INPIM E-Newsletter # 59
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INPIM E-NEWSLETTER Issue 59; |
THE INPIM E-NEWSLETTER
http://www.inpim.org
ihussain@inpim.org
Welcome to the INPIM E-Newsletter # 59
NEWS
Ø INPIM’s Ninth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation Management coming up in December 2006 –
Ø ADB Conference Aiming to Boost Investment to Meet
Ø The
Ø Ex-Japanese PM Mori Launches Regional Network to Tackle Water Issues
Ø ADB and Uzbekistan Mark 10 Years of Partnership
Ø 3rd Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Sri Lanka -
Participatory, Consultative and Empowering
DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS
World Bank
Ø Water Sector Performance Improvement Project for Zambia
Ø World Bank Approved a US$6.78 Million Grant for Central African Republic
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Ø ADB helps in Reducing Pollution in China
Ø ADB’s Loan to Improve Urban Infrastructure and Services in Bhutan's Cities
Ø ADB helps in Improving Access to Water Supply and Sanitation in Bangladesh's Small Towns
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Ø IADB approves $30 million to Nicaragua for potable water and sanitation
Ø IADB approves $30 million to Honduras for potable water and sanitation
Upcoming Regional and International Meets and Events
Ø INPIM’s Ninth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation Management
4-8 December 2006
Ø International Conference on “Productivity and Growth in Agriculture: Strategies and Interventions” at
6-7 December 2006
Ø International Congress on River Basin Management
22-24 March 2007
Ø 3rd International Conference on the ‘Water Resources in the
01-03 November 2006
Ø ECO-IDB-FAO Regional Workshop on Water Demand Management Policies for Agriculture
5 -
Ø Annual Water Resource Conference
06 –
Ø Water Finance and Investment
08-09 November 2006
Ø International Forum on Water and Food
12-17 November 2006
Ø 32nd WEDC International Conference on Sustainable Development of Water Resources, Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation
13-17 November 2006
Ø Workshop on Groundwater Management through Policy Interventions and Regulatory Measures
15 November 2006
Lahore, Pakistan
Ø ICASALS 2006 Conference ‘Water in Arid and Semiarid Lands: Innovative Approaches and Informed Decision Making’
15-17 November 2006
Ø 7th International Symposium on Water Supply Technology
22-24 November 2006
Ø 5th FRIEND World Conference - Water Resource Variability: Processes, Analyses and Impacts
27 November-
Ø International Symposium on Water Resources and Renewable Energy in
30 November- 01 December
Ø International Conference on ‘Rainwater Harvesting and Management in
04-08 December 2006
Ø An International Perspective on Environmental and Water Resources Conference
18-20 December 2006
Ø First International Conference on Groundwater in the 21st Century
26 -
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Ø Approaches to Private Participation in Water Services: A Toolkit (2006)
Ø Non-renewable Groundwater Resources – A Guidebook on Socially-Sustainable Management for Water-Policy Makers (2006)
Fellowship and funding opportunities
Ø Asian Development Bank - Japan
Ø PEP’s (Poverty and Economic Policy) grants of $20,000 for developing country researchers studying poverty issues
capacity
building and trainings
Ø Structuring and Financing PPP Projects in the Electricity and Water Sectors
6-14 November 2006
Cape Town, South Africa
Ø Agriculture and the Environment: Practices and Processes in Soil and Water
7-28 November 2006
Israel
Ø Crop production and Ecophysiology
13 November - 1 December 2006
United Kingdom
Ø Training Workshop on "Project Design and Management for Professionals in the Water Sector"
18-22 November 2006
Sana'a,
Ø 3rd International Training Course – Environmental Restoration for Sustainable River Basin Management
19 November- 15 December
Ø Agricultural Extension Practices
20 November - 1 December 2006
Thailand
Ø Community-based Integrated Watershed Management
20 November – 8 December 2006
The Philippines
Ø Social Issues in Natural Resource Management with Soil and Water Conservation
29 January - 9 March 2007
United Kingdom
Ø Soil and Water Conservation
2 February – 9 March 2007
United Kingdom
Ø Soil Management and Extension Techniques
5-23 March 2007
Thailand
Ø Participatory Watershed Management
11 June – 6 July 2007
DETAILS
NEWS
INPIM’s Ninth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation Management coming up in December 2006 – Lahore, Pakistan
The Ninth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation Management will be held in
The seminar will highlight the diverse experiences of both the host country and other nations in the world, as well as selected cases with better practices in irrigation management. The seminar will offer the participants the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in irrigation sector, review state-of-the-art thinking on irrigation reforms, network with irrigation professionals, policy makers and donors from around the world, and see first hand the functioning of newly established institutions, including farmer organizations and water users associations in Pakistan. The program will be of five days and will include three and a half days of presentations and discussions and a day of field visits and interactions with stakeholders and staff of the newly established provincial irrigation and drainage authorities in Pakistan.
