quite easy dangers to avoid."

Norman: "You are looking at 25-30ft waves. While it isn't the whole height of the wave that's breaking, it's a pretty big lump of water that is breaking and turning over."

James also points out: "For 60 days or so, we will only see each other and over time our relationship will develop and be challenged. At the moment we are good friends - and I'm hoping it will stay that way!"

At the end of the race they aim to sell the boat, donating the money raised to WaterAid.

"We are trying to change 2,000 people's lives, that's our goal," said Norman.

The pair are taking on an amazing and daunting journey, and we want to thank them for using their Atlantic row to raise money for WaterAid!

Read more about their amazing adventure, see how they are doing and get updates on their mascot 'Joe the Swimmer' by visiting the blog they will be keeping at www.sport.bham.ac.uk/transatlantic
Support them on JustGiving here

Shop so there’s a drop this Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Lifesaving gifts from WaterAid

WaterAid is offering an ethical solution to present-buying this Christmas.

With our online SH2OP for Life you can buy a range of lifesaving Soapy, Toiletry and Watery virtual gifts - from taps to toilets, and from boreholes to soap-making businesses.

Bargain gifts include two taps for £12, right up to £4,328 for a gravity-flow scheme!

All monies raised from the scheme go towards our vital work improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities.

Senior Direct Marketing Officer, Suzanne Clements, says: "Whether you buy a tap, toilet or hygiene puppet show, these gifts really do make a huge difference to the people we work with throughout Africa and Asia.

"A family toilet at £30 may not be a conventional present, but for the 2.5 billion people without access to anywhere safe or hygienic to go, it’s literally a life-saver."

Gifts for £25 and under include:

water pipes for a gravity-flow scheme: £18
training for a pump attendant: £20
tools to dig a well: £25

Each gift comes with a card or e-card to sign or personalise, and includes a full description of the gift and how it will help transform lives.

Gifts can be purchased online here. Alternatively a catalogue can be requested by calling 0845 6000 433.

Our range of exclusive and traditional Christmas cards are also available to buy online here or through the catalogue.

Orders must be placed before 7 December to ensure delivery in time for Christmas Day, although e-cards can be purchased any time before December 25. Postal gifts are available to addresses in the UK only. Please allow 5-14 days for delivery.

Note to editors:

Gifts bought from the SH2OP for Life will go towards our water, sanitation and hygiene projects in Africa and Asia as well as related support costs, to ensure we keep on helping more communities long into the future.

For more information contact:
Brenda Mcilwraith
WaterAid

t: +44(0)20 7793 2245
e: brendamcilwraith@wateraid.org

Drought hits East Africa

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:58:00 +0000

As you may have seen in the news, there are currently severe droughts across East Africa.

The worst affected countries are Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia.

More than 23 million people are affected by the droughts, which are a result of prolonged failing rains. A humanitarian crisis is being caused by loss of crops, causing food shortages, severe hunger and in some areas emergency levels of malnutrition.

Of the affected countries, WaterAid works in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania. The impact of the drought means that some areas are suffering food shortages, and people are having to travel further for scarcer water supplies.

In Ethiopia, affected communities are facing food shortages and loss of income as their crops are dying. In some places, wells and water sources are starting to run dry. Many people are leaving the affected areas.

In Uganda, while rains have now started in most areas, the impact of recent poor harvests and a prolonged dry spell has led to ongoing food shortages and financial hardship.

Jane Scobie, Regional Programme Officer for East Africa, said:

"Understandably people are prioritising finding and paying for food rather than continuing to contribute to the operation and maintenance of the local wells. The local governments are also prioritising food provision and as a result, the long term sustainability of water and sanitation facilities could be affected."

Our team here is putting plans in place to ensure the sustainability of water resources once the situation is more stable.

To date, the drought in Tanzania has not affected the areas that WaterAid and partner organisations are working in.

WaterAid country programmes are continuously monitoring the situation on the ground and are in discussion with partners regarding interventions to provide support in the affected areas.

Although WaterAid is not an emergency/disaster relief agency, where we can usefully assist the relief effort, either through supporting the work of the national authorities or international disaster relief agencies in the area, we will do so.

We remain committed to carrying out long-term projects to strengthen people’s ability to cope with future shocks and disaster preparedness, for which we always require ongoing donations and funding.

For more information:

Please contact Ann Noon, Media Relations Manager: annnoon@wateraid.org or call +44(0)20 7793 4790.

Thousands dance for water

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

On Saturday 17 October, more than twenty-five ceilidhs were held in the UK and overseas as part of WaterAid's Big National Ceilidh.

Proceeds from the event, which are estimated at over £20,000, will be donated to WaterAid's work improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities.

On the night, ceilidhs were organised across the UK (and one in France) in schools, village halls and churches from Edinburgh down to Woking.

To unify all the events, at 10pm everyone danced the Circassian Circle to the tune of 'Jamie Allen', chosen due to its strong connection with Northumberland, home to father and son David and Joey Oliver. David and Joey, from Hexham, first came up with the idea for the Big National Ceilidh two years ago and this is the second year of the nationwide event.

Both are involved with the folk music scene; David is Chair of FolkArts, and Joey is the whistle player in the BBC award-winning band 422.

David Oliver said: "We chose to support WaterAid because of the fantastic work it does, bringing a simple, major, permanent improvement to many people's lives. We are thrilled that WaterAid have taken on the Big National Ceilidh this year and we hope that as a result, more and more people will go to ceilidhs and will think of them as wonderful, stimulating community events – and effective fundraisers too."

David and Joey gave a speech to over 300 people at WaterAid's Annual Supporters' Meeting earlier this month and entertained the audience with their rendition of 'Jamie Allen' on the accordion and whistle, which you can hear on the Big National Ceilidh website here. They inspired WaterAid's CEO Barbara Frost so much that she is planning her own ceilidh for 2011.

The Olivers, together with WaterAid, have created a step-by-step guide to help people to organise their own ceilidh. To find out more, or to request a Big National Ceilidh pack for next year, visit www.wateraid.org/ceilidh or call 0845 6000 433.

