MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN WASH

 

 

Access to safe drinking water and better sanitation is a basic human right and has a huge influence on sustainable development, poverty alleviation and gender equality. Each year more than 2.2 million people in developing countries die from preventable diseases which are associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene (WHO, 1997). In Nepal, about 10,500 children below the age of five die each year due to these factors which have contributed to the social, economic and environmental health risks.

Usually women and men have different roles and responsibilities in water and sanitation projects. In most societies, women are the ones who are primary responsible for managing the household water supply, sanitation and personal hygiene practices. They are more aware about the access, situation, surrounding environment and the storage practices. Women's triple roles in production, reproduction and community management (Moser 1989) leave them with very limited time and energy to participate in project activities. They are usually neglected in development project because they have lot of responsibilities and are not able to contribute time for the developmental activities. Therefore, planners or decision makers often do not think about their interest and feelings. The importance of involving both women and men in the management of water and sanitation has been recognized at the global level, starting from the 1977 United Nations Water Conference at Mardel Plata, the International Drinking Water and Sanitation Decade (1981-90) and the International Conference on Water and the Environment in Dublin (January 1992), which explicitly recognizes the central role of women in the provision, management and safeguarding of water.

The need and concerns of women in planning and management of water and sanitation systems remains limited. Therefore, an effort should be made to fully mainstream gender in project management and empower women in decision making process which will ultimately affect their lives as well as the sector as a whole. Gender mainstreaming addresses gender in all cycles of developing, planning, implementing and evaluating a program. It not only incorporates the need of women and men but also builds their capacity for efficiency and sustainability of the development. To ensure that gender issues in water and sanitation projects, it is essential to advocate both men and women at local, regional, national and international levels.

Some of the essential actions for promoting gender equity are as follows:
  • Include of gender issues in policies and practices of the donors
  • Build capacity of women to improve their socio-economic condition, personal status and decision making power
  • Involve both men and women in income generating activities to ensure that women can also share the household responsibilities which will ultimately motivate men to help [UTF-8?]women’s in their daily traditional work.
  • Involve both men and women in community planning, decision making, implementing and evaluation process on water and sanitation services.
  • Provide training to both men and women for taking care of water and sanitation facilities in the community and for the sustainability of the program
  • Involve local change agents like active women, local leaders, elderly women, school teachers, and health workers to promote women involvement
  • Organize gender sensitization activities such as workshops, experiences sharing and exchange programs to highlight the positive impact of the involvement of both men and women in household activities and issues related to workload of women.
  • Encourage gender balance approach such as gender friendly toilets in schools, promoting hygiene education in schools and communities, and importance of toilets near homes to reduce violence against women

    • Biju Dangol, ENPHO



    URINE APPLICATION RESEARCH IN GUNDU

    In order to assess the impact of urine fertilizer on potato production and also to evaluate its long-term effect on soil, a research work was initiated in Gundu on 29th January. For the study, five equal sized plot of land were selected and seeds of potato were planted after using four different types and amount of fertilizer in the soil. In the first plot potato seeds were sown after using 20 liters of urine and the same quantity to be used in two equal amounts in some days distance up to the time of cultivation. The second plot also treated as the first one but the 20 liters of remaining fixed dose of urine would be applied at a time. The third plot included both the urine and compost fertilizer. Similarly, in the fourth plot only chemical fertilizer (urea) was used and the bone fertilizer was applied in the fifth one. Agriculture specialist Mr. Hari Krishan Upreti said on the occasion that the research would show the effect of urine fertilizer on the soil in the long run and also the comparative study could be done on the impact of the different fertilizer on the potato productivity. ENPHO, with support from Water Aid is organizing a workshop to discuss the preliminary results of urine application on 28 March, 2010.

    PROMOTION OF LOW COST SANITATION

    The SWASHTHA project, being implemented by ENPHO, Practical Action and MuAN, with support from EU and UN-HABITAT, organized three-day training on safe drinking water, improved sanitation and health for 68 Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) and mothers' leaders in Gulariya and Tikapur. Similarly, WATSAN Volunteers were provided training on solid waste management and indoor air pollution at Gulariya.

