Publications

Over the years IRC has (co-)published more than 100 books, pamphlets and papers on key water and sanitation topics. New titles are added on a regular basis. An increasing number of these are available online, free of charge. This includes the series of Thematic Overview Papers (TOPs), which combine recent experiences, expert opinions and foreseeable trends with links to the most informative publications, websites and research information.

Sanitation financing models for the urban poor

This Thematic Overview Paper attempts to search for pro-poor financing models that can facilitate the urban poor’s access to complete sanitation services. It catalogues existing financing models and examines each based on an analytical framework that comprises six criteria. It offers a recommendation for mixing financing mechanisms to meet the urban poor’s needs, and makes a plea for developing poor-specific and full-cycle specific plans for sanitation.

Documenting change: An introduction to process documentation

In this Occasional Paper, IRC consolidates lessons learned across a range of IRC projects and describes the resultant and emerging understanding of how process documentation can promote learning and action through joint reflection and analysis. This Occasional Paper also offers tools for collecting and presenting observations that stimulate reflection, learning and sharing.

Good review of “Climbing the Water Ladder” book in Waterlines 30th anniversary issue

The fact that the multiple-use water services (MUS) approach focuses on the specific needs of water users and aims to improve wellbeing and socio-economic status makes it a better tool for poverty alleviation than integrated water resources management (IWRM). This is one of the observations of Phillipa Kanyoka from the University of Pretoria in her review of our Climbing the Water Ladder book from the 30th anniversary issue of Waterlines, Vol 30, Nr 4, October 2011.

Thematic Overview Papers

Do you need to get up to speed quickly on current thinking about a critical issue in the field of water, sanitation and health?

Each TOP will contain enough immediate information to give a grounding in the topic concerned, with direct access to more detailed coverage of your own special interests, plus contact details of resource centres or individuals who can give local help.