Annual Review 2011 - IWA

Urban Sanitation
Urban sanitation services remain rudimentary
in most cities in the developing world. There is
a notable divide in levels of service between the
minority of the population connected to sewerage
and the vast majority who use some form of on-site
sanitation. Neither system adequately addresses
the problems of excreta disposal. While the
situation is widely recognised in larger cities, it is
rapidly deteriorating in smaller urban centres where
population growth is most rapid. The consequential
combined public health and environmental impacts
are widespread and culminate in economic impacts
that have significant repercussions at both local
and national levels.
Although there is a range of potential solutions, the
prevailing political and institutional environment often
stifles a systematic consideration of the full range of
alternative technologies and management options that show
promise to attain the urban sanitation targets of the MDGs.
In response to these problems, IWA has embarked on a tenyear
Global Urban Sanitation Initiative. The objectives of the
initiative are to:
• Provide strategic leadership to guide policymakers and
practitioners in planning and design of appropriate and
affordable solutions for urban sanitation;
• Stimulate a radical reform within the world of sanitary
engineering to accomplish a re-orientation of urban
sanitation options in low and middle-income countries;
• Be a leading authority of reputable technical information,
showcase innovation and establish an internationally
recognised reference point for good policy and practice.
A review and revision to the IWA’s Sanitation21 Planning
Framework (initially published in 2006) was initiated.
The revision places greater emphasis on the planning
process and provides guidance to this effect. It also
stresses the importance of a sound financial assessment
of options. IWA is also working closely with SANDEC-
EAWAG in Switzerland to promote the Community Led
Urban Environmental Sanitation planning approach as
a complementary approach to the San21 Framework.
We have promoted these planning frameworks at various
key events during the year with the message that good
planning is necessary as a mechanism for mobilising
resources for tackling urban sanitation problems.
2011 Activities
During 2011, we have been working with the Asian
Development Bank to document case studies of urban
sanitation that highlight the fact that investments can
be sustained by applying appropriate technologies and
management practices. This activity has been supported by
the Specialist Group of Sanitation and Water Management
in Developing Countries. IWA also played a key role in
the production of a book by the Sustainable Sanitation
Alliance entitled Sanitation in cities – a framework for
action.
In 2011, IWA commenced work on a publication with
UNESCO-IHP entitled ‘Integrated sanitation - for a better
environment and healthy people’ to be published in 2012
with contributions from members of the Specialist Groups
of Resource Orientated Sanitation and Sanitation and
Water Management in Developing Countries. As part of
this, IWA organised a workshop at the 2nd Development
Congress in Kuala Lumpur in November. Also at the
Development Congress, a workshop on ‘Frontiers of Urban
Sanitation Solutions’ was held with presentations from
some leading organisations and specialists focussing on
technology options, management models and assessing
sanitation options.
IWA was also active at various other key events
including the following:
• The 35th WEDC International Conference at
Loughborough University, UK in June 2011. IWA organised
a joint workshop focussing on the subject of ‘Environmental
Sanitation Planning for Cities of the South – linking local
level initiatives with city-wide action’.
• A joint seminar at AfricaSan3, Kigali, Rwanda
(July 2011), organised with United Cities and Local
Governments of Africa (UCLGA) and Local Governments
for Sustainability (ICLEI) on the topic of ‘Urban Sanitation
Service Delivery : thinking about scale from the start’. IWA
moderated discussions and contributed with a presentation
on ‘Achieving Improvements in Urban Sanitation at Scale:
lessons from strategic planning approaches”.
• Stockholm Water Week – the Five Year drive seminar
convened by UNSGAB and UN-HABITAT: Getting the drive
to 2015 on track in urban settlements. IWA contributed a
presentation on ‘Planning for Implementation of City-Wide
Sanitation Solutions’.
For more information about the Urban Sanitation Programme
contact Jonathan.Parkinson at jonathan.parkinson@iwahq.org