International Water and Sanitation Centre
About IRCAccess to safe water and adequate water is recognised as one of the most fundamental of human needs. The development of sustainable capacities to meet these needs in developing countries is one of the key challenges for the water sector as a whole. Since its foundation in 1968, the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) has facilitated the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge so that governments, professionals and organisations can better support poor men, women and children in developing countries to obtain water and sanitation services they will use and maintain. Overview - About IRCThe recent past has seen a shift in IRC's operations, resulting in a new direction for IRC as an organisation centred on the dissemination of knowledge and the building of capacity in partner organisations. In view of its vision, mission, strengths and weaknesses, IRC's ambition is to build on its past achievements to become a more effective and focused knowledge dissemination and capacity building organisation. What we do?IRC will try to achieve the ambition to become a more effective and focused knowledge dissemination and capacity building organisation through developments in three core areas. These three core areas are the following: Knowledge sharingWe provide accessible, high-quality information in a variety of languages and formats, geared to our clients needs. We have assembled a unique team of internationally recognised specialists who use their knowledge and experience to lobby for improved water and sanitation provision that takes into account all the social, educational, scientific and information issues. Low-cost publishing and disseminationWe have developed a network of information outlets in developing countries, helping other institutions and networks by publishing and disseminating their information at low-cost using solidarity pricing principles. Facilitating Resource Centres in developing countriesWe help local Resource Centres develop their work and improve the skills of their staff, in order to become effective centres of knowledge in their own countries, capable of conducting outreach work, advocacy and information sharing to better support sector decision-makers, professionals and their organizations The challengeKnowledge and access to information play a key role in meeting the many challenges in enabling the poor and disadvantaged to meet their water needs and sanitation needs in a sustainable, efficient and affordable manner. Knowledge is power and access to relevant and reliable information can make a tremendous difference. Children die unnecessarily from water borne diseases because their parents do not know how important a safe water supply is. Knowing, for instance about the need to wash your hands before preparing food, may make the difference between life and death. Knowing about how much water systems cost may help a community to get a fair deal from a local contractor. Where do you go for advice on a national policy to cope with arsenic contamination of water supplies, or to find out about what sanitation system works in a location with a high water table? Helping to find answers to such questions is where we make a difference. We do this in a changing world where the volume of (digital) information is growing fast, leading to an information overload particularly in the North. At the same time, the knowledge gap between North and South and even within the South itself is growing ever wider. It is this gap that, with our partners, we aim to bridge. Our structureTo achieve the ambition to become a more effective and focused knowledge dissemination and capacity building organisation through developments in three core areas, IRC is divided into three different sections. Information and CommunicationThe Information and Communication (INCO) section is responsible for the organisation of the validation of information done by the staff of the others sections and external experts, and it collects, validates and produces information on sector news, events, agendas, etc. Knowledge Development and AdvocacyThe Knowledge Development and Advocacy (KDA) section works in partnership with Southern organisations and individuals, through learning projects and support to thematic groups, developing new knowledge and information to fill critical gaps. It also encourages the effective use of knowledge by partner organisations, individuals, and governments through knowledge sharing and advocacy activities. Resource Centre DevelopmentThe Resource Centre Development (RCD) section is responsible for building on networks of organisations, to develop them in the role of Resource Centres, capable of contributing to both the generation and sharing of knowledge at country level, with the aim of preventing mistakes of the past being repeated and ensuring that systems and mechanisms that have proven to be effective are scaled up.
About IRCAccess to safe water and adequate water is recognised as one of the most fundamental of human needs. The development of sustainable capacities to meet these needs in developing countries is one of the key challenges for the water sector as a whole.
Since its foundation in 1968, the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) has facilitated the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge so that governments, professionals and organisations can better support poor men, women and children in developing countries to obtain water and sanitation services they will use and maintain.
Overview - About IRCThe recent past has seen a shift in IRC's operations, resulting in a new direction for IRC as an organisation centred on the dissemination of knowledge and the building of capacity in partner organisations. In view of its vision, mission, strengths and weaknesses, IRC's ambition is to build on its past achievements to become a more effective and focused knowledge dissemination and capacity building organisation.
