Overview of the RC Consortium

International Water and Sanitation Center (IRC) together with the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) commissioned a study of viability of Resource Centres in Uganda during the year 2002. The aim of the study was:

It was found out that in Uganda indeed a lot of information exists in the Water and Sanitation sector, but unfortunately in an unstructured manner, making it inaccessible to those who need it. In addition it was found that many experiences in the sector that others could learn from are not documented and that there is a weak-reading culture. Key recommendations from the study were that a RC should facilitate the provision and sharing of information and that there was a need to stimulate the use of information stores to improve service delivery. Further more, information needs to be repackaged into more reader friendly forms and delivered nearer to the intended beneficiaries.

A network of organizations acts as the resource centre for the water and sanitation sector, absorbing information from all around and putting it to use. The Network for Water and Sanitation (NETWAS) Uganda is hosting the secretariat for the RC at the moment. A Steering Committee has been established to guide the development of the Water and Sanitation RC in Uganda. Other members of the Consortium are; Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network (UWASNET), Water Aid Uganda and Uganda Rainwater Association (URWA).