For more information or images please contact Brenda on 020 7793 2245 brendamcilwraith@wateraid.org.

David Oliver is available for interviews, please call Brenda to arrange.

WaterAid launches new global strategy

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:02:00 +0000

WaterAid's new Global strategy, for the years 2009-15, was launched at our Annual Supporter Meeting on 8 October 2009.

View it in new interactive PDF format here.

Alternatively, read, download or print a PDF version here:

Download the strategy in English
( PDF 2.5Mb)
Download the strategy in French
( PDF 2.35Mb)
Download the strategy in Portuguese
( PDF 2.5Mb)

The new strategy has been launched with a companion video, explaining in more detail our four new global aims, which are:

To promote and secure poor people's rights and access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation
To support governments and service providers in developing their capacity to deliver safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation
To advocate for the essential role of safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation in human development
To further develop as an effective global organisation recognised as a leader in our field and for living our values

More detailed operational plans and success indicators are currently being finalised, and will be available in due course.

WaterAid launches its manifesto for the UK general election

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:55:00 +0000

The next UK general election is on the horizon and could result in a change of government.
WaterAid has launched WaterAid's manifesto for the UK general election (PDF 828KB) which calls on the Prime Minister and Government to lead international efforts to tackle the global water and sanitation crisis.

The manifesto highlights WaterAid's five calls on the UK Government and also lists the ways in which MP’s and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates can get involved.

WaterAid is also currently calling on the UK public to support its UK general election work. Find out how you can get involved by sending a message or meeting a local politician

For more information on the WaterAid manifesto contact the Campaigns Team on 020 7793 4594 or at campaigns@wateraid.org

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:35:00 +0000

WaterAid's Chief Executive, Barbara Frost, blogs from Stockholm at the annual World Water Week, where thousands of delegates from over 140 countries meet to address global water and sanitation issues.

Day 4

Finally, some sunshine in Stockholm! After a quick breakfast, I headed straight over to the venue as I had a day packed with meetings. When you get a meeting like this, you have to take full advantage of all the people gathered together from across the world.
Of all my meetings, one of the real highlights was the chance to speak with the South African Deputy Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs. She was really passionate about the importance of school sanitation, an issue WaterAid has done lots of work on. We talked about WaterAid's plans to open an office in Pretoria for our planned work in Angola, Swaziland and Lesotho - watch this space. South Africa will this year take up the chair of the regional African Ministerial Council Water and we hope that they will be able to use this regional platform to champion water and sanitation in Africa.

I also had the opportunity to meet with Joseph Souza MP from Swaziland and talk about WaterAid's plans to work there. He was really positive about WaterAid coming to Swaziland and it was good to discuss how WaterAid can contribute to existing efforts there.

I wasn't able to attend the session but I heard great things about a presentation made by Isha Bhagwat - Programme Director for WaterAid India - on WASH disaster preparedness in India. This is a new area of work for WaterAid but our office in India has been working with the state government of Bihar to develop innovative strategies and technologies for disaster prone areas.
That's all for me today as I have to leave early to attend the Grand Banquet. This is the big event of the week hosted by the King of Sweden where the World Water Prize is awarded. I will have the opportunity to meet his Highness the King of Sweden and I hope to talk to him about all the good work we're doing but also to mention WaterAid Sweden of course!

I need to change into my party outfit so have to sign off early but if you can hear more from me but also from our Director of International Programmes, Girish Menon on WaterCube TV, direct from Stockholm.

Day 3

My day kicked off with a delicious breakfast organised by ANEW, a key WaterAid partner. Even better than the breakfast were the great presentations updating everyone on the important work of this vibrant and energetic African Network. Over the last year - and particularly during the International Year of Sanitation 2008 - ANEW have been doing a fantastic job providing a coordinated civil society voice at the regional level in Africa. The meeting was a real success and I really hope that those attending the meeting will be able to invest financially to ensure ANEW can continue this work.

All day people have been coming up to me saying how lucky WaterAid is to have Jan Eliasson as the Chair for WaterAid Sweden. His keynote speech at the opening ceremony obviously made a big impression.

There have been some really interesting presentations about urban sanitation – one of the really big challenges we face. Dr Bindeshawar Pathak the winner of this year's water prize talked about the Sulabh Foundation and all the great work they have been doing in difficult urban settings.

Also yesterday there was a presentation by Wilson Bezwada from the WaterAid partner organisation SKA about the ongoing scandal of manual scavenging. Wilson is a compelling speaker and this topic is truly shocking. There were tears in many people's eyes as they watched a film prepared by SKA – how can it be that that are still people who must scoop up other people’s faeces with their bare hands?

Another WaterAid partner from Malawi, Water for People, told us about some really innovative work they have been piloting in Malawi using a market based solution with shit being in demand by fertilizer companies! It reminds me of a slogan I once saw daubed on the side of a truck which collected sewerage: "Your Shit is My Gold"!

There was more today on the Right to Water. It was really good to hear the Regulator from Kenya talking about this along with the office of the UN Independent Expert, Catarina de Albuquerque. WaterAid believes a rights based approach is critical to empowerment and inclusion. At the end of the day this empowerment comes about when citizens realise that they have a right to demand these services and that governments have an obligation to ensure this access.

We've been able to meet up with many WaterAid supporters here – colleagues from the British and Dutch governments, the Gates Foundation. We've also started new dialogues with a number of new potential partners which is really exciting.

I didn't get to speak to him but I did spot the guru of participatory development Robert Chambers today and will try and say hello tomorrow. Robert is now doing research on Community-Led Total Sanitation and has been a passionate champion for this demand-led approach to sanitation pioneered in Bangladesh.

I'm fading fast and need to get some sleep as I have a busy schedule again tomorrow. So, rather than burning any more of the midnight oil blogging I'm going to direct you to the interview I did today for the Water Cube.

Good night!

