Linking IWRM and WASH : a position paper

Wetlands International has been studying the priority actions for stronger alignment of Dutch-funded water management and WASH activities abroad. This position paper presents the key findings and recommended priority actions, based on the work in partner countries, workshops and discussions.

The challenge for governments and civil society organisations is to deliver water security in an increasingly insecure world. This is not an easy task, but we do believe it is possible if we work together and if we stand on each other’s shoulders.

In order to identify linkages between integrated water resources management (IWRM) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in a certain intervention, the paper recommends that two aspects should be taken into account:

1. Where and how is WASH (particularly drinking water) under threat due to problematic3 water resources management?
2. Where and how is problematic WASH (sanitation and wastewater) a threat to other water resources and ecosystems?

This position paper is an output from the Watershed webinar on WASH and IWRM linkages.