    SWASHTHA project, which aims to promote universal sanitation in more than 1500 households, is promoting low cost sustainable sanitation in. So far more than 130 toilets have been constructed out of which more than a hundred are of low cost type. The cost of toilet's super-structure is normally very high and this often discourages poor households. Hence, community people were encouraged to construct toilet with different types of super-structure that are economically viable for community.

    In this context, the new approach named 7B super-structure which comprises super-structure using materials - Brick, Block, Boulder, Bag, Bamboo, Bush and Blend has been endorsed to promote toilet that is socially acceptable, economically viable and technically appropriate. In the 7B, 'Bag' we mentioned before means establishing toilet by re-using bag or cloth as the wall (Photo 2). And 'Boulder' specifies different kinds of stone. With regard to 'Blend' here which stands for mix type structure of different materials (Photo 3).This approach enhances communities to utilize any available materials around their surroundings to build toilet.

    ::TOP TEN TOILET FACTS ::

    100th anniversary of the death of Thomas Crapper was marked on Wednesday 27 January 2010 To celebrate the anniversary, we present ten incredible (sometimes sobering) toilet-related facts:

  • The average person spends three years of their life going to the toilet
  • When it comes to toilet paper, woman are more likely to be grabbers, while men tend to be folders
  • The first toilet cubicle in a public washroom is the least likely to be used: it is also the cleanest
  • One gram of human faeces can contain 10,000,000 viruses, 1,000,000 bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts and 100 parasite eggs
  • Most toilets flush in the key of E flat (yes, really!)
  • According to a recent Halifax housing survey, an estimated 40,000 homes in the UK still have an outside toilet
  • Children living in households with no toilet are twice as likely to get diarrhoea as those with a toilet, causing more deaths every year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined
  • The technology for the disposing of solid waste aboard a shuttle in space costs $23.4 million
  • Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation would cost an estimated $10 billion every year until 2015 (about as much as Europeans spend annually on ice cream)
  • You can join the attempt to break the record for the World's Longest Toilet Queue in March 2010 at www.wateraid.org/queue Source: http://www.wateraid.org/uk/about_us/newsroom/8132.asp




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    Stakeholder Consultation on ‘Ensuring Safe WatSan Facilities for Aila Victims’ Observed


    Call for Building Coalition among Ministries to Overcome the Challenge

    Mentioning that the damage caused by Aila was beyond the government’s capacity, Monzur Hossain, Secretary, LGD, Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives called to build coalition among all concerned ministries to overcome the crisis in Aila-affected areas. Monzur Hossain spoke as the Chief Guest at the Stakeholder Consultation held at the DPHE Conference Room in Kakrail, Dhaka.

    The Consultation on Way Forward for Ensuring Safe WatSan Facilities for Aila Victims was organized by NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation today commemorating the one year mark after the devastating cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh on 25 May in 2009. Monzur Hossain mentioned that even with the support from foreign agencies very little could be done so far to ensure drinking water supply for the Aila survivors. He also stated that it is time to come up with measures to protect the total eco-system.

    Chaired by Shams Uddin Ahmed, Deputy Secretary (WS), LGD, Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives, the Consultation was addressed by Chief Guest Monzur Hossain, Secretary, LGD, Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives. Md. Nuruzzaman, Chief Engineer, Department of Public Health Engineering; Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh and Mahmudul Kabir, Country Director, TDH-Netherlands attended the Consultation as Special Guests. A Presentation on Aila in Coastal Zones of Bangladesh: A Post-disaster Analysis was delivered by Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, Dept. of Civil Engineering, BUET. The Stakeholder Consultation came up with some immediate and long-term ways to ensure water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in the Aila-affected areas.

    Participants strongly mentioned that the lack of coordination and cooperation between concerned ministries were the biggest barriers to re-build damaged infrastructure and water options in Aila-hit areas. Even a year after Aila’s passing, even the country’s civil society does not know whether the government has any master plans to overcome these sorts of situation and resettle the homeless people. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh mentioned that rather than the economic barrier, lack of political commitment is a much bigger barrier in this regard. DPHE’s Chief Engineer Md. Nuruzzaman added with his statement to engage policy makers into consulation more intensively. Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Women & Children Affairs Dr. Nomita Halder said that most of the owners of shrimp farms in the South are elected public representatives. In this situation the government should address a new clause in its recruitment where government officials shall pledge to not be involved in any environment-unfriendly activities. Country Director, TDH Netherlands Mahmudul Kabir upheld the need for taking a holistic approach for an effective disaster management strategy.

    Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman suggested three immediate measures to meet the demand for water in Aila-hit areas. Firstly, to build community-based large scale Rainwater Harvesting Systems which were proved to be the most effective in disaster period. Secondly, to protect reserved ponds for rainwater storage; the banks of the ponds should be raised higher giving protection from storm surge and seepage. And thirdly, long-term sustainable & cost-effective desalination mechanism needs to be introduced. The present mechanism is way too expensive as it is depended on energy. He also raised the point that the government should also seriously think about adopting a Human Settlement Policy through which hardcore poor people’s environmental vulnerability could be reduced by discouraging them to stay in environmentally vulnerable areas. This should be adopted as a long-term solution of the crisis created through natural disasters.

    In his speech NGO Forum’s Executive Director SMA Rashid urges for a stronger inter-ministerial as well as inter-agency cooperation to overcome the situation. He suggested developing area-specific strategic plans based on data regarding local risks, local situation and environment assessments.

    Representatives from concerned ministries & government agencies, sector specialists, development partners, academics and media professionals were also among the others who took part in the Consultation. The Consultation came up with the directions that overcoming the damages of Aila cannot be tackled if it is considered as a single cyclonic event; as Aila has associated the long-term impact of climate change with it. In this regard Aila and its consequences are wealthy of research; the catastrophe has combined cyclone and storm surge resulting in the destruction of the total eco-system affecting humans and all other living organisms. Long-term master plan for separate geo-physical set-ups of Bangladesh has become essential for long-term protection of cyclonic impacts, flood impacts, drought impacts, etc. Re-building the breached embankments cannot give a long-term protection to the disaster-hit people; it is just a temporary and emergency protection measure. The plan should take into consideration all man-made negative climatic reasons as well as the natural reasons. However, for the moment the government should take immediate decisions to lessen the tax upon desalination machineries as it would bring the current price down to one-third.

    Shyamal Dutta, Editor of Bhorer Kagoj moderated the Consultation.



    Press Release

    Being Beside the Hard-to-Reach

    World Water Day 2010
    WatSan Fair in Tea Garden: A state within the state

    With a deeper look one can see the huge contribution of WatSan fair in promoting WatSan and proper hygiene behaviour. This is not only because a lot of WatSan promotional materials are displayed and documentary films are shown in this fair, but also to hold a WatSan fair huge advocacy activities and initiatives are done which helps the organization along with the partner organizations to promote WatSan information and build relationship with other stakeholders including Local Government Institution. The fair also contributes to improve the programme organizing capacity of the organizers. To organize the fair, preparatory meetings are called, different committees are formed to upholding different responsibilities. Venue and guest selection is also an important part of the preparatory activities as both of these two are decided according to the theme of that years WatSan fair. So organizing this fair is not a very easy or a simple task. On the contrary, it is a team work performed by the NGO Forum and its partner organizations full of advocacy initiatives. On the other hand, WatSan fair in coastal areas, haor areas or tea garden areas have different importance and impacts as these areas are the Hard-to-Reach areas, where people are deprived of every kind of development initivities and facilities. And because of its Hard-to-Reach characteristics, it is very tough to arrange a WatSan fair in these areas. But NGO Forum as a part of its on going campaign ‘Be Beside the Hard-to-Reach’ in collaboration with its partner organizations has successfully held WatSan Fair this year in different Hard-to-Reach areas, one of these areas is Tea Garden of Sylhet region.