Day 2

Things start early at the World Water Week! Even at breakfast, it's impossible not to network. I was really pleased to bump into Catarina de Albuquerque. She is here in Stockholm to talk about her recently completed report on the Right to Sanitation that she will submit to the UNHCR in September – a big step forward.

Also at breakfast, sitting on the table next to mine, was Prof Mohan Munasinghe from the Munasinghe Institute for Development, from Sri Lanka who spoke yesterday and was just great. He introduced a new concept of red water. Red water is the basic minimum required for life that must be safeguarded. He also talked about 'sustainomics' which was a new word to me but self explanatory.

After breakfast, I had time for a quick catch up with other WaterAid colleagues participating in the World Water Week including colleagues from India and Nigeria (see WaterAid India's Ishaprasad Bhagwat). There are so many things going on in Stockholm that you need to be in two or three places at one time, all the time!

There was a really good session on the Global Framework for Action (GF4A). This initiative to build concerted international action on water and sanitation now has the support of a number of governments and UN agencies and it is really great to see that support growing. Ideas were shared and new organisations and agencies joined the discussion. Henry Northover from WaterAid gave a great presentation and talked of the need for better targeting of aid as today only a quarter of WASH aid actually goes to the poorest countries. The session ended on a high with one speaker enjoining everyone to seize the opportunity afforded by the GF4A and 'do their part'.

Inevitably, I have been doing a lot of networking. I met with colleagues from different organisations including the Dutch NGO Simavi and Dubai Cares. I've also been able to meet and catch up a number of WaterAid partner organisations who are here and find out the latest.

I think it's worth mentioning that there are three generations of WaterAid Chief Executives here! Jon Lane and Ravi Narayanan are both here as well as me. Jon Lane is now running the Collaborative Council on Water Supply and Sanitation in Geneva and Ravi Narayanan who works with the Asia Pacific Water Forum as their Vice Chair on political leadership and water security. Really great to see so many old faces in new and influential roles.

It's been pouring down with rain here so no water shortages at the World Water Week.

Day 1

Stockholm World Water Week kicked off today, and at the end of day one I am already inspired by the wealth of knowledge, ideas and expertise the some 2,400 participants have bought to the table as we do our best to address the challenge of the world's water and sanitation crisis.

The theme of this year is "Responding to Global Changes: Accessing Water for the Common Good" and the opening speeches provided much insight and stimulation.

Stockholm International Water Institute Executive Director, Anders Berntell provided food for thought, pointing out that we provide astronauts with a safe supply of drinking water when they travel to the moon, but we cannot provide the same service to slum dwellers in Kibera, Nairobi or Dharavi Mumbai. Clearly the inability to provide safe and sustainable drinking water is an indicator of the way in which water is being managed and that there could be safe drinking water for all if we had the political will to do so.

This year's Water Prize Laureate Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak shared his own incredible story, which has seen him work tirelessly to help provide access to clean water and sanitation to millions of people in India.

WaterAid Sweden Chair, former United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Darfur and one-time President of the United Nations General Assembly Jan Eliasson gave a challenging address, highlighting the need to work across development, human rights and peace. "If you don't combine these three, you will not have stable progress. And the water issue comes back on all these three parameters, a life of dignity for all." He called on governments to take action and give higher priority to water and sanitation – highlighting the need for a global framework for action in the sector.

Watch an interview with Jan at World Water Week

One of the overarching points made today, and one which we at WaterAid work hard to champion, is that water is an issue that is connected to so many others, including health, education, climate change and agriculture. Water is something that strongly contributes to the social and economic development of people and governments must recognise its crucial role in reducing poverty across the board. We will certainly be ensuring that this message gets out amongst the 2,400 people attending World Water Week – watch this space.

Poor’s voice must be heard to end health crisis

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:08:00 +0000

The voice of the urban poor must be heard if the water and sanitation crisis is going to be addressed in developing countries.

Over the next 30 years, developing countries are predicted to triple their population size and account for 80% of the world’s urban population - the majority of whom will live in improvished slums without access to basic services.

These demographic changes are undermining international development goals and leading to water and sanitation poverty across the developing world.

WaterAid has responded to this by publishing a new urban toolkit designed to help develop informed and proactive citizen engagement. The toolkit can also be downloaded at www.wateraid.org/urbanreform

"In the developing world, many urban areas are unplanned, densely populated and unserved by even the most basic water and sanitation infrastructure," explained Timeyin Uwejamomere, WaterAid policy officer.

"Families live surrounded by raw sewage, drink unsafe water from polluted sources, or pay dearly for water from illegal vendors. As a result, water-related diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery run rife.”

"Lack of access to water and sanitation is proving a major health crisis and is a key contributor to child mortality – which in slums can be up to twice rural figures. Globally, 4,000 children die every day from preventable diseases caused by a lack of safe water and sanitation; an increasing number of whom live in slums.”

Chronic water and sanitation shortages in slums are being exacerbated by local utilities that cherry pick those who get served, based on wealth and geographic considerations – rather than on need. This results in the poorest people in developing countries being denied basic services and a way out of poverty.

Uwejamomere added:

"Water and sanitation are integral to urban development. Poor people must be given the tools to demand governments and local providers give them access to these basic human rights."

With this in mind, WaterAid's new global urban toolkit – designed to provide tools to develop informed and proactive citizen engagement - was officially launched today in Nepal.

WaterAid stress the importance of the role civil society organisations can play in improving access to basic facilities such as drinking water and toilets.

Uwejamomere concluded: "We have seen time and time again that when poor people are empowered they can monitor service providers, and begin to influence policymakers to demand real and lasting change."

ENDS

For all media enquires or for a copy of the toolkit please contact:

Ann Noon, Media Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 207 793 4790
Email: Annnoon@wateraid.org

The toolkit can also be downloaded at www.wateraid.org/urbanreform

WaterAid at the G8 blog Friday PM

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:17:00 +0000

Friday PM

Everyone's packing up now. Helicopters are whirring overhead delivering the G8 leaders to their next appointment. Obama just left - surrounded by screaming journalists/fans - in a huge jeep on his way to meet the Pope at the Vatican.Before I sign out, I wanted to quickly reflect on the G8 Summit in L'Aquila Italy and the outcome for water and sanitation:

The good:

Great coffee - Berlusconi can be proud of the coffee served at this year's G8. Really the espressos, the macchiatos, the capuccinos, the ristrettos... were all fantastic. Well done.

