FAN eBulletin May 2007
Dear %%fullName%%
CONTENTS
ANEW
- ANEW attends World Bank high level meeting on water and sanitation
- Water Operator Partnerships (WOP) meetings
- NEWSAN prepare strategic plan
- Ugandan NGO pilot project on use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Launch of the national multi-stakeholder dialogue on dams, Togo
- Correction - Meeting of water CSOs in Southern Africa
- EUWI Africa Working Group (AWG) meeting
FANCA
- EUWI Latin American meeting
- New team member at FANCA
- USA-Central America Free Trade Agreement affects water law lobby
- Fundacion para el Desarrollo Urbano joins National Alliance for the Defence of Water (ANDA)
- FANCA member in Guatemala achieves support of congress
- Environmental organizations in El Salvador mark Earth Day 2007
FAN-South Asia
- Developing FAN-South Asia
- Traditional sources could solve drinking water shortage in Nepal
- Rain water harvesting can compensate scarcity
- Civil society sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government in Pakistan for services
- Have your say on the future of FAN
- Join End Water Poverty!
- World Water Monitoring Day
- World Rivers Day
- UK parliament makes recommendations on sanitation and water
- The Latinamerican Water Tribunal (LAWT) investigate water contamination cases
- UN and Brazilian government sign national agreement on water conservation
- IV World Water forum outcomes influence Mexican water policy
- Asian Development Bank increase funding for water sector in Dhaka, Bangladesh
- World Bank support Bujagali Dam, Uganda
- Sharing lessons learned to conserve Africa's Zambezi River
- 'Clean Water' song hits Ghana's airwaves on World Water Day
- Ethiopia wins international award for sustainable watershed management
- Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation to push for right for water
- Job vacancy: Legal and Policy Officers, Right to Water
- International symposium on community-led management of river environment
- 10th International River Symposium
- 8th Specialized Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems (SWWS) and the 2nd Specialized Conference on Decentralised Water and Wastewater International Network (DEWSIN)
- 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development
- The CIVICUS World Assembly
- 21st National Water Congress (CONAGUA 2007)
- European Investment Bank—Civil Society workshop
- Enhancing Professional Practice, BPD
- International learning workshop on demand side management of groundwater
- 1st International WASH Practitioners' Market Place & Fair and 19th Regional Water & Sanitation Seminar
- Latin America Regional Sanitation Conference
- Asia Pacific Water Forum Summit (APWS)
- Taking stock of WATSAN in India in the pretext of SACOSAN III
- Environmental history of water: global views on community water supply and sanitation
- Money into Water, Water into Money
- Water Quality Outlook
- African Water
- New research tool on the right to water
- Forum on the Future of Aid
- April 2007 issue of Dams, Rivers & People
NETWORK NEWS
Welcome back Danielle!
Danielle Morley, FAN Coordinator, has returned to work for three days a week following maternity leave.
World Bank - CSO scoping study
The third phase of the FAN-World Bank scoping study is now underway. CSOs and World Bank staff have submitted ideas for dialogue activities which are being developed along with process guidelines on how dialogue should be conducted.
ANEW attends World Bank high level meeting on water and sanitation
As part of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund, the most senior high level meeting exclusively on water and sanitation took place. Prof. Edward Kairu, Chair of African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW), was the only civil society representative invited to attend
Water Operator Partnerships (WOP) meetings
UN Water has planned a global initiative and several regional initiatives, including multi-stakeholder platforms, in order to develop public-public partnerships. Edward Kairu represented ANEW at the first meeting in Johannesburg, 23 and 24 of April. Forthcoming meetings are in Recife, organised by UN DESA on 22 May, and Amsterdam, organised by IWA on 21 and 22 June. NGOs interested in participating in these meetings should approach the convener.
NEWSAN prepare strategic plan
The national steering committee of NEWSAN (Nigerian Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation), Nigeria met in April to agree a strategic plan 2007-2010. Once finalized, the plan will be circulated to partners, government and other stakeholders.
