Sanitation

Sanitation refers to issues around human excreta: disposal, collection, treatment, transfer and re-use in whatever form. Safe sanitation refers to the secure and effective management of human excreta, including treatment and re-use, and widespread usage of safe toilets. On this page you will find news updates on sanitation, as well as information on:

- Sanitation for the Urban Poor: IRC Symposium 2008
- Learning and Sharing Workshops
- IRC Track Record on Sanitation
- Projects
- Publications

Sustaining sanitation – Pan European Networks interviews Joep Verhagen

In an interview with Pan European Networks, IRC Senior Sanitation Specialist Joep Verhagen explains how sanitation efforts need to begin to increase their focus on sustainability.

EU aid for water and sanitation hit a record €1.6bn in 2009, but in March 2012 the EU announced plans to redirect development to ‘the world’s neediest nations’ with fears that this could harm sanitation efforts in Latin America, Asia and possibly some sub-Saharan African countries. Joep Verhagen shares his thoughts on the EU plans and on how knowledge-sharing partnerships and research are helping to provide sustainable solutions to existing rural and urban sanitation problems.

Read the full interview

Sanitation Updates

This news feed on sanitation is maintained by the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and by USAID’s WASHplus project. It was originally set up to promote the 2008 International Year of Sanitation and continues to provide news, information and resources in support of achieving the goal of sanitation for all.

Learning and Sharing Workshops

In 2007 IRC started organising regional learning and sharing workshops on sanitation and hygiene. One of the main objectives of such a gathering is to get key players and practitioners to focus on “what works” and “what doesn’t work” in the area of sanitation and hygiene. These workshops are a potential first step in the development of a community of practice on sanitation and hygiene.

Sanitation for the Urban Poor

The IRC symposium ‘Sanitation for the Urban Poor: Partnerships and Governance’ (19 – 21 November 2008, Delft, the Netherlands) brought together a wide range of experts and practitioners to provide a platform to share good practices and explore new ways forward. Ensuring sustainable sanitation services to the urban poor poses many challenges for which answers have not yet been found.