Accountability - let's see what happens but any mechanism that seeks to track G8 progress on meetings for the promises is a good thing. As one G8 official said 'no more free lunches for the G8 - everyone is going to have focus on delivery'.

Food security - although we don't know how much of the money is new nor where it will come from and G8 movement on this important issue is a step forward.

US engagement on global challenges - let's just say things are very different with the new President...

The bad: Across the board, whether it's health, education or water, this G8 is characterised by poor performance on past commitments. The water and sanitation section of the G8 communique - nothing concrete in the way of action.

The Progress Report on Evian Water Plan - despite the G8 reporting a 'tripling' of G8 aid for water since 2003 and claiming that the Evian Action Plan was a key 'milestone' in this trend, the G8 brushed over the fact that the majority of this increase was due to reconstruction efforts in Iraq. In fact, Africa's share of G8 aid has declined from 24 %to 18 % since 2003.

The G8/Africa Joint Statement on Water and Sanitation - not sure why the G8 thought it was worth releasing this and the water section of the development communique separately. Same words and no commitments.

The ugly:

Squandered political opportunity to build momentum on water - despite resolving to deliver a 'strategic enhancement plan' in 2009. This opportunity was betrayed by a woeful lack of ambition.

Hosting the G8 in a town still recovering from an earthquake where many of the inhabitants are still living in tents and where reconstruction efforts have been delayed by G8 preparations - the best activist slogan I've seen here has been from a group of locals: 'YES WE CAMP'.

So, what's the final verdict?

The G8 leaders and the Italian chair could have used this G8 to build momentum on water and sanitation - capitalising on the progress made in the International Year of Sanitation and adding to the movement behind the Global Framework for Action - but instead squandered this.

However, in delivering a lacklustre communique devoid of concrete actions they did at least not damage other positive efforts. In fact there is much in the communique that makes the case for the Global Framework for Action. So, no real progress by the G8 but hopefully no damage.

Where now?

The Global Framework for Action is now supported by a number of governments, UN agencies, the World Bank and civil society organisations and the first High Level Meeting will be hosted will take place in the spring of 2010.

WaterAid supporters have brought real pressure to bear on the UK government to champion the Global Framework for Action - making it clear the UK must actively champion this initiative at the international level. Together we must all focus on generating anticipation and expectation around the first high level meeting and continue to put pressure on the UK and other governments to lift the bar of ambition for the Global Framework for Action.

Ciao!

Africa agreement hard to stomach

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:47:00 +0000

G8 food initiative undermined by failure on water and sanitation

As G8 and African leaders launched a key initiative to tackle the food crisis, global campaign group End Water Poverty warned that the failure to deliver a promised plan on water and sanitation will derail the battle against malnutrition, and fail to prevent 4,000 children dying of diarrhoea each day.

A staggering 50% of child deaths from malnutrition are caused by repeated bouts of diarrhoea, due to unsafe water and sanitation.

Khumbuzile Zuma, a South African spokesperson for End Water Poverty said
"Fighting hunger without providing clean water is like building a house without foundations. For the people of Africa the G8 have undoubtedly failed.

"The G8 have abandoned the poor at the very time they are needed most. They had long promised that this summit would see firm action to end the water and sanitation crisis, but they have chosen not to deliver on a commitment that could have transformed the lives of millions."

Oliver Cumming from WaterAid said"Given that 30% of all child deaths are caused by poor water and sanitation, it is seriously short-sighted of the G8 to ignore this critical issue.
"The cost of this neglect will ultimately be paid for by the poor, whose health, education and nutrition will all be hurt by the G8's gross poverty of ambition."

Paul Cook from Tearfund said:"Since the last G8 summit, 1.4 million children have died needlessly of diarrhoea. How many more lives will be lost before the G8 finally decide that enough is enough?"

The intention to launch a G8-Africa Water Partnership was also announced today in a statement between African and G8 leaders. Originally promised to be a centrepiece of the summit, it contained no specific actions and no extra finance.

A G8 progress report outlining actions on water since the launch of the G8 Evian Water Plan in 2003 shows that the bulk of reported funding increases have gone to Iraq and other regions of political and economic interest rather those of greatest need.

Globally 884 million people have no access to clean water, and 2.5 billion have no access to safe sanitation.

In addition to its impact on nutrition and child mortality, 443 million school days have been lost to poor water and sanitation, while GDP in Africa has been reduced by 5%.

Notes to editors

Oliver Cumming and Khumbuzile Zuma are both at the G8 Summit and available for interview. For all media requests contact Chloe Irvine +44 75 1494 1577 OR +44 777 1654 544 OR Steve Cockburn +44 79 2008 0855 (all based in L'Aquila)

Khumbuzile Zuma is a water and sanitation worker and campaigner from South Africa. She has worked on various projects with universities and civil society organisations in South Africa, the Netherlands and Tanzania. She is a board member of the End Water Poverty campaign, which is campaign supported by over 150 NGOs in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

WaterAid at the G8 blog

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:46:00 +0000

Day 2 pm continued

The G8 and accountability - not two words that sit together easily. But the G8 have this year declared that they will report on what progress they have made in meeting their historic G8 commitments. Among these promises, is the commitment on water and sanitation made at the Evian Summit in 2003. So how have they performed?

What they said:

Collectively, the G8 is the largest donor to the sector:

-Progress has been made since 2003 but there is much to do.
-Overseas Development Aid disbursed by the G8 for the water sector has more than tripled between 2002 and 2007.
-The launch of the Water Action Plan in 2003 appears to be an important milestone in this trend.