    Disadvantaged and Hard-to-Reach Areas’. Sylhet regional office of NGO Forum and its partner organizations decided that for highlighting this year’s theme, the selected venue must be close to tea gardens as it is one of the major Hard-to-Reach area of the country. A preparatory meeting was held where the date, location and guests were decided. Separate committees were formed upholding separate responsibilities. In the meeting Kakiachhara Tea Garden of Srimangol Upazilla was selected as the vanue of WatSan Fair 2010 of Sylhet Region. It was decided based on some objectives such as to rise awareness on WatSan issues among the labourers and the garden authorities, to compel the garden authorities for taking the WatSan related concern into serious consideration and also to draw attention of the Government for facilitating the process of providing the tea labourers with all basic necessities. It was also decided that the fair would continue from 5-7th March. However, getting permission to organize it in that specific venue was a very difficult job for the organizers. The tea garden authority was unwilling to give the permission, as they are not interested to allow any NGO to work inside the garden. The organizers met the garden authorities several times and tried their best to convince them to give the permission. The Local Government also gave their support to compel the garden owner. Finally at the eve of the fair the permission was received from the Dhaka office of the Kakiachhara Tea Garden. The organizing committee met almost 400 government non-government officials, Up Chairmen and members, teachers and other important local civil society members for ensuring their attendance in the fair. Before the fair miking continued for three days in the kakiachhara garden and surrounding areas including closing day welcomed NGO Forum and other NGOs to work inside the tea gardens. The local government authorities ensured that the garden authority would not oppose any organization from continuing WatSan promotional activities in the tea garden. If they, action will be taken against them. So WatSan Fair 2010 of Sylhet region has open up a new possibility for Hard-to-Reach areas, one of these areas is Tea Garden of Sylhet region.


    Safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are minimal in the tea gardens of greater Sylhet Region. Very low coverage of safe water and sanitation leads to the frequent outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases and mortality which is causing pitiable health situation in the tea gardens and low productivity in the entire tea industry. Considering both the needs of the tea garden people and the mandate of the organization, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation being the apex networking body feels its responsibility to work inside the tea state with the tea garden owner and the labours. But it is very tough as the owner of these gardens doesn’t allow any non-governmental organizations to work with the labours inside the tea garden. Because of the strict restriction of the tea garden authorities it is sometimes stated that ‘a tea garden is a state within the state’.


    This year as a part of the on going advocacy campaign of NGO Forum ‘Be Beside the Hard-to-Reach’, the theme for the WatSan fair was decided as ‘Water & Sanitation for the People of Srimangol town. Students and their parents were specially invited to visit the fair through their educational institutions.


    After all these advocacy initiatives, on 5th March 2010 the fair started ensuring participation of Upazilla Chairman, Union Parishad chairmen and members, Tea garden manager, TNO, Executive Director of partner organizations, journalists and other civil society members. The three day long WatSan fair demonstrated WatSan related information, posters and documentary films were shown. Local artists also performed song, drama and dance focusing on WatSan issues specially related with the tea garden. A huge number of tea garden labourers attended the fair while women participation was mentionable. A vast number of student participation was also observed. Visiting the fair, Hard-to-Reach people of the tea gardens were able to get themselves informed about many WatSan related issue which they didn’t have any idea. District Commissioner of Moulavibazar district, Assistant Commissioner (land), Executive Engineer of DPHE (Moulavibazar), and Kalighat and Ashidron Union Chairmen were present in the closing ceremony. They described the Fair as encouraging and effective initiative. The tea garden authorities also visited the fair. The community people responded to the fair very positively.


    Organizing WatSan Fair in the tea garden was a very tough task for the organizers. But at the end it was completed successfully and in a very organized way. For the first time, the tea garden authority allowed this type of fair in the tea garden which is the result of huge advocacy initiatives, communication and sensitization. All guests presented in the inaugural and NGO Forum and its partner organizations to work more closely with the tea garden workers along with the garden authorities. Though getting permission for arranging a small fair like WatSan fair in the tea garden caused huge advocacy initiatives and hard work but still NGO Forum and its partner organizations are considering it as a chance to work in this Hard-to-Reach area more intensively





    Upoma Mahbub
    Documentation Officer
    Advocacy & Information Cell
    NGO Forum for DWSS

    Consultation on Water Quality Challenges and Opportunities

    World Water Day 2010
    Water Quality Threat Requires Acknowledgement & Immediate Actions

    Various water quality parameters in Bangladesh has deteriorated 16 to 20 times in recent times than it was in 1976, at the time when DPHE developed its institutionary framework in 1976”, said Professor Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed, Civil Engineering Dept., BUET at the Consultation in observance of the World Water Day. Dr. Feroze Ahmed spoke in the Consultation at the National Press Club, Dhaka as the Chief Guest in observance of the World Water Day 2010.


