Since 1990, the start of the Millennium Development Goals, the urban situation on sanitation improved in 5 of the 7 VIA Water countries, being Kenya, Mozambique, Mali, Benin and Ghana. However, access to improved sanitation is still a challenge in these countries as well as in Rwanda and South Sudan. Unsolved problems have a large influence on health of the local population.
There are many organisations and platforms where best practices and ideas can be shared and information can be gained. Please find an overview of the most active below. Do you know platforms or knowledge hubs you would like to share with us? Please contact us via r.terhorst@viawater.nl
Platforms to gain or share ideas on sanitation:
- www.susana.org
- SuSanA's vision of sustainable sanitation which defines sustainable sanitation and includes the five SuSanA sustainability criteria, unifies all members of this international alliance to work along the same lines towards creating sustainable sanitation for all. SuSanA is open to others who want to join and be active in understanding and promoting sustainable sanitation systems. SuSanA invites all stakeholders of the sanitation sector to join the alliance to exchange and to contribute ideas, and to become active members of the working groups and discussion forum.
- http://www.sswm.info/
- "Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture": What you can find in the Toolbox: i)Background on environmental, economic and socio-cultural issues, ii) Factsheets and PowerPoint presentations on Planning and Processing and Implementation Tools, iii) Tailor-made "Mini-Toolboxes" on specific topics, iv) Trainings on Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management, v) Trainings-of-Trainers, vi) Extensive Library and Glossary
- http://akvopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
- Akvopedia is an open water and sanitation resource that anyone can edit. We strive to improve water and sanitation projects through knowledge exchange on smart and affordable technical solutions and effective approaches. Akvopedia now contains 1,644 articles primarily in English, including some in French and Spanish. Akvopedia is hosted and managed by Akvo Foundation.
- http://watersdgtoolbox.org/
- This Toolbox comprises a description of tools developed by the organizations of the United Nations System. The Toolbox includes CASES of tools developed by other organizations and examples of application. Themes are Water Supply and Sanitation Services (including Hygiene); Water Quality and Ecosystems Protection; Water Resources Management: and Water related Risks.
- www.waste.nl
- WASTE Advisers have developed several approaches and tools, amongst others the Integrated Sustainable WASTE Management (ISWM) approach, see: http://waste.nl/en/our-approach . One of the most successful approaches is the diamond approach: https://vimeo.com/99321519
- http://aquaforall.org/aquashareware/
- Over the last 14 years, Aqua for All has built up a significant amount of expertise that we believe is valuable to share with our stakeholders. Think of a collection of lessons learned, best practices, interesting case studies, calculation tools etc. All focused on helping deliver safe drinking water and adequate sanitation to the BoP.
- http://rosa.boku.ac.at/
- Publications of the Resource-Oriented Sanitation concepts for peri-urban areas in Africa, hosted by BOKU and funded by the European Union.
- http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/knowledge/
- WEDC publications are a unique body of knowledge in water and sanitation for sustainable development and emergencies in low- and middle-income countries. Developed over 45 years, we continue to produce accessible materials to meet the needs and demands for knowledge from policymakers to practitioners, all available to download free of charge.
- http://www.communityledtotalsanitation.org/resources/frontiers
- The CLTS (Community-led Total Sanitation) website aims to be a global hub for CLTS (Community-led Total Sanitation), connecting the network of practitioners, communities, NGOs, agencies, researchers, governments, donors and others involved or interested in CLTS.