MoU between IRC, Simavi and Aqua for All

Memorandum of Understanding - Collaboration IRC-Simavi-A4A

Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation play a crucial role in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as defined in Johannesburg 2002. Water is and will be one of the main focus areas for the coming water decade (2005-2015, Water for Life) and this requires joining forces in order to help realise the MDGs. In recent years IRC, Simavi and Aqua for All (A4A) have worked together, mostly on an informal basis. This cooperation has proved very rewarding. For this reason the organisations have decided to formalize their collaboration in a Memorandum of Understanding under the name:

“ WaterLinks”

One of the outcomes of this cooperation will be the combined execution of a number of projects in Bangladesh, Ghana, India and Tanzania. Together they will also look for innovations in the WASH (Water Sanitation Hygiene) sector, such as ways to measure the MDG efforts, quality promotion, strategic approaches to capacity building and innovative approaches to resolve water problems, for instance Appropriate Technology (AT) and arsenic contamination.

• IRC is a well-known knowledge centre, specialised in water, sanitation and hygiene issues in developing countries, with extensive national and international networks.
• Simavi is a support organisation which has been involved in healthcare initiatives for 80 years and has a special focus on water and sanitation issues.
• Aqua for All (A4A) is an umbrella organisation that enables the Dutch drinking water companies and Dutch district water boards to focus on support activities in the Third World. A4A has developed into a specialised network organisation which finances projects and at the same time disseminates knowledge from within the Dutch water sector (more than 100 experts).

This cooperation will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the three partner organisations. WaterLinks also aims to set a standard for collaborative approaches to effectively serve the poorest people.

The Memorandum of Understanding will officially be signed by the representatives of the three organisations during the “Waterpoort” meeting of the Netherlands Water Partnership on 22 March 2005, World Water Day, in The Hague.

Delft, Haarlem, Nieuwegein, March 2005

• IRC (Director, Paul van Koppen),   
• Simavi (Acting Director, Mrs. Rolien Sasse),
• Aqua for All (Director, Sjef Ernes)