What we do?IRC will try to achieve the ambition to become a more effective and focused knowledge dissemination and capacity building organisation through developments in three core areas. These three core areas are the following:
Knowledge sharingWe provide accessible, high-quality information in a variety of languages and formats, geared to our clients needs. We have assembled a unique team of internationally recognised specialists who use their knowledge and experience to lobby for improved water and sanitation provision that takes into account all the social, educational, scientific and information issues.
Low-cost publishing and disseminationWe have developed a network of information outlets in developing countries, helping other institutions and networks by publishing and disseminating their information at low-cost using solidarity pricing principles.
Facilitating Resource Centres in developing countriesWe help local Resource Centres develop their work and improve the skills of their staff, in order to become effective centres of knowledge in their own countries, capable of conducting outreach work, advocacy and information sharing to better support sector decision-makers, professionals and their organizations
The challengeKnowledge and access to information play a key role in meeting the many challenges in enabling the poor and disadvantaged to meet their water needs and sanitation needs in a sustainable, efficient and affordable manner. Knowledge is power and access to relevant and reliable information can make a tremendous difference.
Children die unnecessarily from water borne diseases because their parents do not know how important a safe water supply is. Knowing, for instance about the need to wash your hands before preparing food, may make the difference between life and death. Knowing about how much water systems cost may help a community to get a fair deal from a local contractor. Where do you go for advice on a national policy to cope with arsenic contamination of water supplies, or to find out about what sanitation system works in a location with a high water table?
Helping to find answers to such questions is where we make a difference.
We do this in a changing world where the volume of (digital) information is growing fast, leading to an information overload particularly in the North. At the same time, the knowledge gap between North and South and even within the South itself is growing ever wider. It is this gap that, with our partners, we aim to bridge.
Our structureTo achieve the ambition to become a more effective and focused knowledge dissemination and capacity building organisation through developments in three core areas, IRC is divided into three different sections.
Information and CommunicationThe Information and Communication (INCO) section is responsible for the organisation of the validation of information done by the staff of the others sections and external experts, and it collects, validates and produces information on sector news, events, agendas, etc.
Knowledge Development and AdvocacyThe Knowledge Development and Advocacy (KDA) section works in partnership with Southern organisations and individuals, through learning projects and support to thematic groups, developing new knowledge and information to fill critical gaps. It also encourages the effective use of knowledge by partner organisations, individuals, and governments through knowledge sharing and advocacy activities.
Resource Centre DevelopmentThe Resource Centre Development (RCD) section is responsible for building on networks of organisations, to develop them in the role of Resource Centres, capable of contributing to both the generation and sharing of knowledge at country level, with the aim of preventing mistakes of the past being repeated and ensuring that systems and mechanisms that have proven to be effective are scaled up.
Sanitation and Hygiene Education
ProductsIRC provides news about developments and forthcoming events in the water sector. IRC also offers public access to a huge bank of information and interactive tools, including a question and answer service, to help you find what you are looking for. School Sanitation and Hygiene Education: Symposium Proceedings & Framework for ActionEdited by Mariëlle Snel, Kathleen Shordt and Annemarieke Mooijman (2005) These proceedings are for people who are interested in school sanitation and hygiene education (SSHE). The document has been written, in effect, by 19 professionals who contributed papers and/or made presentations at the SSHE symposium held in Delft, The Netherlands from 8-10 June, 2004. The proceedings can be used in various ways: (1) to learn about the knowledge base for SSHE, (2) to examine specific gaps and challenges, (3) to learn about current project experiences in three continents. The symposium and these written proceedings have been organised into three parts: Introductory or keynote papers by the Minister of Development Cooperation of the Netherlands and sector leaders from UNICEF and the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. Lessons learned and opportunities are presented from 14 professional papers on a range of topics and experiences in SSHE. These were based on experiences in nine countries as well as on international and theoretical work. Many papers, of course, touched on the same subjects from different points of view, and there were interesting comparisons to be made. To draw out these comparisons, rather than show each paper separately in these proceedings, the observations and findings from all the papers have been combined by topic. You can find a list of papers and authors and their e-mail addresses at the end of this report. Framework for Action: the group statement of key issues and principles with strategies for further action that can help to ensure effective SSHE. Almost 50 people participated in the symposium, more or less from three groups: Practitioners: Professionals carrying out SSHE programmes, with in-depth experience about real-world issues. Managers: from, for example, UNICEF programmes or other programmes into which SSHE is integrated. These professionals are well aware of the challenges to be overcome in scaling up with quality. Facilitators: people from support agencies and institutions such as WHO and UNESCO, from international institutions and donors such as SIMAVI, the Church World Service and the Imperial College of Medicine at the University of London. This book is available free of charge, both in hard copy and as a download from this web site. The hard copy version can be ordered as long as stock is available. Thematic Overview PapersDo 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. Overview - Thematic Overview PapersDo you need to get up to speed quickly on current thinking about a critical issue in the field of water, sanitation and health? Try an IRC TOP (Thematic Overview Paper). TOPs are a web-based initiative from IRC. They combine a concise digest of recent experiences, expert opinions and foreseeable trends with links to the most informative publications and websites. Each TOP will contain enough immediate information to give 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 help. Reviewed by recognised experts and updated continually with new case studies, research findings, etc, the TOPs will provide water, sanitation and health professionals with a single source of the most up-to-date thinking and knowledge in the sector.