Ugandan NGO pilot project on use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
The Uganda Environmental Education Foundation (UEEF) have taken part in a pilot project of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and the Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) to promote ICT in managing soil and water sustainability within the Nile Basin region. The project aimed to establish and strengthen networks among environmental/developmental CBOs.
Launch of the national multi-stakeholder dialogue on dams, Togo
A national consultative meeting was held in March to kick-start dialogue on dams and sustainable development in Togo and deepen the input of stakeholders into the management of water and energy.
Read the report (pdf)
Correction - Meeting of water CSOs in Southern Africa
The link from this item in the April eBulletin was incorrect. Below is the correct link to notes from the February meeting of CSOs working on water in the SADC region.
read the report (pdf)
EUWI Africa Working Group (AWG) meeting
The first meeting of the EUWI Africa Working Group members took place in Burkina Faso in April. Edward Kairu represented ANEW. There were sessions on the Africa Working Group strategy, financing, sanitation and EU Aid mapping.
EUWI Latin American meeting
Members of FANCA participated in the meeting of the European Union Water Initiative for Latin America (EUWI-LA) in Guatemala in April. FANCA developed a successful lobby campaign at this meeting promoting the need for EUWI-LA to open to civil society.
Read Jorge Mora’s report (pdf)
New team member at FANCA
Enrique Cifuentes, a Guatemaltecan lawyer and member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Legal, Environmental and Social Action (CALAS), has joined FANCA to contribute to strengthening the network’s environmental law and legislation research activities.
USA-Central America Free Trade Agreement affects water law lobby
Members of Freshwater Action Network Central America (FANCA), who have been lobbying for a new water resources law and constitutional reform to declare water as a public good, have been seriously impeded by the Free Trade Agreement USA-Central America (CAFTA) discussion which is taking all the attention of Congress.
Contact FANCA for more details and to join the Stop CAFTA Campaign
Fundacion para el Desarrollo Urbano joins National Alliance for the Defence of Water (ANDA)
FUDEU (Fundacion para el Desarrollo Urbano) has joined ANDA, which is developing a campaign to promote the water resources law and constitutional reform. The law is being revised by a technical commission called by the Minister of Environment and waiting to be taken to congress in the next period of regular sessions.
FANCA member in Guatemala achieves support of congress
Thanks to a successful lobbying, leadership and political advocacy action, the Center for Legal, Environmental and Social Action (CALAS) has achieved the full support of national congress to encourage the Government and other relevant actors to approve and implement the National Water Policy through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Read more (pdf - Spanish only)
Environmental organizations in El Salvador mark Earth Day 2007
A group of organizations in El Salvador used Earth Day on 22nd April to ask the government to guarantee access to safe water for all and to demand more protection to the environment. Only 33.5% families in the country have access to safe water.
Developing FAN-South Asia
Regional and national task teams have been identified to take forward a consultation process to assess the need for a consolidated South Asian network.
To get involved contact Murali
Traditional sources could solve drinking water shortage in Nepal
Local residents of Lalitpur sub-metropolitan city have been renovating traditional stone spouts to meet their water needs. NGO Forum for Urban Water & Sanitation Nepal organized a workshop to discuss these renovations as a solution to severe drinking water shortages. Participants of the workshop are now lobbying for training about the functioning and renovation of traditional sources and are demanding policy and financial assistance from government to conserve stone spouts.
Rain water harvesting can compensate scarcity
The Water and Energy Users Federation in Nepal would like to see a door-to-door campaign to generate awareness of rain water harvesting. They claim that harvesting 25 per cent of rain water could meet the demand of six hundred thousand people of Kathmandu and are pushing the government to consider proper initiatives for water management.
Civil society sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government in Pakistan for services
For the first time in Pakistan, government, civil society and other stakeholders have agreed to work together from the planning to implementation stage on the development of water supply and sanitation services infrastructure under the guidelines of National Sanitation Policy. FAN member Anjuman Samaji Behbood (ASB) is the civil society partner.
GET INVOLVED!
