15/11/2019

Webinar: Why #RuralSanitationMatters

Webinar: Why #RuralSanitationMatters

Two billion people lack access to basic sanitation, with 72 percent living in rural areas. At the world's current pace, universal access to safely managed sanitation will only become a reality in the 22nd century. Disconcertingly, since 2015, donor spending for basic sanitation has been on the decline. If this downward trend continues, the state of sanitation and the overall health and development of societies are in peril. In October, a call to action was launched calling on all stakeholders to renew their commitment to rural sanitation and hygiene and to step up their ambitions and investments in rural sanitation programming.

Leading WASH organisations are fast reaching consensus. That is, effective rural sanitation programming relies on government leadership, stakeholder alignment, area-wide programming, inclusive solutions, evidence-based and adaptive implementation: not one, but ALL of them. By engaging in all elements and mobilising support for rural sanitation, the partnership is promoting approaches that do not only reach SCALE, but in ways that are EQUITABLE and SUSTAINABLE. Because, leaving one person behind is not an option.

Interested to learn more?

On 20 November, SNV is co-hosting a webinar on the #RuralSanitationMatters call to action, together with the World Bank, WaterAid, Plan International, WSSCC and UNICEF.

Moderated by Anne Mutta (SNV), multi-country programme manager of the FCDO-supported Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All Results Programme, the webinar's speakers include:

  • Andrés Hueso (WaterAid), who will explain more about the call to action and its five principles;

  • Kamal Adhikari (Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management of Nepal) and Issa M. Msumari (Arusha district in Tanzania), who will showcase respective rural sanitation progress realised over the recent years, and what these five principles could potentially mean in their context; and

  • Rubika Shrestha (World Bank, Nepal) who will reflect on the earlier presentations and provide closing remarks.

Webinar: Delivering rural sanitation programs at scale, with equity and sustainability: rising up to the SDG ambition (a call to action)

Mark your calendars!

When: Wednesday 20 November 9-10 AM (GMT) | 10-11 AM (CET) | 12-1 PM (Tanzania) | 2:45-3:45 PM (Nepal)

How to join: https://meet.lync.com/wateraid/andreshueso/WH0DQ6ST

  • Join via ‘desktop’ if you have Skype for business

  • Join via ‘web’ from your browser if you don’t have Skype for business. This will require installing an app, so consider trying it out now of before the webinar starts

For more info: please contact Andrés Hueso at andreshueso@wateraid.org

Photo: In June 2019, Nandom became the first Ghanain district to have achieved open defecation free status. Many more districts need support to eradicate open defecation so that they can start working towards basic and safely managed sanitation levels. This is why #RuralSanitationMatters. More info on Ghana here. (Photo by: SNV/ Geoffrey Buta)