| Issue 51. 17 October 2014 | www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/decade_weekly.shtml |
| This week in focus | Editor’s note
Welcome to the Decade’s Weekly! Every week we bring you the latest news from the International Decade for Action ’Water for Life’ 2005-2015. Please feel free to share this newsletter. You can also access this newsletter online. Tip of the weekOn the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we have prepared a selection of UN publications for you!
>> UN publications on Water and Poverty |
| #EndPoverty International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Leave no one behind: think, decide and act together against extreme poverty Date: 17 October 2014 The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993. The United Nations designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries. The 2014 theme recognises the demanding challenge of identifying and securing the participation of those experiencing extreme poverty and social exclusion in the "Post-2015 Development Agenda". The official commemoration on 17 October at UN Headquarters will be an occasion to recognize people living in poverty as critical partners for fighting the development challenges we face. Access to clean water and sanitation are among the most powerful drivers for human development. They extend opportunity, enhance dignity and help create a virtuous cycle of improving health and rising wealth. Clean water and sanitation would save the lives of countless children, support progress in education and liberate people from the illnesses that keep them in poverty. Ensuring the participation and involvement of poor people in water-related development efforts is essential to ensure the success of policies and initiatives implemented. Help the United Nations to raise awareness about the progress made and the challenges that remain for people living in poverty. Use the hashtag #EndPoverty to post your messages. |
| In the news | Forthcoming events |
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#NigeriaWater African Water Facility supports the development of Komadugu-Yobe Basin in Nigeria
On 10 October 2014, the African Water Facility announced a 2 million Euro grant to the Hadejia-Jama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund for the preparation of a strategic action plan to develop water resources in the Komadugu-Yobe basin in Northern Nigeria. The project is designed to help meet different water needs and address associated challenges through an integrated water resources management approach focused on the reoperation of the Tiga and Challawa Gorge dams. The simple practice of handwashing with soap not only saves lives, but is also instrumental in the fight against Ebola. Members and partners of UN-Water like UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) are active on the ground to stop transmission, prevent international spread, fight widespread misconceptions about Ebola disease and improve hygiene practices. UNICEF is providing water and sanitation services to the affected communities, particularly through the procurement of water, sanitation and hygiene equipment and supplies, WHO in turn is providing technical advice on safe water and safe management of excreta and wastewater as part of the global response under the newly formed Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). Many delta cities across the Asian region are prone to flooding, which is particularly devastating for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Although many countries in the region have made significant progress in controlling floods, new approaches are still needed. To meet this demand for innovative knowledge, the World Bank Group’s Water Global Practice recently brought decision-makers and practitioners from Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on a study tour to the Netherlands, a key development partner with over 400 years of experience in managing water resources and protecting its population and cities from the devastating effects of flooding. Haiti’s fight against cholera has seen significant progress. Still, water-borne diseases are a leading cause for mortality of children in Haiti. In addition, the country has faced one of the most severe cholera outbreaks in modern history, and despite the significant reduction in the new number of cases and deaths, the disease remains endemic. In collaboration with the Government of Haiti, the UN and development partners, the World Bank hosted a high-level conference on "Haiti: Clean Water, Improved Sanitation, Better Health" in Washington D.C. on 9 October 2014. In the context of the Government’s 10 year plan to Eliminate Cholera in Haiti and its Total Sanitation Campaign launched in July 2014, the Conference aimed at bringing together the international community to combat water borne diseases like cholera and raise commitments to provide water, sanitation and health services in the communes most affected by cholera over the next three years. "This meeting was an opportunity for dedicated partners to address the plan to eliminate Cholera in Haiti and to improve access to clean water and sanitation initiatives. Further we need to assure that the commitments are met and Haiti remains on track to eliminate cholera within its borders," said Haiti’s Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe. About 38% of Haitians lack access to safe drinking water and only 24% of Haitian families have access to improved sanitation. |
#Water&PPPs International Conference Public - Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the water and sanitation sector: an exchange of experiences between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East and North Africa
Date: 21-22 October 2014 This conference will explore challenges, bottlenecks, results and achievements in water and sanitation PPPs through case studies of experiences in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East and North Africa with the aim to identify best practices and identify a roadmap for future work on water and sanitation PPPs in these regions. The conference will also officially launch the International Centre of Excellence international centre on water and sanitation PPPs. Date: 22 October 2014 In the framework of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, the outgoing UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, has organised a side-event to discuss tools for the realization of the rights to water and sanitation and remedies for violations of these rights. In this context she will present her new publication "Realising the human rights to water and sanitation: A handbook". This Handbook is the product of six years work and a collaborative approach to the identification of the key barriers, challenges and opportunities that stakeholders encounter in realising these rights. Date: 25 November 2014 This meeting will be held back to back with the 7th meeting of the Working Group on Water and Health (Geneva, 26-27 November 2014). The main objective of the 10th meeting will be to discuss the different follow up actions planned as the result of the decisions taken by the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol at its third session. Observers interested in participating are requested to register no later than 5 November 2014. Date: 17 November - 14 December 2014 The purpose of this course is to raise awareness on the current state of freshwater resources worldwide and the need for adequate diplomatic solutions to stimulate cooperation around the way the resource is managed. It will provide knowledge resources, circumstantial experiences, and tools to enhance the ability of water-relevant stakeholders to assess, prevent, and respond to the tensions arising from situations of water scarcity and mismanagement worldwide. Participants from Least Developed Countries are eligible to apply for a fellowship. |
• Ryan’s Well Foundation
The Ryan’s Well Foundation (RWF) is a family of people committed to delivering access to safe water and sanitation as an essential way to improve the lives of people in the developing world. In all of RWF work, it partners with in country organizations. In each project, RWF builds capacity to support and deliver comprehensive and scalable water, sanitation and hygiene education programming with local partner organizations. RWF is actively seeking collaboration from other small organisations to share capital costs in capacity building. RWF has joined the Water for Life Decade’s campaign and the Decade’s logo is displayed in the Foundation’s website.