Annual Review 2011 - IWA

20
LAMIC Programme
Over 50% of the countries where IWA has
membership representation are low or middle
income countries (LAMIC), reflecting a broad
base for membership engagement in developing
regions. However, only 25% of IWA members are
from LAMIC indicating that greater efforts are
needed to increase IWA presence, engagement
and impact where it is needed most. It is for this
reason that IWA is embarking on Vision 2020: “a
target of having 50% of its membership in low
and middle income countries (LAMIC) by 2020
driving a set of activities deployed in regionspecific
contexts.”
The most significant development challenges facing
the WATSAN sector are in Low and Middle Income
Countries (LAMIC), which in turn creates opportunities
for innovation, greater knowledge and expertise exchange,
and sector growth. The significant challenges in middleincome
countries include extending services to periurban
areas, adding wastewater treatment facilities, and
improving the financial viability of water and wastewater
providers. In low-income countries the challenges are even
more severe, with un-serviced populations significantly
Focus areas for 2012 include:
• Better representation of LAMIC professionals on
the management committees of Specialist Groups;
• Simplifying the payment of membership fees by
people working or studying in LAMIC;
• Developing new areas of work and collaboration to
support LAMIC water professionals.
outnumbering those serviced, a lack of formal sanitation
systems, and utilities (when present) typically operating in
a perilous economic state.
IWA has set itself the target that by 2020 at least 50% of
all its events, programmes, members and activities will be
originating from low and middle-income countries. Core
vehicles of the Association, such as Specialist Groups,
Governing Members and IWA Publishing, need to expand
their membership and activities to better reflect the
needs of LAMIC water professionals. An early focus of
the programme is to build on IWA’s existing strength,and
support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of
water utilities in low and middle income countries, making
use of existing activities and programmes such as Water
Safety Plans (WSPs), Performance Based Contracts and
Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Management.
For more information about the LAMIC programme, contact
Tom Williams at tom.williams@iwahq.org