Seminar Theme and Sub-themes
The theme of the seminar is “Institutional and Technological Interventions for Better Irrigation Management in the New Millennium” with three sub-themes as follows:
i) Participatory Irrigation Management – PIM frameworks and models, support systems and sustainability of new institutions, public-private partnership in irrigation management, better practices and lessons learned from interventions, constraints and opportunities;
ii) Irrigation Financing – irrigation subsidies, irrigation O&M cost recovery, best practices in irrigation cost recovery, charging and financial sustainability of new irrigation institutions;
iii) Resource Conserving Technologies – productivity enhancing and resource conserving technologies, high efficiency systems, other water saving techniques and practices.
Call for Papers/Posters
Papers and posters are invited on the above three sub-themes (and may include related project/country case studies, success/failure stories, conceptual/ methodological approaches, frameworks and issues, experiences/lessons/guidelines).
Paper abstracts and poster proposals should be submitted to INPIM as soon as possible and no later than
1. Length: no longer than one letter size page
2. Font: Time New Romans 12 point
3. Margins: 1 inch around the entire page
Papers accepted for presentation must be submitted by 30 October 2006. Papers must be submitted in the following format:
1. Length: no longer than 10 letter size pages
2. Font: Time New Romans 12 point
3. Margins: 1 inch around the entire page
Background
The importance of participatory irrigation management in irrigation reforms, with the aim to make irrigation systems sustainable, is now widely recognized by governments, donor agencies and other stakeholders. While PIM as a concept and approach has been in vogue for over two decades with varying degrees of success, the fascinating and challenging debates on emerging PIM issues continue. As irrigation reforms progress, issues continue to emerge, alternative PIM models and frameworks continue to be experimented in diverse local environments, and PIM approaches continue to be evolved and refined. Importantly, as water becomes scarce and faces intense sectoral competition in most settings in the world and in times of ever than greater need to increase land and water productivity of irrigation systems to meet the additional demand for food for increasing population, there is an increasing need to better use and manage each single drop of water. And the PIM approach to irrigation management assumes greater than ever significance in such settings. The purpose of this international seminar is to report and discuss various issues and challenges related to PIM, irrigation financing and new resource conserving technologies, share experiences and lessons, discuss solutions and options, and celebrate progress made in these areas in international settings.
Through a combination of insightful presentations by a series of international speakers and ensuing discussions, the participants will be taken through the issues and challenges in the field and become acquainted with some of the possible options and solutions. We trust that this event will provide an excellent opportunity to participants for sharing ideas, experiences and knowledge in a high level of professional but still informal, friendly and networking atmosphere. We are confident that this event will be truly outstanding for deepening our knowledge of PIM issues and outlining the way forward. Through this event, we hope that we can continue the wonderful tradition of water professionals in making our share of contribution to the betterment of the water users, especially the poor men and women in rural areas of developing countries.
Seminar Venue
Pearl Continental Hotel, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam,
Seminar Program
Besides offering the opportunity to review state-of-the-art thinking on irrigation reforms, this international seminar offers the opportunity for networking with irrigation professionals from around the world. The seminar will be conducted in English. The participants are requested to begin checking into the hotel at 12:00 hrs on Sunday 3 December 2006. The participants should check out of the hotel no later than 12:00 hrs local time on Friday 8 December 2006. Participants wishing to arrive before, or stay after, the above mentioned dates and times should arrange for accommodations at their own expense. INPIM and other organizers will not be responsible for any additional expenditure incurred. The seminar program is briefly outlined below:
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03/12 |
Participants Registration (afternoon, evening) |
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04/12 |
Inaugural Session, Keynote Address and Keynote Presentations. Technical Sessions, Presentations, Welcome Dinner (evening) |
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05/12 |
Technical Sessions, Presentations, Discussions |
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06/12 |
Field Visit – Interactions with FOs/WUAs, PIDA/AWB/FO Personnel |
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07/12 |
Group work, Technical Sessions, Presentations, Discussions |
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08/12 |
Group work, Technical Sessions, Presentations, Discussions |
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08/12 |
Participants leave in the afternoon |
VISA and Travel to Pakistan
Each participant must arrange to obtain his or her own visa for entry into Pakistan. Participants are advised to contact the Pakistani Embassy in their respective country to ascertain procedures for obtaining a visa. A letter of invitation will be made available to all participants for securing a visa from their respective country. INPIM will facilitate the issuance of letters of invitation upon receipt of the registration forms. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to, and should make their airline reservations as soon as possible. Participants are advised to intimate their arrival and departure plans to enable reception and send off at the airport or train station.
