Published on: 04/02/2015
The alliance brings together IRC, Simavi, Akvo and Wetlands International who focus on improved delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services – building on their work in the existing Dutch WASH Alliance
Globally 2.5 billion people still do not have access to improved sanitation and 750 million people lack access to safe water. By 2030, it is estimated that 47% of the world's population will face high water stress, making sustainable solutions imperative.
WASH IT! will develop the tools, methods and capacities for civil society, government and the private sector to work towards, and hold each other accountable for, the sustainable achievement of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. This is exactly what Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Minister Lilianne Ploumen aims at under her new "Dialogue and Dissent" programme: strengthening civil society organizations to improve the relationship between citizens, government and business in low- and middle income countries.
Equitable and sustainable WASH services are a top priority of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "The Netherlands has a strong profile in the area of WASH services for the ultra-poor".
Inequitable and unsustainable WASH services are often caused by poor governance. In line with the Ministry, WASH IT! believes that central, regional and local governments are responsible to provide adequate WASH supply services and for protecting their water resources. In order to achieve this, the alliance will work with a wide range of partners on ensuring better policies, better regulation and better enforcement of regulation.
Digging wells no longer fits this day and age
Minister Ploumen stated to the Dutch Press Agency ANP, that the "old policy of building schools and wells no longer fits this day and age", highlighting instead governments' responsibilities for providing services to their citizens. Furthermore we believe this requires that WASH's demands are reflected in the priorities of those sectors managing water as it becomes an increasingly scarce resource. The partners in the WASH IT! alliance support this vision and look forward to working with the Ministry to achieving it.
Editor's notes
About IRC
IRC is an international think-and-do tank that works with governments, NGOs, businesses and people around the world to find long-term solutions to the global crisis in water, sanitation and hygiene services. At the heart of its mission is the aim to move from short-term interventions to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services.
With over 45 years of experience, IRC runs programmes and projects in more than 25 countries and large-scale projects in seven focus countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
About Simavi
Simavi strives for a world in which basic health is accessible for all, since basic health is the first step towards building a better existence and creating a way out of poverty. Simavi realises structural improvement of health conditions of people in marginalised communities in Africa and Asia. We invest in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and in sexual and reproductive health and rights. It is our ambition to structurally improve the basic health of 10 million people by 2020.
About Akvo
Akvo builds open source internet and mobile software which is designed to support international development partnership networks, and make cooperation and aid activity more effective and transparent. A non-profit foundation headquartered in the Netherlands, it provides its software as a service, backed by a global partner-support and training team. Akvo has staff in 13 countries across five continents. Hundreds of organisations are using Akvo tools and services, involving more than €1.5 billion of programmes to date.
About Wetlands International
Wetlands International is a global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to maintaining and restoring wetlands— for their environmental values as well as for the services they provide to people. We work through our network of 18 offices, our partners and experts to achieve our goals. We operate in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia. We are also supported by government and NGO membership. Our headquarter office is in The Netherlands.
WASH IT! alliance:
Media Contact
Jenda Terpstra (IRC) M +31 6 44051613 T +31 70 3044062 or
Vera van der Grift (IRC) M +31 6 20195160 T +31 70 3044069
Email: communications@ircwash.org
www.ircwash.org
