Resources
Overview of resources which are relevant for WASHCost
Information sheet on process documentation in WASHCost
24 Sep 09
The WASHCost project aims to improve water and sanitation governance at all levels, as decision makers and stakeholders analyse the costs of sustainable, equitable and efficient services and put their knowledge to use. Process documentation plays an important role in documenting the process of collecting, analysing and use of cost data of sustainable and equitable WASH services. Processes are recorded to understand how the project evolves, and to track positive and negative trends, rather than only focusing on the final result. This information sheet gives a short overview of what process documentation means and how it works in WASHCost.
WASHCost Informationsheet PD.doc (507 kB)
Expert Meeting on WASH data
29 Jun 09
In January of 2009, the WASHCost project organised an “Expert Meeting on WASH data” to learn from, and learn with, other people and organisations about processes for developing a global decision support tool. In order to complement, and not duplicate, a range of experts involved in existing initiatives that collect data in the WASH sector and use web-based interfaces were invited, such as OECD, UN Water, EU Joint Research Institute and GLAAS/JMP.
Some of the main insights that were provided by the “Expert Meeting on WASH Data” are:
• Collecting the right data, with an appropriate definition of that data, is the primary challenge.
• A wealth of software, experience and examples are available for database manipulation. The main lesson here is less to do with databases but rather that data which has not been collected with the appropriate level of ‘granularity’ will result in less useful conclusions.
• The user interface may well be more important than any specific decision support tool. The interface to the collected data, modelling and background information has to appeal to the user and help them to wade through the maze of information and choices.
To read the full report of the “Expert Meeting on WASH Data” please click below.
20090512 Report Expert meeting on WASH data report v1 0 - FINAL.pdf (2.49 MB)
Finance news
This blog contains news related to the financing of water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in developing countries, collected by Cor Dietvorst, the editor of Source Weekly published by IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.
WASHCost Research Meeting Report
03 Jun 09
In February 2009 a research meeting of the WASHCost project took place in Accra, Ghana. In this meeting the results of the pilot testing of WASHCost research methodology in Ghana, Mozambique, Burkina Faso and India were discussed. Agreements were reached on how to proceed with the testing of the WASHCost methodology in order to finalize the methodology by the end of June 2009. The report of this meeting gives detailed insights into the outcomes of the pilot testing and the decisions that were taken in this meeting.
WASHCost end of inception phase meeting report
12 Feb 09
Following a nine month inception period, the WASHCost project met in The Hague from 6-10 October 2008. Project teams from Burkina Faso, Ghana, India and Mozambique were present, with the IRC team, support staff and members of the external advisory committee. The purpose of the meeting was threefold:
■ To look back at the milestones so as to be able to make a report to the grant donor on what has been achieved and what remains to be done
■ To come up with revised workplans for the next year, including revised budgets and additional milestones
■ To contribute to team building
