This paper examines the aid effectiveness agenda and reviews its implementation at international and various regional and county levels. The paper begins with a brief historical snapshot of the beginnings of the aid effectiveness agenda and how it had evolved over the years. It is followed by a discussion of the main mechanisms that deliver aid and how aid effectiveness had been put in practice in the water and sanitation sector. Highlighting the obstacles faced by the sector in making aid more effective, as well as on-going initiatives in rescuing the developmental potential of aid effectiveness, in this TOP, the writers offer preliminary insight into how the contours of the aid effectiveness agenda may be redefined to better suit the developmental needs of countries.

Written by Jeske Verhoeven, Erma Uytewaal and Jean de la Harpe, and reviewed by Catarina Fonseca, Paul van Koppen and Yaw Zakodie,

Down load a copy today http://www.irc.nl/top26

Source IRC.

 

Up to 2.4 million people in rural areas and small towns across Uganda should have improved access to water supply and sanitation by 2016. This follows the African Development Bank (AfDB) signing on 11 January of U.S.$ 67 million package to finance the implementation of Uganda's Water and Sanitation Programme. The project aligns with Uganda's national goal to increase access to water supply and sanitation services, to achieve 100 percent coverage by 2035.


Source : All Africa:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201201130135.html

WaterAid is responding to a problem seen around the world: governments and charitable groups install water pumps, wells and other village water systems, but pay insufficient attention to keeping them running.   Surveys show that between 30 and 40 percent of water points in rural Africa are out of commission.  Many will never be repaired.

In the mountainous and beautiful south-west of Uganda, the Anglican Diocese of Kigezi is running a highly-successful water and sanitation programme. This is providing safe facilities for village communities, many of which are located in remote areas, where many people have died from water-borne diseases.

Trained staff teach the locals about the importance of good hygiene and safe water and the conservation of supplies. Rain water tanks are built, pipes are laid over rugged terrain, taps are installed and springs are protected and fenced off from animals and other predators.

The women and children are thus saved hours of carrying heavy containers of water daily up steep hillsides. Accordingly, the children have more time for school, and the parents have more energy and opportunities take greater care of their families, their land and their livestock.

At least 30 government aided primary schools in Lira lack recommended toilet facilities for their pupils, a situation that has put school authorities in a dilemma. The children are at risk of contracting hygiene-related diseases.

A new sanitation report issued last month by Divine Waters Uganda, a local charity organisation working in water and sanitation sector in Lira, paints a dark picture on hygiene situation and calls on the district leaders to adhere to recommended sanitation standards in schools.

"Shortage of toilets in primary schools is alarming," Mr Edwin Okabo, the monitoring and evaluation officer in the organisation, said in the report. "Toilets are in sorry state and present serious risks to the learners," Mr Okabo added.

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Sources Denis Ongenge Allafrica.com