ProductsIRC provides news about developments and forthcoming events in the water sector. IRC also offers public access to a huge bank of information and interactive tools, including a question and answer service, to help you find what you are looking for.
School Sanitation and Hygiene Education: Symposium Proceedings & Framework for ActionEdited by Mariëlle Snel, Kathleen Shordt and Annemarieke Mooijman (2005)
These proceedings are for people who are interested in school sanitation and hygiene education (SSHE). The document has been written, in effect, by 19 professionals who contributed papers and/or made presentations at the SSHE symposium held in Delft, The Netherlands from 8-10 June, 2004. The proceedings can be used in various ways: (1) to learn about the knowledge base for SSHE, (2) to examine specific gaps and challenges, (3) to learn about current project experiences in three continents.
The symposium and these written proceedings have been organised into three parts:
Introductory or keynote papers by the Minister of Development Cooperation of the Netherlands and sector leaders from UNICEF and the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
Lessons learned and opportunities are presented from 14 professional papers on a range of topics and experiences in SSHE. These were based on experiences in nine countries as well as on international and theoretical work. Many papers, of course, touched on the same subjects from different points of view, and there were interesting comparisons to be made. To draw out these comparisons, rather than show each paper separately in these proceedings, the observations and findings from all the papers have been combined by topic. You can find a list of papers and authors and their e-mail addresses at the end of this report.
Framework for Action: the group statement of key issues and principles with strategies for further action that can help to ensure effective SSHE. Almost 50 people participated in the symposium, more or less from three groups:
Practitioners: Professionals carrying out SSHE programmes, with in-depth experience about real-world issues.
Managers: from, for example, UNICEF programmes or other programmes into which SSHE is integrated. These professionals are well aware of the challenges to be overcome in scaling up with quality.
Facilitators: people from support agencies and institutions such as WHO and UNESCO, from international institutions and donors such as SIMAVI, the Church World Service and the Imperial College of Medicine at the University of London. This book is available free of charge, both in hard copy and as a download from this web site. The hard copy version can be ordered as long as stock is available.
Thematic Overview PapersDo 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.
Overview - Thematic Overview PapersDo you need to get up to speed quickly on current thinking about a critical issue in the field of water, sanitation and health?
Try an IRC TOP (Thematic Overview Paper). TOPs are a web-based initiative from IRC. They combine a concise digest of recent experiences, expert opinions and foreseeable trends with links to the most informative publications and websites. Each TOP will contain enough immediate information to give 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 help.
Reviewed by recognised experts and updated continually with new case studies, research findings, etc, the TOPs will provide water, sanitation and health professionals with a single source of the most up-to-date thinking and knowledge in the sector.
Wastewater Treatment Process
Waste Stabilization PondsMiguel Peña Varón and Duncan Mara (2004) Waste stabilization ponds (WSP) are generally the wastewater treatment process of first choice in most situations in developing countries. They are suitable for both large and small populations (from a few hundreds to hundreds of thousands). This TOP introduces WSP for both the specialist design engineer and the non-specialist. WSP have several important advantages for developing countries: low capital costs, simple (but essential) operation and maintenance, and high performance. They can easily be designed to produce high-quality effluents suitable for restricted and unrestricted irrigation and for fish and aquatic vegetable culture. Their principal disadvantage is that, because they are an entirely natural method of wastewater treatment (they obtain all their energy directly from the sun), they require much more land than conventional electromechanical processes such as activated sludge. However, land increases in value over time and its purchase should therefore be regarded as an investment. This TOP covers the basic design concepts and O&M requirements for WSP. It is well illustrated with photographs of actual WSP systems, with both good and not so good examples, from around the world.