What we think:

-Together the G8 is the biggest water and sanitation donor so they must act to address the crisis.
-Let's keep 'progress' in perspective: 2.5 billion without a toilet; Africa due to meet sanitation MDG a century too late.
-Overseas Development Aid has tripled but the bulk of these increases has been for reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
-The decisive milestone for this trend is Iraq not Evian.

And a couple of points the G8 forgot to mention:

-Africa's share declining. While G8 aid to water has tripled since 2002, the share goes to sub-Saharan Africa has declined from 24% to 18%.
-Aid for water not keeping pace. Between 2002-2007, G8 aid to education increased by about $5 billion 2002-2007 but aid to water increased by less than half that.
-Aid to Iraq masks weak G8 action. Aid to Iraq went from ZERO% of G8 aid for water to 26% in one year (2005) and in 2005 and 2006 Iraq alone recieved more aid for water than the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.

VERDICT: No need to revise the score we gave the G8 on the back of the communique - a paltry 3/10.

Tomorrow, the G8 meet with African leaders and hope to announce a joint statement. Let's see what they come up with but we're not expecting big things.

WaterAid at the G8 blog

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Day 2 pm

So the communique was finally released at 7pm last night.

In short the G8 have failed to deliver any concrete actions on water and sanitation as they resolved to do in Japan last year. The text hadn't changed from that leaked earlier and WaterAid's fears were confirmed. The best the G8 were able to do after a year of deliberations was to give themselves more time - leaving the billions of people affected by the global water and sanitation crisis with little hope.

Our verdict: 3/10

Below, we've pulled out the three key points on water and sanitation in the G8 2009 development communique:

1. We've got a problem:

G8: "Many developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia-Pacific are still far from achieving sustainable access to water and sanitation... indispensable for sustainable development."

WaterAid: "Yes but... let's be clear what 'still far from achieving sustainable access' actually means: there is a global water and sanitation crisis with 2.5 billion people without sanitation and 1 billion without safe drinking water. If we don't get the basics right all development efforts stand to be undermined".

2. We need action:

G8: "Despite clear advances, much needs to be done."

WaterAid: "Yes no kidding more needs to be done - the MDG target for sanitation will not be met in sub-Saharan Africa until 2108. Global progress to deliver water and sanitation is unacceptable and nothing less than a concerted international effort on water and sanitation will deliver the progress required to meet the MDGs".

3. But we're not going to act:

G8: "We will continue working with partners at all levels, with a view to achieve tangible progress in the advancement of the partnership by the end of 2009."

WaterAid: "No, not nearly good enough. No decision to take action and no actual date by which they will decide to take action. All we have is a vague 'view to achieve' something at some point this year. A long way short of the 'strategic enhancement plan' promised in Toyako, Japan. Difficult to see any benefit for the world's poor in this".

Attached to the communique was the progress report on G8 commitments on water and other key development issues. We're going to have a look at it now to see how the G8 think they've done on water - here's betting the G8 give themselves more than the 3/10 WaterAid gave them.

Don't forget that there is more to come from the G8 - it's rumoured that there will be a joint G8/Africa statement issued tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

Surge in aid to Iraq masks weak G8 action on water and sanitation

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:33:00 +0000

This year, the G8's increased aid for water and sanitation is driven by politics not need.
Following a G8 statement released late last night, End Water Poverty reveals that reported increases in aid for water and sanitation since 2002 have been dominated by reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and other regions of political and economic interest, rather than to reaching poor communities across Africa and South Asia.

The surge in funding to Iraq has masked the fact that the G8 have failed to make sufficient investments in water and sanitation services, failing to tackle a crisis that kills 4,000 children every day.

Oliver Cumming, from WaterAid, member of the End Water Poverty campaign, said:

"It is Iraq, not Africa, that has received the bulk of increased funding for water and sanitation - something that is cold comfort for the poorest people in the world who are still waiting for significant action by the G8. The scandalous result of the G8's priorities is the continuation of a crisis that kills 4,000 children every day."

Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the two regions of most critical need, together receive just 30% of G8 funding for water - significantly less than in 2003 when the G8 launched its Water Action Plan for Africa at the Evian Summit.

According to OECD, in 2005 and 2006 more aid went to Iraq for water and sanitation than for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa whilst Malaysia - where 99% of people have access to clean water - receives 26 times more per head than Congo, Angola or Togo.

Water and sanitation was meant to be a centrepiece of this year's summit, but yesterday's communiqué failed to deliver a concrete deal. Tomorrow, G8 leaders are to sign a joint declaration with the African Union outlining a partnership to further implement the Evian Plan. Despite promises, however, few tangible commitments are expected.

Khumbuzile Zuma, South African spokesperson for End Water Poverty said:

"Action to provide water and sanitation in Africa is long overdue, but as the figures behind this report show, we cannot trust that words will be enough. In 2003 we were promised action to deliver these most basic services in Africa, but we are still waiting while the destination of extra money is driven by politics and not need.

So far, all we have seen at this summit are delays and broken promises. Tomorrow, leaders from both Africa and the G8 simply must deliver decisive action. Otherwise it will mean nothing to those who have lost children, or who have been denied an education, because they cannot drink clean water or use a safe toilet."

Notes to editors

Oliver Cumming and Khumbuzile Zuma are both at the G8 Summit and available for interview. For all media requests contact Chloe Irvine +44 75 1494 1577 OR +44 777 1654 544 OR Steve Cockburn +44 79 2008 0855 (all based in L'Aquila)

Khumbuzile Zuma is a water and sanitation worker and campaigner from South Africa. She has worked on various projects with universities and civil society organizations in South Africa, the Netherlands and Tanzania. She is a board member of the End Water Poverty campaign, which iscampaign supported by over 150 NGOs in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

The G8 report on water was part of an annex to the official communiqué on development and Africa. The full report is titled 'G8 Preliminary Accountability Report'.

G8 on poverty and water: No big deal

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:58:00 +0000

Watered down promises and moving targets, poor to count cost of G8 failure

Global campaign group End Water Poverty slammed the G8 failure to stand by poor communities in hard times as they released their official summit communique.

