Water Services That Last
Life-Cycle Costs Approach
Philanthropedia medal

Joep Verhagen

Manager, South Asia & Latin America Team

Joep Verhagen starting working at IRC in May 2005. Prior to his present job, Joep has worked and lived for a period of almost 10 year in India. As an independent consultant he worked for bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors and developed long-term and fruitful partnerships with leading Indian NGOs such as Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and the Disaster Mitigation Institute (DMI).

In IRC, Joep focuses his work on sanitation, sector learning and he leads the thematic group on Learning Alliances and Action Research. Geographically his focus is on South Asia and Ghana.

A selection of current and past activities:

  • Coordination of the sanitation practitioners workshop in Bangladesh. This 3-day workshop provided regional practitioners the opportunity to exchange lessons learnt. Good practices are documented and are available on http://www.irc.nl/page/39469. In collaboration with WaterAid, WSSCC, and BRAC.
  • Coordination of the successful IRC symposium on Sanitation for the Urban Poor. This symposium brought together more than 80 practitioners, policy makers, and academics and specifically focused on governance and partnerships. More on http://www.irc.nl/page/39960
  • Developed the BRAC WASH programme (budget Euro 60 Million) and consequently lead a 18 month technical assistance programme to BRAC.
  • Co-organized a seminar on sanitation for the urban poor during the 2009 Stockholm World Water Week. In collaboration with WSSCC, WSP, UN-Habitat, and Sulabh International.
  • Developed a five year South Asia regional WASH strategy for SNV and is leading discussions on joint action research around the delivery of sanitation services to the rural poor
  • Manager of IRC activities within the framework of SWITCH, a 5-year action research programme on social inclusion and WASH services in urban low-income areas in Ghana (2006 – present).

Selected publications

  • Verhagen J, Ryan, P. (2008) : Sanitation Services for the Urban Poor: symposium background paper. IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. http://www.irc.nl/page/45494
    Wicken, J, Verhagen, J (2008): Beyond construction. Use by all. Proceedings of a South Asia practitioner’s workshop in Bangladesh 2008. IRC and WaterAid. http://www.irc.nl/page/43966
  • Verhagen J., Butterworth J., Morris M. (2008). Learning alliances for integrated and sustainable innovations in urban water management. Proc. 33rd WEDC International conference, Accra, Ghana. Water Lines Volume 27 Number 2 April 2008
  • Verhagen J. and Bhatt M. 2006: “Multiple Use of Water in Urban Areas” A Case Study in Bhuj, Gujarat, India
  • Verhagen J. , A.J.J James, Wijk, Christine van, Reema Nanavaty, Mita Parikh, Mihir Bhatt (2004) . “Linking Water Supply and Poverty Alleviation. The impact of women’s productive use of water and time on household economy and gender relations in Banaskantha District, Gujarat, India.” Occasional Paper. IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.
  • Joep Verhagen (2004) “SEWA’s Water Campaign” case study. World Bank
  • Joep Verhagen (2003) Women’s Struggle for Water a series of 3 fields notes and 3 posters on SEWA’s Water Campaign. SEWA Ahmedabad, India.
  • A.J. James, Joep Verhagen, Christine van Wijk, Reema Nanavaty, Mita Parikh, and Mihir Bhatt: "Transforming time into money using water: A participatory study of economics and gender in rural India” Natural Resource Forum, 26(5) 205 – 218.