IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

Bridging the knowledge gap and joint learning with partners for improved, low-cost water supply, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries.

Monitoring for Action - IRC at African Water Week 4

Activities of IRC at the AfWW-4 will focus on Monitoring for Action: Improving WASH Sector Performance and Sustainable Service Delivery, on which IRC will lead a session on 17 May together with Water and Sanitation for Africa (WSA).

In Focus: Parallel worlds

In 2002 the Ugandan Ministry of Health compiled and distributed a handbook on data collection of Environmental Health information at household level. Although the book was distributed at district and parish level, it was not being used and many officers were not even aware of it.

IRC Symposium 2013: monitoring sustainable WASH service delivery, 9 to 11 April 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The number of initiatives to strengthen WASH service monitoring is growing, new tools are being developed, and international indicators are being refined. The 2013 IRC Symposium will provide a global platform for sharing these initiatives and experiences.

Commercial productive use of faecal sludge in Bengaluru

Waste is a resource in the wrong place. People who have no sewer connection do go to the toilet though urban authorities seem to think differently given the neglect of the multitude of sanitation self-service models that have emerged in many cities. `

During a webinar, which was organised on 2 May 2012, Joep Verhagen of the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre presented the results of a case study, which investigates a model that is based on the productive use of faecal sludge by farmers in and around Bengaluru (Bangalore), the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. This particular service has emerged without any technical or financial support.

RiPPLE established as an independent organisation

RiPPLE, established in 2006 as a research programme consortium, is evolving and growing and since April 2012 has been established as an independent organisation to serve the Ethiopian WASH sector. A new Executive Director has been appointed.

Disney’s 1940s sanitation and hygiene promotion films

Already in the 1940s, the Walt Disney Studios produced a series of educational films on sanitation and hygiene promotion for developing countries. The films, in the Health for the Americas series, were aimed at Latin America.

Take a look at them in the Sanitation Updates

Developing countries and donors agree to tackle the water and sanitation crisis

Ministerial delegations from 40 countries have announced serious commitments to tackle the global water and sanitation crisis. Developing countries have promised that they will provide safe drinking water to 60 million more people and improved sanitation to another 80 million within two years. The governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom announced that they will collaborate to also get water and sanitation to millions of people.

Towards a learning-focused sector

From 17 to 20th April, IRC conducted a workshop on how national WASH Resource Centre Networks (RCNs) support learning in their WASH sectors. The workshop which was organised as part of the PSO-supported programme on sector learning with RCNs in Burkina Faso, Honduras, Ghana, Nepal and Uganda. Participants reflected on how resource centre networks are supporting learning in the WASH sector and shared stories of change as well as lessons on what works and what challenges exist.

FLOW, developed by Water for People, is being tested by IRC in three districts in Ghana as part of the Triple-S project. FLOW helps the user assess whether or not WASH facilities are functioning or are on the verge of disrepair. On the AKVO blog you can find more information on how FLOW works and a webinar on IRC's experience. Also check out the WaterHackathon blog where IRC's Nick Dickson is interviewed on FLOW.

Go to the AKVO blog

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About IRC

IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre is a knowledge-focused NGO. We work with a worldwide network of partner organisations in order to achieve equitable and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. IRC’s roots are in advocacy, knowledge management and capacity building.The organisation was founded in 1968.