WASH sector finance
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.
Philippines: lawmaker wants bottled water classified as ‘basic necessity’
27 Aug 10
An administration lawmaker pushed [on 13 August 2010] for the inclusion of bottled drinking water in the list of “basic necessities” under The Price Act, to protect the public against hoarding and profiteering during severe shortages, calamities and similar emergencies. … Continue reading →
Japan: selling sewage to Australia
26 Aug 10
Japan has an unlikely new export product: the sewage it normally dumps into rivers or the sea. The first buyer is the Australian mining industry. Could this also become a new money earner for developing countries? Well, no. The “export … Continue reading →
Nicaragua, Granada: Japan grants US$2.5mn to improve sanitation
26 Aug 10
The Japanese government has signed a 55mn-cordoba (US$2.56mn) grant agreement for the expansion of the sanitation system in western Nicaragua’s Granada city, local paper La Prensa reported. The project involves installing 17km of pipelines to channel untreated sewage to help … Continue reading →
Pro-poor water services: investment scenarios for Kamapala, Uganda
26 Aug 10
Water service to the urban poor presents challenges to political leaders, regulators and managers. A new study identifies technology mixes of yard taps, public water points (with and without pre-paid meters) to meet alternative constraints, and reflecting populations served and … Continue reading →
Grand Challenge: Create the Next Generation of Sanitation Technologies
23 Aug 10
Submit an original and innovative idea in 2-page proposal for a decentralised, non-waterborne sanitation technology and get a chance to win US$ 100,000 to develop the idea further. “Create the Next Generation of Sanitation Technologies” is one of the new … Continue reading →
Mexico, Mexico City: DF faces US$36.5mn in water losses annually
18 Aug 10
Mexico’s federal district (DF) government loses 460mn pesos (US$36.5mn) each year from illegal potable water usage, according to the director of DF water utility SACM [Sistema de Aguas de la Ciudad de México], Ramon Aguirre Diaz. The amount represents some … Continue reading →
Research grants: IDRC’s Graduate Research Awards on Climate Change and Water (2010−2011)
10 Aug 10
The International Development Research Centre’s Climate Change and Water programme aims to help developing country researchers to understand the consequences of climate change on water resources and to find ways to improve the ability of citizens and governments to adapt to the … Continue reading →
Making urban excreta and wastewater management contribute to cities’ economic development [journal article]
05 Aug 10
Koné, D. (2010). Making urban excreta and wastewater management contribute to cities’ economic development: a paradigm shift. Water policy ; vol. 12, no. 4 ; p. 602–610. doi:10.2166/wp.2010.122 Abstract Cities, as engines of economic growth and social development, require large quantities of natural resources to meet their inhabitants’ economic and social needs. Good infrastructure and [...]
Non-dam alternatives for delivering water services at least cost and risk
02 Aug 10
This paper [1] by staff Conservation International (Arlington, VA, USA), highlights ways to balance water for people with water for nature. A critically important approach that the authors propose involves the use of Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) for water service delivery, decoupling utility revenues from gross sales systems and end-use efficiency. [1] Totten, M.P., Killeen, [...]
Microfinance: interest free loans for water filters for the poor in India
23 Jul 10
Village Financial Services Pvt Ltd., a Kolkata-based microfinance company, has signed an MoU with Hindustan Unilever Ltd to promote use of safe drinking water among the poor. The collaboration will enable poor households to purchase HUL’s Pureit water purifiers through the VFS network. The targeted 250,000 beneficiaries will be offered loans at zero rate of [...]
