August 2013
Dear Colleagues,
It gives me great pleasure to present to you the CARE Emergency WASH Network’s August newsletter.
We welcome contributions from CARE staff. These may be in the form of photos, case studies, trainings and conference suggestions, or new WASH technology and resource updates.
What has the CI Emergency WASH Team been up to?
WASH + Gender: Internship in Ethiopia
Malgorzata Kurkowska an MSc Water Management student from Cranfield University, UK conducted a research sponsored by CARE Australia. This study explored the impact on women's lives through their active participation in water committees. Interviews with women and their close environment took place in two administration zones in Ethiopia - South Gondar and Borena. The research suggests that women improved their assertiveness and gained new knowledge as well as additional sources of income as a result of active participation in Water committees. The findings argue then, that water committees are great tools for breaking social taboos and building community capacity.
A case study of Malgorzata’s field research will be put on our case study page of our wiki in the near future – keep an eye out for it!
Mali field visit: Patrick Reymond (West and Central Africa WASH Advisor)
CARE Mali is currently operating with various components related to WASH in emergencies / post-emergency, WASH in schools, WASH basic infrastructure development and WASH functionality improvements. They requested a review of potential risks based on the current geopolitical and socio-economic prevailing actually in Mali, for example, risk of food insecurity and climate change, and advice around how to incorporate WASH responses into future planning (emergency planning/risks mitigation). The Country Office also requested capacity building training on the implementation of WASH in emergencies technologies, assistance with sanplate making, advice on WASH in schools technologies and integrating gender in their WASH responses.
More information on Patrick’s deployment to Mali will be put on our wiki in the near future.
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CARE Country Office interview
Dr. Moussa Halidou: CARE International in Niger
What is your role in your CO?
I am the Food Security and Nutrition Program Manager, & Emergency Response Coordinator.
How did you become interested in emergency WASH issues?
As we know, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene play a vital role in maintaining livelihood, reducing poverty, and supporting economic and social development. Intervening in the field of WASH generates huge profits in other sectors (e.g. women's empowerment). The return on investment is much more than relevant; it can generate real value chain. WASH West Africa Advisor, Patrick Reymond, has been helping us in this area. Recently, I have been working on the PAMACEN project (Populations Affected by Malian Conflict Effects in Niger).
What were the outcomes of the PAMACENproject?
This project provides non-food commodities, drinking water and sanitation to 2,300 families in vulnerable local populations including returnees and refugees Malian Nigerians living in 22 villages in the department of Banibangou.
Purchasing power significantly improved for 2000 most vulnerable households that received direct cash transfer and better access to nutrition services and other basic services (water & sanitation)
More specifically:
- Risks of waterborne diseases are greatly reduced for 2300 households in 22 villages Banibangou
- 2,300 targeted households have benefited from non-food household kits for their daily life
- 2,000 targeted households have better access to markets for their basic food needs
- Access to community health and nutrition centers provide better services and better receptions for their patients.
Eradication of open defecation, improving the coverage of drinking water needs (in quantity, quality, accessibility), promoting best practices in hygiene and sanitation and working in partnership for a better impact on WASH.
Resources
Relief Web: ‘Topics’ pages
Users are able to search for humanitarian information by either latest update, countries, disasters or topics. There is a page dedicated solely to WASH, covering a range of material, such as: training programmes, technical notes, after action reviews and gap analysis reports.
A new study highlighted on this page (Gap Analysis in Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion) identifies sanitation issues as the major area with gaps and potential for innovation, with excreta disposal being by far the most dominant gap.
Useful resources on gender and humanitarian action
A new resource document has been put together which covers:
- Information and check lists for the mainstreaming of gender in humanitarian programmes
- Resources and tips on how to take gender into account in my work as a coordinator or in the coordination projects of my cluster
- Information on the IASC Gender Marker and tips on how to design or review projects in a gender sensitive way
- Information and tools on the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse
- How to attain help from a GenCap advisor
- Trainings on gender & humanitarian action.
Resources from the CARE USA Water Team
The CARE USA Water Team supports a variety of WASH and development programs in country offices around the world with a focus on increasing program quality and knowledge sharing across geographical areas of excellence. The Water Team puts out a monthly Water E-bulletin (attached). Check out their Water+Wiki to meet the team and for thematic resources on women and water+, school WASH, climate change, and WASH in emergencies as well as monitoring and evaluation toolkits and information about current country programming. / Trainings
NETWAS, Nairobi, Kenya
NETWAS is running a range of emergency WASH-related courses over the coming months, for example:
- Water Safety Plans as Effective Quality Management Tools for Utilities
- Scaling Up Community Management for Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation
- Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST).
RedR UK
12 Sep 2013 to 15 Sep 2013
This weekend aims to develop knowledge of groundwater, drilling supervision and groundwater monitoring. The course is mainly intended for water engineers and managers.
GIS and Remote Sensing Technology in Disaster Risk and Emergency Management
14- 18th October 2013, Nairobi, Kenya.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can assist emergency managers and first responders in preparing for, and responding to a wide variety of emergencies. GIS technology provides the capability to map and analyze hazards of all types and visualize their potential impacts. GIS technology gives you the capability you need to overcome challenges and meet mission requirements.
For more information and a registration form, see the training page of our wiki.
WASH e-learning courses
CARE Academy
Two exciting new e-learning resources are available for CARE staff and partners working on WASH programmes across the world – suitable for technical staff and health/hygiene promotion staff, as well as their managers:
- Technical Project Management in WASH emergencies
- Information, Education and Communication in WASH emergencies
You will find the courses on the CARE Academy e-learning platform which is open to all CARE staff and partners, or contact to request a free course CD. Contact for help in registering on CARE Academy.
For more information on these courses, see thetraining pageon our wiki.
WASH Reference Group: recruitment of a WASH Coordinator
The WASH Reference Group is a small set of CARE International stakeholders selected to represent the Confederation’s interests in Emergency WASH. Each member of the group brings a particular perspective and understanding of CARE and CARE’s programming with opinions that can add significant value to CARE’s Emergency WASH activities.
The Reference Group would like to invite one CO WASH Coordinator to join the group. Laura Baines () can be contacted for more information and the Terms of Reference can be found on our wiki.
New Technologies
Urine Transformation and Reuse
Today we know that urine (processed or not) in addition to its fertilizing power and its many possible applications in agriculture can be used as fuel.This paper discusses innovative solutions in WASH, focusing on the processes and technologies associated with the reuse of urine in agriculture, domestic electricity or for small manufactures.
For more information, see our ‘resources’ page on our wiki, or contact WASH West and Central Africa Advisor Patrick Reymond:
Have you had the opportunity to look at ourwikiyet?
Have a look and let us know what you think!
Get in touch if you’d like to discuss any of the above in more detail, or let us know if you would like to contribute an item for the next edition.
The CARE International Emergency WASH Team