Among a host of failures at the summit, the G8 have broken last year’s promise to finally tackle the global water and sanitation crisis. Since the G8 last met in Hokkaido, over 1.4 million children have died from diarrhoea as a result of a lack safe water and toilets - a scandalous human cost that is set to continue after today’s neglect.

Khumbuzile Zuma, a South African spokesperson for End Water Poverty said, "This year's G8 has confirmed many people's worst fears that so many of the world's richest countries are prepared to run away from their commitments to the poor, such as those on aid and safe drinking water, at exactly the time they are needed most.

“This year they had finally promised to tackle the global water and sanitation crisis that is responsible for almost 30% of all child deaths, but in reality nothing has been done that will make a difference to the lives of people in Africa. The best they could do was give themselves another six months to think about it.

“How long must Africa wait for the right to use a safe toilet and drink clean water? Without addressing this we will never make the progress needed on ending hunger, reducing child deaths or getting children into school." 

An 'enhanced implementation plan' to deliver water and sanitation in Africa was meant to be a centerpiece of this week’s summit, but instead the G8 merely announced they would aim to "make progress" on a partnership with African governments by the end of the year. Draft documents in the run up to the summit show just how much ambition has been watered down, and the final proposal contains no specific actions or commitments.

Oliver Cumming from WaterAid, a key supporter of End Water Poverty said:

“It is shocking that the deaths of 1.4 million children do not warrant immediate action from the G8. But it is truly scandalous that in the year they committed to address the water and sanitation crisis they have abandoned people in poor countries to continued indignity, poverty and ill-health.”

Paul Cook from Tearfund a key supporter of End Water Poverty added

“How many of these leaders would have been happy to come here if there were no toilet facilities or drinking water?”

End Water Poverty also warned leaders that their neglect of water and sanitation would have serious consequences for any other development initiatives announced at the summit including health, education and agriculture.

Notes to editors

Oliver Cumming and Khumbuzile Zuma are both at the G8 Summit and available for interview. for For all media requests contact Chloe Irvine +44 75 1494 1577 OR +44 777 1654 544 (based in L’Aquila) OR Steve Cockburn +44 79 2008 0855.

Khumbuzile Zuma is a water and sanitation worker and campaigner from South Africa. She has worked on various projects with universities and civil society organizations in South Africa, the Netherlands and Tanzania including: soil and water resources management, water resources policy research, monitoring and evaluation, gender and HIV/Aids mainstreaming, water and sanitation, sustainable rural livelihoods, community based monitoring, rainwater harvesting. Her current work in Mvula Trust Policy Unit involves advocacy programme where some of the activities include partnering with regional and international organizations such as ANEW, NAWISA and End Water Poverty Campaign.

WaterAid at the G8 blog

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:54:00 +0000

Day 2 am

Yesterday I'd hoped to be talking about what the G8 have decided to do on water and sanitation but the communique was still not out by early evening. It was supposed to be released at 5 o'clock but two hours later we'd heard nothing.

The leaders emerged from their meeting and President Obama and Prime Minister Berlusconi took a walking tour of L'Aquila. As they surveyed the damage perhaps they reflected on those still living in tents in L'Aquila unable to return to their homes and living without many basic services we take for granted. After any earthquake, securing drinking water and sanitation are the most immediate of concerns. Often in those situations water and sanitation are first on the list of priorities as the authorities seek to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera. For some reason though when it comes to development water and sanitation are way down or even of the agenda.

Let's see if L'Aquila will inspire action by the G8 for the 2.5 billion in the world without sanitation and 1 billion without water.

Watch this space.

G8 Fact and Fiction - same facts, same fiction

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:38:00 +0000

Day 1 am

Hours before the official communiqué is released at the G8 Summit, international development organistaion WaterAid warned that the G8 stand to fail on their 2008 commitment to tackle a global water and sanitation crisis.

At the 2008 summit, G8 leaders promised this year to launch an ‘enhanced implementation plan’ to address the global water and sanitation crisis. However, leaked documents tell a different story: showing leaders will break these promises to the billions without drinking water or a toilet.

FACT : Water and sanitation related diarrhoea alone kill 1.4 children every year and overall a staggering 30% of child mortality is linked to a lack of these services.

FICTION : G8 to deliver the concrete action on water and sanitation promised in 2008

Oliver Cumming , WaterAid said :
‘The stage was set for action on water and sanitation but the writing’s on the wall : more broken promises and another squandered opportunity. Will we have to wait another 12 months and witness another 1.4 million preventable child deaths before we see action from the G8 on this global crisis?’

Khumbuzile Zuma, South African End Water Poverty campaigner said:
‘The promise in 2008 that the G8 would finally act to deliver water and sanitation to communities in Africa brought hope for the millions of Africans without these basic services. In reality, we’re likely to get little more than words.’

WaterAid also warned that failure to address water and sanitation at this week’s summit will have staggering impacts on other critical issues affecting people living in poverty, including health, education, agriculture.

/ENDS

Notes to editors
Oliver Cumming and Khumbuzile Zuma are both at the G8 Summit and available for interview.

Please contact Chloe Irvine for all media requests
+44 75 1494 1577 OR +44 777 1654 544 (based in L’Aquila)

WaterAid response to the UK Government's White Paper

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:46:00 +0000

WaterAid welcomes the UK Government's new White Paper on International Development, in particular its commitment to target support to the poorest people to help them through the financial crisis.

At present only 24% of global aid for water and sanitation goes to the Least Developed Countries so this kind of shift in donor thinking is welcome and we hope it will be emulated. The paper rightly recognises that good public services such as access to water and sanitation are essential to poverty reduction, economic growth and peace and security. WaterAid also welcomes the UK government's renewed commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals. The White Paper recognises a need to focus more on areas where progress has been slow – malnutrition, maternal and neo-natal health, child health.

"The current health crisis in the developing world points to the need to develop more integrated approaches to development that focus on the areas where the lag is greatest" said Henry Northover, Head of Policy at WaterAid.

