SWITCH programme
SWITCH was a 5 year research programme (2006-2011) funded by the European Union focused on sustainable Urban Water Management. IRC's contribution focused on supporting stakeholder engagement processes in SWITCH cities and research on social inclusion issues.
Lessons from SWITCH City Futures Summit
During the SWITCH City Futures Summit in Delft, October 2009, scientific experts and practitioners from around the world shared ideas and lessons and joined forced with donor groups and international organisations to accelerate change towards a more sustainable water City of the Future. Their experience is captured on video.
Learning from city experiences
As part of a research initiative promoting more sustainable urban water management, the SWITCH project has invested in developing learning alliances in its pilot cities. These alliances have brought together researchers, implementers, policy makers and other key stakeholders with a focus on promoting collaboration towards change, and especially on putting research into use.
The pace of urbanisation in Africa determines the continent's entry into modernity
"Without a doubt, no one can argue that water is not a priority because it does not enjoy preferential treatment in national or local budgets. Water is obviously a natural need. Everyone needs water to live and there are some economic activities that greatly depend on the availability of water. The need for and use of water is differently prioritised. However the issue of access is very important as access may vary based on the existence (or absence) of a source for instance (e.g. natural constraints). It is in the issue of access where important policy decisions and choices may be made," Jean-Pierre Elong-Mbassi, Planner, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA).
Outputs from workshop on ‘Process documentation for learning alliances and action research’
A workshop was held in the city of Lodz in central Poland, 1 - 5 July 2007, supported by the SWITCH research project, IRC and EMPOWERS. The purpose of the training was to look into process documentation for learning alliances and action research. The activities being undertaken in the city of Lodz in central Poland provided the focus for the practical aspects of the training. Several outputs of the workshop can be viewed online.
“The Nobel Prize for SWITCH is in the learning alliance process.”
‘SWITCH was not selected for the science, but for the learning alliances. We need to move beyond failures […] I don’t expect Nobel Prizes from the science. The Nobel Prize for SWITCH is in the learning alliance process,’ Zissimos Vergos, Project officer, EC Commission DG Research.
SWITCH web site and intranet
24 Jul 06
SWITCH now has its own web site. If you feel you qualify for access to its intranet, please go to the web site and click on contact SWITCH secretariat .
32 world-wide water partners to bring the City of the Future one step closer
We are far away from a sustainable urban water management. Sustainable solutions are urgently needed to meet the challenges in urban water management. The SWITCH project is designed to cover all elements of the urban water cycle, from water demand management, to storm water management, waste prevention, treatment and reuse, governance and asset management, to river rehabilitation and eco-hydrology.
