V.S.Saravanan Center for Development Research (ZEF),

University of Bonn Walter Flex Straße 3 53113 Bonn Germany

Email: s.saravanan@uni-bonn.de

Webinar

Can water supply, sanitation and hygiene be a preventive medicine? 12 May 2014

WSS is a key for human living

Water supply and sanitation: Post-MDGs

WSS gained the status of a ‘preventive medicine’ (UNDP, 2006:6)

MDGs - ‘Hijacked’ The international goals mobilized international communities for a

common cause, but is ‘hijacked’ by the same communities in coalition with government agencies and research communities at the cost of the people

“To enable universal access to sustainable sanitation services by

supporting the development of radically new sanitation technologies as well as markets for new sanitation products and services. “

(Goal of a leading funding agencies website) “on-site sanitation are less costly and individual households can

potentially contribute a greater share of investment……. Urban sewerage systems require high levels of capital expenditure for infrastructure” . ….. its portfolio targets on those types of interventions are most likely to achieve the MDGs

(xxxx, 2012:5-6),

‘On-site’ Interventions - Blame it on community; immunize the state

‘SAFE’ WATER SUPPLY – Emergence of mass poisoning

Nice to (re)invent toilets, but who will dispose the waste?

Washing hands in filthy environment

‘On-site’ Interventions - Blame it on community; immunize the state Household-based Water Treatment & Safe Storage (HWTS) “Treating water at the household level has been shown to be one of the most effective and cost-effective means of preventing waterborne disease in development and emergency settings.” UNICEF, 2008. Promotion of HWTS in UNICEF WASH Programs.

http://www.unicef.org/wash/files/Scaling_up_HWTS_Jan_25th_with_comments.pdf.

WHO, 2013. HWTS: Manual for the Trainer. World Health Organization, Geneva.

Similar attempts have been made for sanitation (Community-led total sanitation- CLTS)

“evidence of improved water quality is rare, as are indications of the improved health of project beneficiaries”

IBRD/WB. (2010) An evaluation of World Bank support, 1997-2007: Water

and development –An Overview. Independent Evaluation Group, Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.pg.x.

‘Progress’ of MDGs “We see water pipes carrying (or leaking) water that makes

people sick, and gleaming toilets drowning people in their own excreta”.

People and communities are blamed for the crisis What looks like progress (as per MDGs) actually poses a

threat to human lives Saravanan V S & Gondhalekar D. (2013). Water supply and sanitation as a ‘preventive

medicine’: Challenges in rapidly growing economies. Water International, Vol 38(7).869.

WSS is basic for human living

Modified from Krause .(2009). The Political Economy of Water and Sanitation. New York and London: Routledge Publishers. Pg.8.

Integrated Approach to WSS

WSS is basic for human living

Challenges remains & revisits Poor governance High cost of infrastructure Rapid urbanization, industrialization and intensification of agriculture Growing poverty Poor housing Insecure land tenure Inadequate planning

Water-related infectious diseases

Briggs, D. (2003) Making a difference: Indicators to improve children’s health. WHO. Pg 10

Post -2015 Goals Marks significant trend Universal access to WSS Treat all municipal and industrial wastewater

Post -2015 Goals as ‘super norms’ Play ‘Politics with principle’ International agencies needs to come out clean – transparent, accountable

, sustainable interventions and build capacity of national government with humanity

National agencies –develop policies, legislations, and regulations to

translate ‘super-norms’ to national /regional goals NGOs/civil societies –develop mechanisms to institutionalize innovations Households/individuals – maintain households hygiene and be responsive RESEARCHERS need to go beyond simple high-school-based ‘cause-effect’

model of research (Interview with Tony McMicheal in Shetty, P. (2006) Profile Tony McMichael: a visionary of the environment–health interface. The Lancet, 368, p.21.

Thank you!

s.saravanan@uni-bonn.de