Waste Stabilization PondsMiguel Peña Varón and Duncan Mara (2004)
Waste stabilization ponds (WSP) are generally the wastewater treatment process of first choice in most situations in developing countries. They are suitable for both large and small populations (from a few hundreds to hundreds of thousands). This TOP introduces WSP for both the specialist design engineer and the non-specialist.
WSP have several important advantages for developing countries: low capital costs, simple (but essential) operation and maintenance, and high performance. They can easily be designed to produce high-quality effluents suitable for restricted and unrestricted irrigation and for fish and aquatic vegetable culture. Their principal disadvantage is that, because they are an entirely natural method of wastewater treatment (they obtain all their energy directly from the sun), they require much more land than conventional electromechanical processes such as activated sludge. However, land increases in value over time and its purchase should therefore be regarded as an investment.
This TOP covers the basic design concepts and O&M requirements for WSP. It is well illustrated with photographs of actual WSP systems, with both good and not so good examples, from around the world.
Water Priorities
ProjectsIRC has a number of projects involving a variety of partners, funding mechanisms and life spans, all contributing to the overall aim of facilitating the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge to improve the long-term effectiveness of development work in the water supply and sanitation sector. UN Water DecadeThe United Nations have declared the period from 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life" starting on World Water Day, 22 March 2005. International decade, 2005-2015, "Water for Life"The goals of the Decade "Water for Life" are aimed at having a strong focus on implementation of water-related programmes and projects. At the same time they are also striving to ensure in particular the participation and involvement of women in water-related development efforts, and cooperation at all levels, in order to help to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals contained in Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and, as appropriate, those identified during the twelfth and thirteenth sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development. A programme of work for the Decade is currently under consideration by UN Water Celebrating water for lifeYear of publication: 2005 WHO (2005) Celebrating water for life : the International Decade for Action 2005-2015 : World Day for Water 2005 22 March : an advocacy guide. Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization. – 35 p. – 6 ref. This booklet aims to communicate the purpose and aim of the UN International Decade for Action Water for Life 2005–2015. It introduces key issues relevant to water: the current challenges and situation, some facts and figures. The main areas covered are: water for health, biodiversity and environment, agriculture and energy. Cross-cutting issues are: a gender perspective on water and sanitation, and water and the MDGs. The booklet provides suggestions and recommendations of what can be achieved in the Decade. It includes sheets on the key steps in the planning process of water for life activities: collect information; develop key messages; work with the media; and assess impacts of efforts made. The booklet calls on organizations to transform their local or national statistics into key messages and stories that should support successes, identify gaps and set out the next steps in their Water for Life campaign. World Water Day marks launch of new Decade of Action – Water for LifeWorld Water Day - 22 March 2005 - marks the start of a new UN International Decade for Action on water. The Water for Life Decade 2005-2015 will give a high profile to implementing water-related programmes and the participation of women. The UN hopes that the Decade will boost the chances of achieving international water related goals and the United Nations Millennium Declaration. Water, gender and povertyWithin Water for Life IRC will focus on water, gender and poverty alleviation. Water and sanitation are critical factors to alleviate poverty and hunger, for sustainable development, for environmental integrity, and for human health. Communities have complex priorities for the use of water for economic activity and for household use. Men and women often have different priorities and responsibilities. A gender focus is not simply about ‘involving women’. It is about recognising the roles of men and women, and ensuring that the voices of women, who are mainly responsible for household water but who also want economic activity, are acted on. The first water decade – from 1981 to 1990 – brought water to over a billion people and sanitation to almost 77 million. But the job was only half done. There are still almost 1.1 billion people without adequate access to water and 2.4 billion without adequate sanitation. Water priorities of women and men often differWater is vital, not only for drinking, cooking and household use, but for vegetable gardens, farming and almost all economic activity. Competition for water leads to disputes, drives marginal farmers into poverty and leaves the weakest without the means to sustain life and health. Limited access to water is an insuperable obstacle to escaping poverty. Rural women spend hours each day fetching water. In towns, the poor pay more for water than the better off with piped supplies. The Asian Development Bank estimates that one in three Asians does not have access to a safe drinking water source within 200 meters of home, and one in two Asians lacks adequate sanitation. Women and men both need water – but their plans for it may be very different. In a north Benin project women and men welcomed plans for boreholes in their villages. However, women wanted to use their extra time to develop market gardens at home, improve food security and sell the surplus, while men wanted the women to help work their land. A follow up survey showed that more time was indeed spent working the land than on growing vegetables. Research and experience from the Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) demonstrate that when women and men are involved in making decisions on how to share, supply and protect water, it can be used efficiently and fairly. Even in South Africa, where 50% of the membership of decision-making committees must be women, Barbara Schreiner, Deputy Director-General at DWAF, says: “It is easier to write good policy than to turn it into reality.” The Water Research Commission (WRC) in South Africa conducted a study in four villages close to the town of Peddie. Researcher Priscilla Monyai, found: “The project was all about providing water, and the gender aspect was just an afterthought.” Mr. Jako, the steering committee chairperson agreed. "People were so excited to get water. When these other issues like gender were raised, you found that people were impatient.