Have your say on the future of FAN
FAN governance consultant Rieky Stuart has made her recommendations on the future governance structure of FAN. We'd like your input. Please read through the paper and share your own thoughts and ideas with Rieky.
Read the paper (pdf)
Join End Water Poverty!
The aim of the End Water Poverty campaign is to get governments to provide sanitation and water for all. Membership is open to civil society organisations all over the world. Can your organisation join?
Read the membership agreement and complete application form (pdf)
World Water Monitoring Day
18 September 2007
Organised by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and International Water Association (IWA), the programme engages communities in monitoring the condition
of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies.
More info
World Rivers Day
30 September 2007
A World Rivers Day event might range from a stream clean up to a community riverside celebration. Events already planned include the Pan-South American rafting expedition traveling across the continent and promoting river conservation issues along the way.
NEWS
UK parliament makes recommendations on sanitation and water
Following the recent inquiry to examine how donors can support progress towards achieving MDG 7, the UK International Development Select Committee has published its report On Sanitation and Water. A parliamentary debate should follow and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) has three months to respond.
The Latinamerican Water Tribunal (LAWT) investigate water contamination cases
The Latinamerican Water Tribunal (LAWT) is urging all social movements, communal groups and organizations that know of unsustainable practices threatening the regional water sources to file a case. Selected denunciations will be heard at the second LAWT's regional public hearing which will be held in June 2007.
More info (English, Spanish)
UN and Brazilian government sign national agreement on water conservation
Despite having 12% of the world's freshwater supplies, Brazil continues to face water availability and distribution problems. This Carta de Princípios Cooperativos pela Água (Charter of Principle Cooperative Actions on Water) involves a number of pledges relating to the management of national water supplies.
Read the Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA) - Carta de Princípios Cooperativos Pela Água (Spanish)
IV World Water Forum outcomes influence Mexican water policy
The synthesis and outcomes of the Fourth World Water Forum and the knowledge acquired by the Mexican specialists that participated are influencing the development of the Mexican National Water Program 2007-2012.
Read more (Spanish)
Asian Development Bank (ADB) increase funding for water sector in Dhaka, Bangladesh
A pilot project in Dhaka has proved so effective that the ADB have allocated US$250m to improve the water supply of the whole city. The project aims to rehabilitate main water lines, service connections, overhead reservoirs, install digital water meters, provide chlorination equipment for all deep tube wells, and construct new overhead water tanks.
Read more
World Bank support Bujagali Dam, Uganda
The World Bank has approved US$360m in loans and guarantees for Uganda's Bujagali Dam despite claims by independent experts that the dam could be disastrous for Lake Victoria and will have little or no positive impact on the majority of Ugandans.
Sharing lessons learned to conserve Africa's Zambezi River
The Nature Conservancy and the African Wildlife Foundation have announced a partnership to protect and manage the Zambezi River. They hope that sharing effective practices from river systems around the world will contribute to the formulation of an appropriate integrated water resources management strategy for this 1,500 mile long river.
'Clean Water' song hits Ghana's airwaves on World Water Day
Two of Ghana's most popular musicians, have released a song that urges communities to consume safe water. The musicians appeal to chiefs, elders and community members to boil or filter their water before consuming it and to drink water from protected sources and to practice safe and proper hygiene.
Listen to 'Clean Water' (Audio)
Ethiopia wins international award for sustainable watershed management
The Ethiopian Rainwater Harvesting Association (ERHA) has been awarded the Swiss Re International ReSource Award for sustainable watershed management and been granted US$50,000 to scale up their rainwater harvesting pilot project in southern Ethiopia.
Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation to push for right for water
The new Minister for Development Cooperation has announced that he wants the Netherlands to play a prominent role in getting the right to water recognized as a human right. He also encourages Dutch embassies to push for the right to water at country level.