Improving water, sanitation and hygiene could prevent 28% of under-five deaths and yet the sanitation MDG target is massively off-track, and has attracted little donor investment. "It's time for DFID to seek to fully understand the underlying causes of slow progress in health," he said.

Finally, whilst WaterAid encourages the government in its efforts to better demonstrate impact to the UK taxpayer, there is also a need to recognise that some of the most effective ways of delivering aid are not highly visible.

"If development efforts are to be successful, DFID needs to deliver aid in a way that strengthens the social contract between the government and citizens, and that empowers individuals living in poverty" said Laura Hucks, WaterAid's Policy officer, "Donors must avoid increasing the reporting burden placed on overstretched developing country governments and support them to account to poor people for the use of public money."

Read the White Paper on DFID's website

For media enquiries please contact Ann Noon, Media Relations Manager: 0207 793 4790, AnnNoon@wateraid.org.

WaterAid at the G8 2009

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:27:00 +0000

WaterAid has been lobbying Gordon Brown to be a sanitation champion at this year's G8 summit, where the leaders of the world's eight richest countries meet to discuss matters of international importance – including international development.

At last year's Hokkaido Summit, the G8 agreed to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goal targets on water and sanitation. However, it now seems likely that the G8 leaders will not deliver.

WaterAid is calling on the G8 leaders to recognise the importance of water and sanitation and support a Global Framework for Action that will bring the same level of concerted international action as seen in health and education.

G8 micro-blog

Find out about WaterAid's take on events throughout the summit by following our live micro blog, updated through Twitter.

WaterAid on the plinth - you decide!

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:19:00 +0000

Jon Guest is a plinther. On Wednesday 8 July 2009, at precisely 8am, he will be mounting the empty Fourth Plinth in London's Trafalgar Square. What he wears while he is on the plinth is up to you...

Jon is one of the lucky people selected to take part in artist Antony Gormley's historic One & Other project.

Participants have one hour on the plinth to do as they like and, as a supporter of WaterAid, Jon has very generously offered to use his sixty minutes to help raise awareness of the importance of safe water and sanitation.

As his slot coincides with the opening day of the G8 in Italy, it's the perfect opportunity to really drive home the message to Gordon Brown and other world leaders that the sooner they start talking taps and toilets, the sooner thousands of lives will be saved.

We need your help to decide how Jon should best use his hour to make Gordon and Co sit up and take notice. All you have to do is choose which WaterAid/End Water Poverty costume you think makes the biggest statement.

Your vote has the potential to change the course of history, so what’s it to be?

The costumes, clockwise from top left, are: the inflatable tap, the normal tap, the toilet, and the End Water Poverty hand.

Vote now!

One & Other is commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with Sky Arts. The project will see a different person take their place on the Fourth Plinth every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days and will commence on Monday 6 July at 9.00am. Watch all the action live from the plinth every Friday at 7pm on Sky Arts 1/HD and online at www.oneandother.co.uk.

Glastonbury revellers tell Gordon 'It should be child's play'

noreply@blogger.com (isabella) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:36:00 +0000

This year's Glastonbury festival saw over 18,060 festival goers sign WaterAid's petition to the UK Prime Minister, urging him to be a 'sanitation champion'.

The warm and sunny weather made for ideal conditions to collect signatures in support of the End Water Poverty campaign.

WaterAid campaigner Rhian Lewis said:

"Festival goers were really keen to add their voice to our campaign and put public pressure on the UK government to put water and sanitation on the international agenda at next week's G8 meeting. During the weekend the issue of sanitation was really brought to life for the thousands of people attending the festival who spend a few days without the luxury of their own toilet!

"The festival provided a great opportunity to get our message out to a large number of people, that it's just not acceptable for 4,000 children to die every day because of a lack life's basics – clean water and somewhere to go to the toilet.

"It's fantastic that over 10 per cent of Glastonbury revellers supported our cause, and added their name to the petition."

The campaign also received support from a number of stars at the festival including VV Brown, Mathew Horne, Paulo Nutini, Jo Whiley, Tinariwen, Baaba Maal, KT Tunstall, Ed from The Friendly Fires, Dominick West (McNulty from the TV series the wire), Keith Allen, Howard Marks, Nick Clegg MP, Emmy the Great, and Maximo Park.

Find out more about the petitions that were delivered to 10 Downing Street.

Campaigners carry the can to Downing Street

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:12:00 +0000

As temperatures in London soared, a group of African and Asian Londoners wearing traditional dress carried jerry cans from the River Thames to Downing Street.

Accompanied by campaigners, they handed in over 80,000 petitions from the British public urging leaders at this year’s G8 summit to address the appalling injustice that leaves billions of people worldwide without clean water or basic sanitation.

Their journey took them up over Westminster Bridge, past the House of Commons and Big Ben, finishing at Downing Street in the scorching heat.

The women recreated the experience that’s a reality for millions of people around the world. As the collectors of water, women spend hours each day walking and queuing to collect water for their families. Often, the water they work so hard to collect is dirty, polluted and unsafe to drink.

The walk took place in support of End Water Poverty, a global campaign that aims to bring an end to the water and sanitation crisis. The coalition is formed of over 150 organisations from around the world, who are all demanding urgent action and leadership from donors and governments alike to address the global sanitation and water crisis. Coalition partners include WaterAid, Tearfund and Unicef.

Steve Cockburn, End Water Poverty International Campaigns Coordinator, said. "If London ran out of water on a day like today there would be outrage.

"We want Gordon Brown to be just as outraged that 4,000 children are dying every day in the poorest parts the world because they lack clean water and safe sanitation.

"The G8 summit next week provides a perfect opportunity for the Prime Minister to stand up for the world’s poor and ensures their rights to the most basic elements of life - taps and toilets - are realised in full. Only by doing this can their promises to fight poverty be kept."

Leaders at next week’s G8 have been mandated to address this global crisis. Historically, political leaders have not given water and sanitation high priority, and the women will call on Gordon Brown to show leadership and talk taps and toilets in L’Aquila, Italy.