ProjectsIRC has a number of projects involving a variety of partners, funding mechanisms and life spans, all contributing to the overall aim of facilitating the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge to improve the long-term effectiveness of development work in the water supply and sanitation sector.
UN Water DecadeThe United Nations have declared the period from 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life" starting on World Water Day, 22 March 2005.
International decade, 2005-2015, "Water for Life"The goals of the Decade "Water for Life" are aimed at having a strong focus on implementation of water-related programmes and projects. At the same time they are also striving to ensure in particular the participation and involvement of women in water-related development efforts, and cooperation at all levels, in order to help to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals contained in Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and, as appropriate, those identified during the twelfth and thirteenth sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development.
A programme of work for the Decade is currently under consideration by UN Water
Celebrating water for lifeYear of publication: 2005
WHO (2005) Celebrating water for life : the International Decade for Action 2005-2015 : World Day for Water 2005 22 March : an advocacy guide. Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization. – 35 p. – 6 ref.
This booklet aims to communicate the purpose and aim of the UN International Decade for Action Water for Life 2005–2015. It introduces key issues relevant to water: the current challenges and situation, some facts and figures. The main areas covered are: water for health, biodiversity and environment, agriculture and energy. Cross-cutting issues are: a gender perspective on water and sanitation, and water and the MDGs. The booklet provides suggestions and recommendations of what can be achieved in the Decade. It includes sheets on the key steps in the planning process of water for life activities: collect information; develop key messages; work with the media; and assess impacts of efforts made. The booklet calls on organizations to transform their local or national statistics into key messages and stories that should support successes, identify gaps and set out the next steps in their Water for Life campaign.
World Water Day marks launch of new Decade of Action – Water for LifeWorld Water Day - 22 March 2005 - marks the start of a new UN International Decade for Action on water. The Water for Life Decade 2005-2015 will give a high profile to implementing water-related programmes and the participation of women. The UN hopes that the Decade will boost the chances of achieving international water related goals and the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
Water, gender and povertyWithin Water for Life IRC will focus on water, gender and poverty alleviation. Water and sanitation are critical factors to alleviate poverty and hunger, for sustainable development, for environmental integrity, and for human health.
Communities have complex priorities for the use of water for economic activity and for household use. Men and women often have different priorities and responsibilities. A gender focus is not simply about ‘involving women’. It is about recognising the roles of men and women, and ensuring that the voices of women, who are mainly responsible for household water but who also want economic activity, are acted on.
The first water decade – from 1981 to 1990 – brought water to over a billion people and sanitation to almost 77 million. But the job was only half done. There are still almost 1.1 billion people without adequate access to water and 2.4 billion without adequate sanitation.
Water priorities of women and men often differWater is vital, not only for drinking, cooking and household use, but for vegetable gardens, farming and almost all economic activity. Competition for water leads to disputes, drives marginal farmers into poverty and leaves the weakest without the means to sustain life and health.
Limited access to water is an insuperable obstacle to escaping poverty. Rural women spend hours each day fetching water. In towns, the poor pay more for water than the better off with piped supplies.
The Asian Development Bank estimates that one in three Asians does not have access to a safe drinking water source within 200 meters of home, and one in two Asians lacks adequate sanitation.