Job vacancy: Legal and Policy Officers, Right to Water
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is seeking Legal Officers/Research and Policy Officers for its Right to Water Programme (RWP) to be based in offices of its Africa, Americas and Asia-Pacific Regional Programmes: Colombo (Sri Lanka), Porto Alegre (Brazil) and Accra (Ghana), or in another location in Africa, to be determined as part of the selection process.
CALL FOR PAPERS
International symposium on community-led management of river environment
August 2007, Nepal
This symposium is being organised by Kathmandu Participatory River Monitoring Project-KAPRIMO.
10th International River Symposium
September 2007, Australia
The event aims to showcase river management practices from throughout the world.
8th Specialized Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems (SWWS) and the 2nd Specialized Conference on Decentralised Water and Wastewater International Network (DEWSIN)
February 2008, India
Abstracts should be emailed on or before June 15 to small2008sci@kct.ac.in. Selected papers after review may be published in the international journal Water Science and Technology.
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development
30 April–11 May 2007, New York
The fifteenth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UN CSD) will discuss climate change; energy for sustainable development; industrial development; and air/atmospheric pollution.
The CIVICUS World Assembly
May 2007, Scotland
The overall theme for this forum for international civil society representatives is 'Acting Together for a Just World'. This theme is being explored through a central focus theme 'Accountability: Delivering Results'.
21st National Water Congress (CONAGUA 2007)
May 2007, Argentina
This congress will bring together national and international experts to analyse the regional water situation, to present the technological advances developed by the scientific community and to discuss future actions and perspectives.
European Investment Bank—Civil Society workshop
May 2007, Paris
Topics on the provisional agenda include partnering with NGOs in water and sanitation projects in developing countries.
Enhancing Professional Practice, BPD
June 2007, Malawi
Building Partnerships for Development in Water and Sanitation (BPD) is holding the fourth Enhancing Professional Practice course for water and sanitation practitioners and policymakers. The application deadline for participants is 14th May 2007.
International learning workshop on demand side management of groundwater
July-August 2007, India.
This twelve day workshop is being organised by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Bharathi Integrated Rural Development Society (BIRDS) and World Water Institute (WWI). Partipation is limited; apply soon.
1st International WASH Practitioners' Market Place & Fair and 19th Regional Water & Sanitation Seminar
September 2007, Kenya
WASH knowledge, experiences, expertise and products and services will be shared, exchanged and marketed among the WASH community of learners and service delivery providers.
Latin America Regional Sanitation Conference
November 2007, Colombia
Organised by the Water and Sanitation Program - Latin America and the Caribbean (WSP-LAC), Colombian Vice Ministry of Water and Sanitation, CINARA (Colombia) and UNICEF, this conference is of a series of regional sanitation conferences in support of the 2008 International Year of Sanitation.
Asia Pacific Water Forum Summit (APWS)
December 2007, Japan
The summit’s priority areas will be water financing, water-related disaster management and water for development and ecosystems.
RESOURCES
Taking stock of WATSAN in India in the pretext of SACOSAN III
This article is based on a WASH India meeting held to take stock of water and sanitation schemes of government of India. The meeting was organized in advance of South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN) – III which would be held in India in 2008.
Environmental history of water: global views on community water supply and sanitation
The book emphasizes that the history of water and sanitation services is strongly linked to current water management and policy issues.
Money into Water, Water into Money
This virtual gallery on water, livelihoods and economic growth in Ethiopia looks at improving access to water and sanitation in both rural and urban Ethiopia.
Water Quality Outlook
This new report from the GEMS/Water Programme of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) provides a snapshot of key water quality issues as they relate to achieving the international goals on water, sanitation and biodiversity.
African Water
The website aims to increase the involvement of African researchers in the water related components of EU funding programmes for research and development.
New research tool on the right to water
A bibliography of primary and secondary sources of law on the human right to water compiled by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).
Forum on the Future of Aid (FFA)
Where Southern CSOs can voice opinions, share and generate new ideas, and help promote collective action for genuine reform of the international aid system.
Dams, Rivers & People
The April 2007 newsletter is available now [pdf].
This monthly e-bulletin is provided by the FAN secretariat for its members.