    The World Water Day 2010 was observed today in light of the theme “Clean Water for a Healthy World”. A national Consultation on Communicating Water Quality Challenges and Opportunities was jointly organized by DPHE, UNIC, WHO, WSP-The World Bank and NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation. Professor Dr. Feroze also drew attention towards the industries that are mainly polluting our water. He mentioned that 60% of our waste water is created by the industry wastes, 30% by Dhaka WASA and the rest 10% by Dhaka City Corporation (DCC). He also mentioned that the Environment Conservational Act 1997 is out of date in today’s context as it does not address the increasing number of industries and polluted water sources prevailing in Bangladesh today. However, he urged for the willingness of these industry owners and the Government to take recycling measures to purify water; measures that are actually not out of our reach. He strongly recommended to prioritize the three main threats of water quality pollution in our country i.e. microbial pollution, arsenic and manganese contamination and take measures accordingly. 


    Chaired by Dewan Nakib Ahsan, Additional Chief Engineer, DPHE, the Consultation was addressed by Chief Guest Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed, Professor, Civil Engineering Dept., BUET; and Jan Moller Hansen, Deputy Head of Mission, The Royal Norwegian Embassy and Mark Ellery, Regional Water & Sanitation Specialist, WSP-The World Bank as Special Guests. The Consultation was focused on thematic presentations by Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, Dept. of Civil Engineering, BUET and Mohammed Hossain, Project Coordinator, NGO Forum. The Consultation focused on the importance of prioritizing water quality threat-related issues and urging the Government and relevant stakeholders to develop decentralized plans centering the local government institutions.


    Being one of the Panel Discussants, Dr. Ainun Nishat, Senior Advisor, IUCN-The Asia Pacific Region enforced on developing location-wise decentralized water treatment plants, monitored and supervised by the Local Government Institutes (LGIs). This would be a more manageable and convenient way of addressing water quality treatment in our country rather than the existing treatment plants that are developed centering major cities only. Plans should also include temporal and spatial variation-based data analysis to understand the trend of water quality deterioration in Bangladesh. The total eco-system and bio-diversity is being affected today and it is related with water quality, mentioned Dr. Nishat.


    The presentations highlighted that resource allocation for sewerage and industrial waste management is inadequate in our country. Proper attention is also not given. The organic wastes have already destroyed the aquatic life in the Buriganga, Bangshi and Balu rivers that are the main sources of Dhaka city’s drinking water. The toxic effects magnifies when it is entering into the food chain. But there is no research or monitoring in this regard. Moreover the river pollution has spread across the main cities of Bangladesh. The main two challenges for Dhaka city’s water management is domestic sewerage and toxic heavy metals. The canals of Dhaka’s Tejgaon and Begunbari areas alone are transporting pollution loads to rivers 20-30 times higher that the water can absorb. The dissolved oxygen level of Buriganga and Bangshi rivers sometimes goes down below 1mg/litre when the standard level is 8-9mg/litre for the survival of aquatic life. Besides, another Potential Organic Pollutants (POPs) can lead to genetic disorder and cancer. The presentation also revealed that after 1990, the rate of groundwater abstraction increased drastically – from 180 Mm3  to 590 Mm3 in 2003. In Bangladesh’ Matlab upazila, which is the worst arsenic affected area in the country, only 14% tubewells are free of arsenic water, according to a 2009 survey by NGO Forum.


    The Royal Danish Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission Jan Moller Hansen mentioned that the quality of water distribution networks is poor with leakage of some 50-60%. More than half of the water being produced is wasted in the ground, and the intermittent supply creates pollution from old and dilapidated sewerage pipes and storm drains. On top of physical leakage, we can also add the administrative leakage, mentioned Jan Moller Hansen. Referring that the water and sanitation sector globally is among the more corrupt boards, Jan Moller reinforced that the issue is very much a governance issue; the proper functioning of monitoring and regulatory institutes. Professional institutions are needed to handle the challenges.


    Mark Ellery, Regional Water & Sanitation Specialist of The World Bank’s Water & Sanitation Program emphasized on developing awareness of consumers & citizens above all. He also mentioned that the role of LGs is significant as it is the interface between consumers & citizens. But above all, he mentioned to start a ‘water quality culture’ in Bangladesh keeping the consumers & citizens at the top of the plan.  