Women and men both need water – but their plans for it may be very different. In a north Benin project women and men welcomed plans for boreholes in their villages. However, women wanted to use their extra time to develop market gardens at home, improve food security and sell the surplus, while men wanted the women to help work their land. A follow up survey showed that more time was indeed spent working the land than on growing vegetables.
Research and experience from the Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) demonstrate that when women and men are involved in making decisions on how to share, supply and protect water, it can be used efficiently and fairly.
Even in South Africa, where 50% of the membership of decision-making committees must be women, Barbara Schreiner, Deputy Director-General at DWAF, says: “It is easier to write good policy than to turn it into reality.” The Water Research Commission (WRC) in South Africa conducted a study in four villages close to the town of Peddie. Researcher Priscilla Monyai, found: “The project was all about providing water, and the gender aspect was just an afterthought.” Mr. Jako, the steering committee chairperson agreed. "People were so excited to get water. When these other issues like gender were raised, you found that people were impatient.
Water Sanitation
Hygiene BehaviourDo changes in hygiene behaviour last, and if so, what makes them last? What do the answers to these questions mean for our hygiene programmes? These are the main questions the hygiene behaviour research project intended to address. The research was funded by the European Commission under its INCO-programme (as part of the research framework programme) and by the Dutch Department for Development Cooperation. Overview - Hygiene BehaviourDo changes in hygiene behaviour last, and if so, what makes them last? What do the answers to these questions mean for our hygiene programmes? These are the main questions the hygiene behaviour research project intends to address. Eight project partners from Asia, Africa and Europe work together since 2000 to develop and implement the research, which has a variety of specific objectives. Overall, it aims to: Gain insights into the conditions under which men and women can and will make lasting changes in their hygiene behaviour. This information is vital to help ensure water supply and sanitation programmes are as effective as possible and their effect is sustained in the longer term. Increase the available knowledge about what makes hygiene promotion effective by contributing to the sharing of experiences of existing hygiene promotion programmes and to the development of an appropriate research methodology. Different partners adopted various approaches to this research. The team from India, for example, examined whether mass hygiene promotion activities have a measurable and lasting impact on latrine use and latrine cleanliness. The team from Ghana wanted to find out whether it is true that if there was a project intervention in a school, safe water is available to the students. The tools developed include questionnaires, demonstration protocols and observation checklists. Interesting findings are beginning to emerge from this research, which will present significant challenges to hygiene promotion professionals as well as policy makers. Details of these early findings can be found in the three issues of the Hygiene Behaviour Newsletter. More publications will follow. For further information, contact the research coordinator Eveline Bolt FundingThe hygiene behaviour project was funded by the European Commission and the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation. The WELL Resource Centre Network is a project dealing with water, sanitation and environmental health. The Network provides access to information on these subjects through a variety of services and activities.
Hygiene BehaviourDo changes in hygiene behaviour last, and if so, what makes them last? What do the answers to these questions mean for our hygiene programmes? These are the main questions the hygiene behaviour research project intended to address. The research was funded by the European Commission under its INCO-programme (as part of the research framework programme) and by the Dutch Department for Development Cooperation.
Overview - Hygiene BehaviourDo changes in hygiene behaviour last, and if so, what makes them last? What do the answers to these questions mean for our hygiene programmes? These are the main questions the hygiene behaviour research project intends to address.
Eight project partners from Asia, Africa and Europe work together since 2000 to develop and implement the research, which has a variety of specific objectives. Overall, it aims to:
Gain insights into the conditions under which men and women can and will make lasting changes in their hygiene behaviour. This information is vital to help ensure water supply and sanitation programmes are as effective as possible and their effect is sustained in the longer term. Increase the available knowledge about what makes hygiene promotion effective by contributing to the sharing of experiences of existing hygiene promotion programmes and to the development of an appropriate research methodology.
Different partners adopted various approaches to this research. The team from India, for example, examined whether mass hygiene promotion activities have a measurable and lasting impact on latrine use and latrine cleanliness. The team from Ghana wanted to find out whether it is true that if there was a project intervention in a school, safe water is available to the students. The tools developed include questionnaires, demonstration protocols and observation checklists.
Interesting findings are beginning to emerge from this research, which will present significant challenges to hygiene promotion professionals as well as policy makers. Details of these early findings can be found in the three issues of the Hygiene Behaviour Newsletter. More publications will follow. For further information, contact the research coordinator Eveline Bolt
FundingThe hygiene behaviour project was funded by the European Commission and the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation.
