Opinions and voices for change
Navigate the blogs from our experts, water, sanitation and hygiene sector colleagues and guests. Narrow down your search by using the filters.
Next year the Millennium Development Goals will make way for their successors: the Sustainable Development Goals. What does this mean for global development? What should the new targets include? Organisations working in water, sanitation and hygiene closely follow the making of the new agenda. Read more...
Several Dutch water sector organisations have written to Minister Ploumen (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) about the Dutch targets for water supply. Read more...
Not only does the accessibility of water play an important role in improving the well-being of Burkina Faso's women, but women too, play a crucial role in guaranteeing the sustainability of water services in the country. But what is the main challenge that women in Burkina Faso face when it comes... Read more...
I am waiting for the moment that the newspapers report it is all quiet on the waterfront. Read more...
In this blog, IRC's head of innovation and international programme Catarina Fonseca discusses the financing of the post-2015 development goals. "A substantial part of funding for development should be sought elsewhere," she argues. Through public finance. Or tax, as we call it. Read more...
Over the years, IRC's focus has evolved from supporting community management, to working on a 'whole system' approach to sector change. In this second blog in our series on a learning and adaptive sector we chart IRC's evolution and explore the central role of collective learning for delivering... Read more...
Understanding the difference between charity, venture philanthropy and impact investing is key to getting businesses and programmes funded Read more...
In this blog Patrick Moriarty reflects on Stockholm World Water Week 2014. There is good progress in language (and some tools) around the role of government in delivering services, he argues. But it's still an uphill struggle on who pays for what. Read more...
The capacity to continuously learn and adapt is critical for dealing with complex challenges and future uncertainties. In this first blog in a series about 'a learning and adaptive sector', we discuss why learning is central to achieving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for life. Read more...
In the third of three blog posts, CEO of IRC Patrick Moriarty explains why “government leadership” is critical to tackle inequality, poverty and to create sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services – and why we need to stop believing in fairy tales be they about self-supporting communities... Read more...
Opiniebijdrage van Stef Smits in Vice Versa Read more...
"The 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of true WASH service delivery is entirely within our reach," argues CEO of IRC Patrick Moriarty in this second of three blog posts. "We're ready. What's to stop us? Two big scary words: Government and Money." Read more...
There are a range of sustainability tools for water. However tools alone do not automatically mean that services will improve, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable. Read more...
In the first of three blog posts, IRC CEO Patrick Moriarty addresses the next big challenge: the critical role of public finance and government leadership. Read more...
This week, the 5th WASH Sustainability Forum will bring together representatives from civil society, government, universities and the private sector eager to share ideas on how to make our investments and efforts in water sanitation and hygiene have sustainable results. Read more...
Hoe zorg je dat water, sanitatie en hygiene (WASH) voorzieningen in ontwikkelingslanden niet na 2 of 3 jaar kapot gaan? Dat als ze kapot gaan, er iemand is die ze repareert? En hoe zorg je dat deze cyclus van vervangen en vernieuwen continu is, zodat mensen overal ter wereld kunnen vertrouwen op... Read more...
A joint letter from private sector, civil society and academic organisations was sent to the United Nations' Open Working Group with one firm message: Let's work together to finish the unfinished business of the MDGs and strive far beyond to a future of universal access to water, sanitation and... Read more...
Au cœur de la discussion, le fait que les bonnes intentions ne suffisent pas : les pannes précoces des infrastructures d'eau dans les zones rurales et les villages des pays à bas revenu est un problème bien connu de tous les membres de l'assistance. Mais en pratique, que peut-on faire pour éviter... Read more...
Amsterdam will soon host the 5th WASH Sustainability Forum, where over 160 water, sanitation and hygiene professionals will discuss how to tackle sustainability challenges. Read more...
The issue that was at the heart of the discussion is that good intentions are not enough and premature failure of water infrastructure in rural and small towns in low income countries is a well-known problem to all in the room. But what can be done in practice to avoid waste of investment in... Read more...