    In his welcome speech, NGO Forum’s Executive Director SMA Rashid mentioned that 70% infant mortality is caused by lack of safe water supply and this could be prevented just by ensuring safe water supply. Sector specialists and media professionals were also among the others who took part in the Consultation as Panel Discussants. Shyamal Dutta, Editor of Bhorer Kagoj moderated the Consultation.


                                                                                                                                        Press Release
    8th National Scout Jamboree: An eye-opener for the youngsters to WatSan
    Jamboree is a great gathering of scouts where young people are provided with the chances to be together and engaged in various activities fostering friendship and mutual understanding. Jamboree helps to promote and strengthen peace, solidarity and cooperation among the youngsters nationally and internationally. As its motto, scouts are always ready to serve the nation and offer social services voluntarily. For this reason, they needs to be aware of issues like good governance, human rights, gender, social justice, environment and climate change, etc. Also they must have clear idea about current social, economic, political and cultural situation of the country along with the on-going development activities and initiatives taken by the government, NGOs, and other national and international organizations. NGO Forum had the opportunity to participate in the 8th National Scout Jamboree of Bangladesh, and exhibit its on-going programme components, share experience and demonstrate new WatSan technologies to more than thirteen thousand boys and girls including 143 scouts from India and Nepal.





    In the 8th National Scout Jamboree, held with the theme ‘Scouting for Change’ from 14-22 January 2010 at National Scouting Training Centre, Mouchak, Gazipur was the biggest jamboree in the history of Bangladesh regarding its size, arrangements and participant number. The total area was divided into 5 villages, one of them was Global Development Village. This village was comprised of stalls from different government institutions and NGOs. The GDV was established by the organizers with a view to building awareness among the new generation scouts about issues related to the environment, health, education, climate, ICT, digester management, micro-credit, poverty reduction, safe water, sanitation, waste management, alternative energy and so on. To demonstrate activities related to these issues, each stall of different organization was decorated accordingly with their activity related posters, books, banners, brochures, display of dummy activities and many other different types of interesting materials. These materials helped a lot for easy understanding of     		the youngsters including thousands of visitors who came to watch the Jamboree. Several seminars on accordingly with their activity related posters, books, banners, brochures, display of dummy activities and many other different types of interesting materials. These materials helped a lot for easy understanding of the youngsters including thousands of visitors who came to watch the Jamboree. Several seminars on environment, nature, ICT and health issues were also conducted in the GDV including quiz competition for the visiting scouts. NGO Forum’s stall was decorated describing with NGO Forum’s Vision, Mission, programmes, and many other WatSan and hygiene related information reflecting its mandate as a national apex networking and service delivery organization in the WatSan sector. Different type of publications, posters, brochures, leaflets, stickers published by the organization were displayed and also distributed among the young visitors. The documentary film show on WatSan, Hygiene and Climate Change issues in the stall was the main attraction for the young scouts. Every day at the time of documentary film-show there was a huge gathering of scouts and other visitors infront of the NGO Forum stall. The demonstration of Rain Water Harvesting System, new type of plastic slab and model of haor area attracted the scouts. While visiting the stall they were curious about the organization and asked a lot of questions related to NGO Forum’s activities and WatSan and hygiene situation of the country. From visiting the stall they gained knowledge about water, hygiene and sanitation related issues, impact of climate change over water and sanitation facilities, new
    water and sanitation technologies. So it was very helpful for them for understanding the situation and their roles in the promotion of safe WatSan. Taking part in the 8th National Scout Jamboree was a great experience for NGO Forum. Having close interaction with the youngsters, answering their enquiries, showing them documentary films, and distributing posters, stickers, leaflet and booklet, etc was a great experience for the organization which may contribute in generating new advocacy initiatives for sensitizing young generation on WatSan and hygiene issues. On the whole, from participating in the Jamboree NGO Forum’s activities are now known to a huge number of young people and visitors from all over the country and abroad. This may open up new opportunity for the organization to work more effectively in different areas of the country involving young, energetic scouts who are dedicated to serve the nation. So, reflecting the theme ‘Scouting for Change’, 8th National Scout Jamboree gave both NGO Forum and the scouts a chance to come closer, share messages while creating an opportunity to work together in future for a positively changed Bangladesh.

     
    Horizontal Learning

    Horizontal Learning
    A Sustainable Way of Socio- economic Development

    Union Parishads are now very transparent and accountable to the community people through maintaining their active role playing in ensuring different development issues in Bangladesh. To strength the capacity building of UPs identifying their own good practices and replicate the best practices each other through exposure visits and appreciative enquiry, the Horizontal Learning Program, an outcome based peer-to-peer learning process launched in November 2007 under the supervision of the Local Government Division of MoLGRD&C.  The Program is facilitated by the development partners, national and international NGOs along with Water and Sanitation Programme- South Asia (WSP-SA) of the World Bank. A number of good practices i.e. organizing open budget meetings, increasing the revenue income more than double through motivating the local tax holders, ensuring total sanitation, arsenic mitigation with the community participation, empowering women and vulnerable people of the community etc are now being implemented at the community level through Horizontal Learning Program under the leadership of LGIs in 128 Union Parishads under 13 Upazilas of Bangladesh. Under the Horizontal Learning Program a total of 21 good practices were identified and being replicated among different UPs. A total of 62 UPs have already allocated Taka 24.2 million in their annual budget during FY 2008-09 for replication of good practices to benefit more than 3.1 million people. Text Box: To review the Upazila-wise progress of replication of the good practices and develop Action Plan for the next year, a Network Workshop for Horizontal Learning Program organized during 2-4 June 2009 at Cox’s Bazar. Representatives from UPs, community catalysts, UNOs, development partners and government officials at senior level participated in the Workshop. Under the Horizontal Learning Program a total of 128 UPs, UNOs, and different development partners are now linked with ‘Mobile SMS (Short Message Service) System’. UPs are now able to sharing information of important events with their network peers through SMS network. The Horizontal Learning Program has contributed a lot to creating self-confidence among UPs. This sustainable way of replication process would help to scaling up of the good practices throughout the country and this would ultimately contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the country.     
    '
     
     
    Observance of the World Water Day 2009 in Bangladesh

    In line with the International Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD), NGO Forum has been dedicated to contribute to bring in a favourable scenario in the WatSan arena in the country. NGO Forum as a part of its organizational mandate, feels accountable to uphold the significance of the World Water Day, 22 March observing it through a concerted effort from all concerned by ensuring a strong collaboration and network among the important sectoral stakeholders.

    Addressing this year's theme "Shared Water - Shared Opportunities" under the purview of 'Transboundary Water', NGO Forum plans to observe the Day with due significance in collaboration with the important development partners. Hence, NGO Forum has chalked out different programmes highlighting the significance of the Day. The programmes include National Seminar, Symposium, Rally, Cultural Programme on WatSan, Development & distribution of Poster, Leaflet and so on at Central & Regional level.

    At the central level a National Seminar titled 'Transboundary River Basin of Bangladesh: Situation Analysis of Water & Sanitation' is going to be organized with the participation of representatives from the relevant ministries, govt. departments, diplomatic missions, UN-bodies, academics, national and international development organizations, mass-media, and other relevant stakeholders. The key issue to be discussed in the Seminar will highlight on the present water supply, sanitation & health situation in the transboundary river basin of Bangladesh.

    Symposium and Art Competition at 15 divisional/district level, Cultural Programmes upholding the theme of the World Water Day, publication and distribution of Poster upholding the theme of the World Water Day at central and district/divisional levels is going to be organized.

    As a consequence of a long collaboration and especially the joint collaborative initiatives in the recent years, NGO Forum feels that a joint initiative between NGO Forum and the lead role players in the WatSan sector i.e. Department of Public Health Engineering, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) & Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP)-the World Bank in this line can attribute special significance celebrating the World Water Day and make it a success.

    The observance of the World Water Day through the country is expected to uphold the important and relevant issues highlighting the present water supply and sanitation situation in the transboundary river basin of Bangladesh.
    Topography, Climate Change Main Barrier to Sanitation

    3-day WASH Fair kicks off in Cox’s Bazar

    Extreme natural events and diverse topography are blamed to be the main barriers in attaining 100 percent total sanitation by 2010 in the country.
    “Climate change induced extreme events like floods and cyclones along with varied topography of the country are being emerged as main barriers to achieve sanitation targets across the country”.
    Local Government Division Secretary Sheikh Khurshid Alam told an international water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) fair as the chief guest at a beach hotel of the tourist city.

    For details infomation click here...


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