The WELL Resource Centre Network is a project dealing with water, sanitation and environmental health. The Network provides access to information on these subjects through a variety of services and activities.
UK Department for International Development
Overview - ProjectsThey include projects such as RCD 18 Country Programme, which aim at supporting partner organisations in the South to develop their information functions, products such as Source and IRCDOC, through which IRC can develop information products that can be made available to large numbers of people, and projects such as STREAMS, which are intended to set and maintain networks for the development of research proposals on specific themes. About half of the projects are financed through the core subsidy that the IRC receives from the Dutch government. This funding is concentrated in projects for which external funding cannot easily be generated, including the 18-centre Resource Centre Development programme and thematic projects such as Scaling up Community Management. In terms of staff time, a bit more than half is spent on projects funded through IRC's core subsidy. Funding for the other half of IRC's projects comes from a variety of sources, such as the European Commission, UNICEF and the UK Department for International Development (DfID). IRC formulates detailed project proposals, often in collaboration with staff from Northern and/or Southern partner organisations, which they submit to potential donors. If the proposals are accepted, IRC staff then plays a role in their implementation. Current projects and programmes funded through other sources include: WELL, WELL 2 ‑ Resource Centre Network Development; the Junior Professional Officer programme; support to Streams of Knowledge; and the Executive Secretariat of the Gender and Water Alliance. Project characteristicsIRC has a number of projects involving a variety of partners, funding mechanisms and life spans, all contributing to the overall aim of facilitating the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge to improve the long-term effectiveness of development work in the water supply and sanitation sector. They include projects such as RCD 18 Country Programme, which aim at supporting partner organisations in the South to develop their information functions, products such as Source and IRCDOC, through which IRC can develop information products that can be made available to large numbers of people, and projects such as STREAMS, which are intended to set and maintain networks for the development of research proposals on specific themes. About half of the projects are financed through the core subsidy that the IRC receives from the Dutch government. This funding is concentrated in projects for which external funding cannot easily be generated, including the 18-centre Resource Centre Development programme and thematic projects such as Scaling up Community Management. In terms of staff time, a bit more than half is spent on projects funded through IRCs core subsidy. Funding for the other half of IRC's projects comes from a variety of sources, such as the European Commission, UNICEF and the UK Department for International Development (DfID). IRC formulates detailed project proposals, often in collaboration with staff from Northern and/or Southern partner organisations, which they submit to potential donors. If the proposals are accepted, IRC staff will then play a role in their implementation. Current projects and programmes funded through other sources include: WELL 2 ‑ WELL Resource Centre Network Development; the Junior Professional Officer programme; support to Streams of Knowledge; and the Executive Secretariat of the Gender and Water Alliance. Projects help organise our activitiesThe word project is mainly used to indicate a coherent set of activities for which resources are earmarked and that may stretch out over a number of years. This page provides some insight in the nature of IRC's projects. IRC has a number of projects involving a variety of partners, funding mechanisms and life spans, all contributing to the overall aim of facilitating the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge to improve the long-term effectiveness of development work in the water supply and sanitation sector. They include projects such as the Resource Centre Development Programme, which aim at supporting partner organisations in the South to develop their information functions, projects such as the Publishing and Outreach project, through which IRC can develop information products that can be made available to large numbers of people, and projects such as the Thematic Project on Scaling up Community Management, which are tended to set and maintain networks for the development of research proposals on specific themes. About half of the projects are financed through the core subsidy that the IRC receives from the Dutch government. This funding is concentrated in projects for which external funding cannot easily be generated, including the 18-centre Resource Centre Development programme and thematic projects such as Scaling up Community Management. In terms of staff time, a bit more than half is spent on projects funded through IRC?s core subsidy. Funding for the other half of IRC's projects comes from a variety of sources, such as the European Commission, UNICEF and the UK Department for International Development (DfID). IRC formulates detailed project proposals, usually in collaboration with staff from Northern and/or Southern partner organisations, which they submit to potential donors. If the proposals are accepted, IRC staff then play a role in their implementation. Current projects and programmes funded through other sources include: WELL 2 ‑ WELL Resource Centre Network Development; the Junior Professional Officer programme; support to Streams of Knowledge; and the Executive Secretariat of the Gender and Water Alliance.
