WASH Debates

Published on: 06/12/2016

IRC organises debates in The Hague open to all interested parties. WASH Debates bring together professionals to network and discuss hot topics in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. They are forward looking and multidisciplinary in nature presenting the latest thinking from governments, NGOs, private sector and academia.

The first series of events were held in 2014 and have continued at regular intervals ever since. On average around 50 people attend and ensure that lively discussions take place on the topic in hand. Private companies, government and NGOs have used the platform to put forth burning issues for discussion. The discussions in each debate are captured in blogs, and occasionally in videos, so that everyone is able to learn about the latest issues in the sector.

Below is an overview of WASH debates held and their topics:

2024

• Results Count: Getting to know the new coordinated monitoring framework within the Dutch Water Portfolio - 3 April

2022

• The Reunion: Coming together to look at the Dutch contribution to the water and sanitation targets in relation to broader development objectives - 16 March
• Public-private partnerships for water, sanitation and hygiene: What we can learn from Ghana - 17 September
• Leveraging household investments: Experiences in scaling market-based approaches in water and sanitation - 09 November

2020

• Climate adaptation in the WASH sector: distraction or necessity? - 17 June

2019

• Dialogue and dissent: Looking at the role of civil society in achieving SDG 6 by 2030 - 26 June
• Sustainable WASH services delivery and local WRM in fragile states: how far can you get? - 20 November

2018

• Leaving no one behind; social inclusion in the WASH sector - 18 April 2018
• Building institutional capacity for behaviour change & sanitation programming - 11 September 2018
• Blended finance: Is it all in a mix? - 04 December 2018

2017

• Max Foundation-IRC Event: Phase out strategies in the WASH sector - 31 May
• Linking WASH and IWRM programmes to achieve SDG6 - 22 November

2016

• Reaching universal coverage: an Agenda for Change - 30 March
• Water Integrity Global Outlook 2016: Launch in the Netherlands - 15 April
• Is the end of ownership near? A water and sanitation perspective - 25 May
• Accountability tools to improve WASH service delivery - 06 July
• Checking and monitoring sustainability of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services - 16 November

2015

• The SDGs for water and sanitation. What is new? What is different? - 04 March
• Domestic resource mobilization for water, sanitation and hygiene - 03 June
• Working towards sustainable urban sanitation - 09 September
• Innovative approaches to WASH in emergency situations - 25 November

2014

• Death of the handpump  - 14 February
• Can we avoid rehabilitation programmes? - 03 June 
• The limits of aid, the future of trade? - 17 September
• The role of public finance in reaching scale and sustainable water and sanitation services - 12 November