"Surely the Prime Minister would insist upon urgent action if he arrived in Italy next week and there were no toilet facilities and dirty water was served up at the negotiation tables,” Cockburn concluded.

For all media enquiries please contact:

Chloe Irvine (WaterAid): 020 7793 4909 or 07514 941577

Notes to Editors:

WaterAid enables the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Our vision is of a world where everyone has access to these basic human rights which underpin health, education and livelihoods and form the first, essential step in overcoming poverty.

At least 4,000 children die every day as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation.
884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in eight of the world's population.
2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation, this is almost two fifths of the world's population.
WaterAid projects providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene education cost just £15 per head.

Picture: Zimbabwean Londoner Lindiwe Maseko draws water from the Thames.
Credit: David Parry/PA

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:57:00 +0000

International songstress Natalie Imbruglia has joined forces with Ecover and WaterAid to create a compelling video that explores the environmental importance of the global water cycle.

Shot in Natalie's home, the short film explains how our actions in the UK can impact on the rest of the world and is packed with useful tips from Natalie on how to reduce water consumption.

"The protection of the environment is very important to me", says Natalie "so I was delighted to work on this film. There's often an abundance of water in the UK, so it's easy to forget the very real issues of water shortage and pollution in other parts of the world. The video is a great way to learn more and offers some really simple tips on how we can all make a difference."

The film supports WaterAid's partnership with Ecover, the ecological cleaning brand, which provides sustainable and ongoing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to 11 villages and over 14,000 people in Ethiopia.

To help you do your bit Ecover is also offering a free watercare pack which includes a hippo water saver for your toilet as well as tips on how to save water and reduce water pollution, both locally and globally.

Fern Britton backs WaterAid's Taste for Life

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Queen of daytime TV supports WaterAid’s new foodie fundraiser

Much-loved television presenter Fern Britton is lending her support to a brand new initiative called Taste for Life, a fun way to simultaneously entertain friends at home and raise money for a good cause.

With the barbeque and picnic season almost in full swing, WaterAid is asking people to host a food event and invite their guests to make a donation to support our work to provide safe water and sanitation in some of the world's poorest communities.

With its emphasis on home cooking and an opportunity to enjoy great company, the scheme has attracted the backing of the doyenne of daytime television, Fern Britton.

According to Fern: "Nothing beats having friends and family over whether it's for dinner or just a barbeque, I love it! I hope people will feel inspired to join in with Taste for Life and celebrate great food while raising funds for this fantastic charity. WaterAid's projects literally save lives, so cook up a storm – and help bring clean water and sanitation to those without it!"

To help get Taste For Life off to a flying start, Fern has provided one of her favourite recipes for garlic and rosemary lamb with red wine gravy.

"I don't know what I would do without roast lamb. I even have it for Christmas," she said. "The recipe is a richer variation of your basic Sunday lunch, but boy it's good! The flavours of rosemary, garlic and red wine are perfect companions to the lamb, and the anchovies, though they may sound a bit odd, act as a tenderiser."

Amber Woods, Taste for Life Co-ordinator, explains: "We're asking people to get together with friends and family to enjoy good food, and raise funds for WaterAid at the same time. Taste for Life is flexible: you can choose any event you like. From a slap-up dinner party, to a relaxed picnic with your friends, or perhaps a mouth-watering Sunday roast or a summer barbeque with your family – it's totally up to you!

"Hosting an event is simple – especially with the free Taste for Life pack available for everyone who registers at www.wateraid.org/tasteforlife. Just invite your guests over for a culinary feast, have a great time, ask them to make a donation to WaterAid and finally, encourage them to hold their own event."

"We're so thrilled to have Fern's support for Taste For Life. We've got other celebrities coming on board too, Joanna Lumley is also sharing one of her favourite recipes with us!"

Across the world one in eight people live without access to safe water and 2.5 billion have nowhere safe or private to go to the toilet. Without these basic human rights millions of people are prevented from overcoming poverty and 4,000 children die needlessly every day.

Amber continues: "The money you and your guests raise by taking part in Taste for Life will support WaterAid's vital work. You can also be a catalyst for a bigger change by passing Taste for Life on. Why not encourage your guests to join the Taste for Life network by hosting their own event?"

Exclusive recipes from Fern Britton and fellow Taste for life supporter Joanna Lumley now available to participants! To find out more and to register to host a Taste for Life event online, please visit www.wateraid.org/tasteforlife.

For more information, please contact Lisa Martin on 020 7793 4524, lisamartin@wateraid.org.

Happy birthday WaterAid Sverige!

noreply@blogger.com (WaterAid web team) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:17:00 +0000

We're thrilled to announce that yesterday WaterAid Sweden was officially launched.
We're even more thrilled that WaterAid Sweden's distinguished chair is none other than Jan Eliasson, former United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Darfur and President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Eliasson has experienced first hand the desperate need for clean water in developing countries:

"Exactly a year ago, when traveling with peace mediators, we were met by a group of women in a village in Darfur in Sudan. They chanted over and over: 'We want water, we want water'.
"Militia had poisoned the wells and now the women had to walk four hours to collect dirty water, water that made their children sick."

Mr Eliasson, who worked for many years worked on international policy, including the Millennium Development Goals, gladly accepted the invitation to be WaterAid Sweden's Chair:
"WaterAid is renowned and its work is practical and concrete. That is why I'm glad to be involved with WaterAid Sweden."

Engaged both by the UN and the Swedish Government on diplomatic missions and peace negotiations, Mr Eliasson has often dealt with conflicts rooted in scarce water resources:
"The fact there is a need to cooperate over water resources can be a catalyst for cooperation and I believe we can do more to facilitate this process."

An opinion piece by Jan in Sweden's second biggest daily newspaper talks about Fatal Neglect, WaterAid's recent report, which details how diarrhoea - the second biggest killer under-fives - is being neglected.

The launch of WaterAid Sverige was sponsored by the British High Commissioner and took place at his residence in Stockholm.