Overview - ProjectsThey include projects such as RCD 18 Country Programme, which aim at supporting partner organisations in the South to develop their information functions, products such as Source and IRCDOC, through which IRC can develop information products that can be made available to large numbers of people, and projects such as STREAMS, which are intended to set and maintain networks for the development of research proposals on specific themes.
About half of the projects are financed through the core subsidy that the IRC receives from the Dutch government. This funding is concentrated in projects for which external funding cannot easily be generated, including the 18-centre Resource Centre Development programme and thematic projects such as Scaling up Community Management. In terms of staff time, a bit more than half is spent on projects funded through IRC's core subsidy.
Funding for the other half of IRC's projects comes from a variety of sources, such as the European Commission, UNICEF and the UK Department for International Development (DfID). IRC formulates detailed project proposals, often in collaboration with staff from Northern and/or Southern partner organisations, which they submit to potential donors. If the proposals are accepted, IRC staff then plays a role in their implementation. Current projects and programmes funded through other sources include: WELL, WELL 2 ‑ Resource Centre Network Development; the Junior Professional Officer programme; support to Streams of Knowledge; and the Executive Secretariat of the Gender and Water Alliance.
Project characteristicsIRC has a number of projects involving a variety of partners, funding mechanisms and life spans, all contributing to the overall aim of facilitating the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge to improve the long-term effectiveness of development work in the water supply and sanitation sector.
They include projects such as RCD 18 Country Programme, which aim at supporting partner organisations in the South to develop their information functions, products such as Source and IRCDOC, through which IRC can develop information products that can be made available to large numbers of people, and projects such as STREAMS, which are intended to set and maintain networks for the development of research proposals on specific themes.
About half of the projects are financed through the core subsidy that the IRC receives from the Dutch government. This funding is concentrated in projects for which external funding cannot easily be generated, including the 18-centre Resource Centre Development programme and thematic projects such as Scaling up Community Management. In terms of staff time, a bit more than half is spent on projects funded through IRCs core subsidy.
Funding for the other half of IRC's projects comes from a variety of sources, such as the European Commission, UNICEF and the UK Department for International Development (DfID). IRC formulates detailed project proposals, often in collaboration with staff from Northern and/or Southern partner organisations, which they submit to potential donors. If the proposals are accepted, IRC staff will then play a role in their implementation. Current projects and programmes funded through other sources include: WELL 2 ‑ WELL Resource Centre Network Development; the Junior Professional Officer programme; support to Streams of Knowledge; and the Executive Secretariat of the Gender and Water Alliance.
Projects help organise our activitiesThe word project is mainly used to indicate a coherent set of activities for which resources are earmarked and that may stretch out over a number of years. This page provides some insight in the nature of IRC's projects.
IRC has a number of projects involving a variety of partners, funding mechanisms and life spans, all contributing to the overall aim of facilitating the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge to improve the long-term effectiveness of development work in the water supply and sanitation sector.
They include projects such as the Resource Centre Development Programme, which aim at supporting partner organisations in the South to develop their information functions, projects such as the Publishing and Outreach project, through which IRC can develop information products that can be made available to large numbers of people, and projects such as the Thematic Project on Scaling up Community Management, which are tended to set and maintain networks for the development of research proposals on specific themes.
About half of the projects are financed through the core subsidy that the IRC receives from the Dutch government. This funding is concentrated in projects for which external funding cannot easily be generated, including the 18-centre Resource Centre Development programme and thematic projects such as Scaling up Community Management. In terms of staff time, a bit more than half is spent on projects funded through IRC?s core subsidy.
Funding for the other half of IRC's projects comes from a variety of sources, such as the European Commission, UNICEF and the UK Department for International Development (DfID). IRC formulates detailed project proposals, usually in collaboration with staff from Northern and/or Southern partner organisations, which they submit to potential donors. If the proposals are accepted, IRC staff then play a role in their implementation. Current projects and programmes funded through other sources include: WELL 2 ‑ WELL Resource Centre Network Development; the Junior Professional Officer programme; support to Streams of Knowledge; and the Executive Secretariat of the Gender and Water Alliance.
IDS Emergency Management | IDS Water | IDS Publishing / Media | IDS Healthcare Management | IDS Packaging | IDS Plastics | IDS Power/Energy
Industry IDS, Inc. – Online Tradeshow, Exhibition, & Buyers Guide Solutions