Seminar Fee, Payment and Registration
INPIM offers a pre-arranged package including lodging, local transportation, meals, study materials and field visits at US $1200 (from the afternoon of Sunday 3rd to the forenoon of Friday 8th). See next page for concessions on the fee. Any additional expenses on telephone calls, laundry, and use of the hotel bar will be at the participant’s expenses. Payment of the seminar fee can be made through a bank/wire transfer directly to INPIM's bank account. The information required to make a wire transfer will be made available upon request by email to ihussain@inpim.org or ssarwar@inpim.org or info@inpim.org.
Participants will be registered through a two-step process of registration as explained below:
Information for Registration
Final registration and payment of fee – upon receipt and processing of the pre-registration forms, final registration forms will be sent to the pre-registered participants as per the following schedule:
- Final Registration and full fee payment by 15 Nov 2006, 5 percent late registration charge
- Final Registration and full fee payment by 30 Nov 2006, 20 percent late registration charge
Pre arranged package including accommodation per participant – US $1,200
Pre arranged package excluding accommodation per participant – US $ 500
Note: 25 percent discount for international participants [Researchers/paper contributors/presenters from developing countries only (excluding participants from international organizations), Students]
Please indicate clearly on the registration forms if you belong to any of these categories.
ADB Conference Aiming to Boost Investment to Meet
A Water Financing Program Conference opened on 26th of September 2006 at ADB's Manila Headquarters aiming to accelerate water investments for the five participating countries. The conference brought together central and line agency high-level representatives from India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Viet Nam, including experts on urban, rural, and basin water issues, as well as finance and planning ministry officials.
Over two days, they discussed barriers to water investment, practical strategies to overcoming the barriers, ADB products and services that can help them, and opportunities for water investments.
“Improvements in the MDG indicators for income levels, hunger, communicable diseases, maternal and child mortality rates, and environmental sustainability rest on many factors. But all have one factor in common: Water,” ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda told the meeting's opening. “Water is essential to sustain life, to provide food, to create the conditions for higher levels of health, education and income.”
Delegates heard that among People's Republic of China,
To address these problems, ADB announced earlier this year that it would double its investments in water operations through the new Water Financing Program (WFP) 2006-2010. WFP will focus on the delivery of substantial investment, reform, and capacity development in three key areas: rural water services, urban water services, and river basin water management.
“ADB is well positioned to lead the way for achievement of MDG 10 in the region,” Mr. Kuroda told participants. “We recognize that individual countries cannot meet this important challenge on their own. Strong regional partnerships involving governments, development institutions, civil society and the private sector are needed to support your efforts.”
Water reforms and improved governance are also crucial, he said. “It is for this reason that ADB takes a comprehensive approach that includes support for reforms and capacity building, along with financing,” Mr. Kuroda added.
The ADB President said that getting water to the top of the development agenda will require good coordination and leadership from outside the water sector.
“That leadership must involve the finance and planning agencies,” he said. “The days are over in which water issues could be delegated entirely to water agencies to handle. Water has become everyone’s business, and therefore a national development issue.”
The
The
This contribution comes on the heels of the successful visit to the Bank and discussions held with President Donald Kaberuka by Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation Mrs. A. van Ardenne van der Hoeven in February 2006.
The grant agreement was signed in
The US$ 25 million grant will support the AfDB Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI). The prime objective of the RWSSI is to mobilize African governments and international donors to accelerate access to sustainable rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) investments through the utilization of innovative approaches to services delivery.
“The Initiative already supports 11 countries, and it is expected to extend its services very soon to some 20 countries and thereafter to all the African countries that have defined a national water strategy”, said Mr. Kordje Bedoumra, the AfDB Water and Sanitation Department and African Water Facility Director at a press briefing following the signing ceremony.
The main target is to extend coverage of safe water and basic sanitation to 80% of the rural populations by 2015 from the base level of about 47% coverage for water supply and 44% for sanitation in 2000. The total resource requirements for achieving 80% access to water and sanitation by 2015 is estimated to be US$ 14.2 billion. “The ADB Group is committed to providing up to 30% while regional member countries will contribute 20%. The donor community is expected to contribute 50% of the estimated total requirements,” explained VP Gantsho.
In order to help donors contribute to RWSSI, the AfDB established a multi-donor Trust Fund. The
RWSSI countries:
11 benefiting countries to date:
New benefiting countries up to the end of 2006:
Projected beneficiary countries in 2007:
Contact: Chawki Chahed – Tel.: +216 71 10 27 02 – E-mail: c.chahed@afdb.org
Ex-Japanese PM Mori Launches Regional Network to Tackle Water Issues
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori - the new president of the Japan Water Forum (JWF) led the launch of a regional network dedicated to tackling the most pressing water related challenges facing
Launched at ADB's Water Financing Program Conference, the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) will contribute to sustainable water management and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in
Mr. Mori said one of the most important roles of APWF will be to organize the Asia-Pacific Water Summit, in cooperation with the Japanese Government, where leaders from government, private sector, and civil society from the region can share a common understanding of water issues and reaffirm their determination to address these issues. JWF Secretary-General Kotaro Takemura announced the venue for the summit as
In his welcoming remarks, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda said that the forum comes at an important time when developing
"ADB is particularly pleased to see the forum focus on the role of water resource management in achieving the MDGs. In order to secure safe and adequate water services, nature's freshwater resources in the river basins must be protected and managed in integrated ways."
APWF's creation was announced at the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico in March by Mr. Hashimoto, who was then JWF President, and supported in a joint declaration by ministers of seven countries: Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Palau. The initiative is also backed by ADB, which provided support to JWF in the preparations for the formation and launch of APWF in
ADB has been designated as the lead organization for the Forum's Priority Theme of water financing, which aims to increase investments for water infrastructure and human resource development.
In response to international calls for increased financing, ADB's Water Financing Program 2006 to 2010 will deliver "a substantial package of investment, reform, and capacity development from which the forum will be able to leverage several lessons and opportunities," Mr. Kuroda said. "We welcome the launch of the Asia Pacific Water Forum, and the opportunity it provides to share knowledge and strengthen commitments toward sustainable solutions for the sector."
View updated information on APWF at its web site: http://www.apwf.org/
ADB and Uzbekistan Mark 10 Years of Partnership
ADB on
“Our partnership between ADB and
ADB is supporting basic reforms and enhancing the potential for growth through investment to the rural development, social sector, regional cooperation, and private sector development.
As of
Through its $800,000 technical assistance grant, ADB assisted the Government in formulating its comprehensive medium-term strategy for improving living standards in
3rd Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Sri Lanka – Participatory, Consultative and Empowering
Large-scale water projects have been ongoing in
Third Time’s The Charm
A third project in
Ø New and improved piped water systems to 80,000 households
Ø Tube wells and dug wells to 100,000 households
Ø Latrines for sanitation improvement to 120,000 households
In the past, two large-scale water projects supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)—one on water supply systems rehabilitation in the 1980s, and another on water supply and sanitation expansion in the 1990s—achieved modest results. They were saddled by security risks and high inflation in the local construction industry, among others.
Unlike these previous attempts however, this third project introduces a consultation and participation approach in all of the project stages—from project design to implementation and completion and to operations and maintenance—that has never been done in the country before. It is demand-driven by beneficiaries—the poor—who are to:
Ø Choose the type of water supply and sanitation technology they wanted
Ø Communicate the level of service they are willing and able to pay for
Ø Play a dynamic role in project planning and design
Ø Contribute time, labor, and materials to the project
Ø Operate and maintain the system to ensure sustainability
The project covers six districts in central, western, and southern
An Innovation in Approach
The modest achievements made by past water projects in
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Sri Lanka’s principal agency for water supply and sanitation and the project’s implementing agency, has gained the autonomy necessary for mobilizing community-based organizations (CBOs) for the participatory process. Furthermore, some CBOs established by Pradesiya Sabas (PS) or local village councils during previous projects are now more organized. The PS supervises CBOs and acts as their immediate link to the NWSDB. It also taps local nongovernment organizations (NGOs) as partners to provide technical support and advice, and hygiene/health education training programs
Each CBO is composed of a few hundred people, each representing beneficiary households. Their willingness to participate has become the most important factor in the project’s success or failure, and the C&P approach ensures their participation.
C&P is a process through which stakeholders influence and share control over development initiatives, and the decisions and resources that affect them. There are four different levels of C&P to engage stakeholders:
Ø Information sharing is one-way communication often involving dissemination of information about an intended project, program, or strategy
Ø Consultation means gaining stakeholder input on proposed or ongoing activities
Ø Collaborative decision making means that stakeholder groups jointly make decisions about the project
Ø Empowerment , a deeper level of participation, is where beneficiaries and other key groups initiate action and take control over development decisions and resources
Processes and Successes in C&P
Following the C&P approach, discussions were held with CBOs to get them involved right from the project planning stage. The extent and level of public consultation and participation took place over the four C&P levels, and these, in turn, demonstrated the successes the project has so far made.
Ø Established CBOs provided the avenue for disseminating information about the project as well as getting feedback.
Ø Communities were educated about their roles and responsibilities in the project.
Ø CBOs were trained in participatory planning to learn the nuances of project preparation.
Ø To date, about 2,000 CBOs have been organized in the six project districts.
Minor Setbacks and Lessons Learned
The high level of C&P has clearly helped to eliminate potential big issues that could have seriously delayed the project. Two external factors, however, did cause some delays.
One was a classic fight over water rights. A group of farmers in Hambantota District were not willing to share their water sources. Since, the farmers were outside of the project area and were not beneficiaries, the government signed an agreement not to touch their water source and to look for other water sources. The project in Hambantota District, thus, started two years later than in other districts.
Hambantota was also the only district to be affected by the 2004 tsunami. Although the project site was far inland and was not directly affected, the disaster had caused shortages in construction materials nationwide, resulting in project-wide delays of 6 to 12 months.
A Timely National Policy
An independent audit of the project commissioned by the NWSDB and released in January 2005 showed that communities’ enthusiasm over the project was overwhelming in some villages. Most CBOs met the target and paid up on time.
The effectiveness of the C&P approach caught the attention of the Sri Lankan government. In 2001, the government institutionalized certain aspects of the project by making them a matter of national policy. The beneficiary cost-sharing and responsibility was incorporated in the National Policy for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, thereby mandating that the water and sanitation sector be demand-driven and based on participatory approaches.
The policy further encourages the beneficiaries to take over full responsibility for ownership and management of the assets. The policy particularly mentions women, saying they should play a central role in the decision-making process of the water supply and sanitation sector.
Tying Up Loose Ends
As of August 2006, 96% of the project has been completed. While everything seems to be going as planned, the NWSDB-commissioned audit still calls for
Ø More technical training to sustain operation and maintenance
Ø More CBO training to show management and financial transparency
Ø Hygiene awareness programs to change behavioral practices for better utilization of the new facilities
Ø Legalization of the CBOs, as they are currently considered volunteer organizations, so that they can gain access to credit and be held accountable.
CBOs are now in the process of fulfilling all of these in time for the project’s completion in June 2007.
DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS
World Bank
Water Sector Performance Improvement Project for
World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the following project of water sector performance improvement for
IDA CREDIT: $23 million
TERMS: Grace period = 10 years; Maturity = 40 years
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project is proposed as a Sector Investment Loan. The development objective of this project is to support the Government of Zambia's on-going commitment to urban and rural water sector reforms by improving access and sustainability of water supply and sanitation services for consumers in Lusaka and by supporting a more comprehensive institutional structure which will lead to a coordinated approach for water supply and sanitation investments, both public and private.
For project details, please contact Aby Toure (202) 473-8302 or email akonate@worldbank.org
World Bank Approved a US$6.78 Million Grant for Central African Republic
The World Bank approved a US$6.8 million grant in support of the Government’s efforts to restore and improve the delivery of basic services to the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) as well as to strengthen transparency and accountability in public finance management.
The grant will provide communities with financing for local projects which they themselves identify, in areas such as water supply, health care, and education. It will also support efforts to improve security, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and strengthen public financial management, thereby helping to enhance people’s quality of life and ensure that public resources are used effectively to provide basic services. In addition, the grant will help lay the groundwork for reforms in the mining sector, with a view to improving the business climate, creating jobs and achieving higher economic growth.
The US$6.78 million grant, which is being made available from the Trust Fund for Low Income Countries under Stress (LICUS), follows a first LICUS grant of $4 million approved for CAR in August 2004. The new grant builds on progress already achieved on the ground under the first LICUS grant, such as making clean water available to an additional 55,000 people, thus reducing the incidence of water-borne diseases; improving access to health services for about 625,000 people; training 15,000 teachers; and HIV/AIDS prevention activities. The first-round grant also enabled some improvements in budgetary management—allowing regular payment of wages for government employees over the past year—which will be further built upon.
“Through this grant and our continued partnership with the Government and other stakeholders, we hope that the citizens of CAR, and especially the poor, will begin to see tangible improvements in their living conditions,” said Juan José Daboub, