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Introduction :
Poverty alleviation is the primary objective of WASPA project
presently being
implemented jointly by International Water Management
Institute (IWMI), the IRCInternational Water and Sanitation
Centre and the Streams of Knowledge (SoK), Global Coalition of
Water and Sanitation Resource Centres. The goal unites these
partners to achieve the common objective of the programme,
into contributing jointly and effectively towards achieving
Water, Sanitation, Food Security and Poverty related
Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The project strives to address scarcity of water through
effective use of ‘wastewater’ and "gray water by recycling in
productive uses; another major reason is the high nutrient
value of water.
Project
Aim :
The programme aims in
contributing to poverty alleviation through improved
hygiene and environmental sanitation. The programme tunes
toward improving the nutrition status of the poor urban
dwellers and income generation capacity of households in
periurban areas of larger and secondary cities and towns
in the country.
In this regards, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are two countries in
the region considered suitable for testing implementation of
the project. In Bangladesh, NGO Forum for Drinking Water
Supply & Sanitation is the implementation partner of WASPA-Asia
Project and the project location is situated at Rajshahi.
Project Implementation Area:
Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Implemented
Agency: NGO Forum
for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation
(Bangladesh Chapter)
The project is funded by the
European Union (EU) under its Asia Pro Eco II programme.
This project is undertaken by a partnership comprising of
International Water Supply and Sanitation, COSI Foundation
for Technical Cooperation and the Stockholm Environment
Institute (SEI) .
Overall Objective:
The overall objective of the programme is to contribute
towards improvement of livelihoods of the people in the
project area through integrated sanitation, wastewater
management and agricultural usage.
The overall objective is related to the following focal areas:
To improve knowledge generation and sharing i.e. to strengthen
the capacity of local stakeholders at various levels,
including community members, government agencies, NGOs,
Community Based Organizations (CBOs), scientists &
practitioners, and improve collaboration between them through
establishment of a Learning Alliances (LAs).
To minimize health risks by reducing urban water pollution
through development and implementation of participatory action
plans for adopting appropriate sanitation and wastewater
management, in conjunction with improved household and food
hygiene habits.
To improve livelihoods of the poor farmers through responsible
utilization of domestic wastewater in agriculture through
recycling and reduce associated health risks to the farmers
and consumers of the agricultural produce.
Expected Impact of the Project
The project expects a number of impacts at different levels:
Direct improvement of livelihoods and health of the poor (peri)-urban
communities, through improved sanitation, wastewater
management and hygiene promotion, which reduces the risk of
disease transmission, while at the same time enhances
production from agriculture.
Improved understanding by the authorities regarding
relationships between sanitation, wastewater management and
hygiene promotion, and the need to address all three in an
integrated way.
Strengthened capacity of the authorities, and community,
members of the LA to carryout integrated participatory
planning, involving all relevant stakeholders.
In Bangladesh, it is felt that this type of programme is rare
but of great importance for agricultural development with
poverty alleviation objectives. This is based on the ground
that holistic and sustainable wastewater management involves
intervention in the whole chain of improved sanitation,
contaminant reduction, waste treatment, disposal, effective
use in agriculture and promotion of hygiene behaviour. The
means of achieving these objectives in a 10-years testing
period is through involving local stakeholders. In this
regard, the project would establish ‘Learning Alliance’, which
could include communities, local authorities, community
organizations, NGOs, and experts on application of these
allied issues. |
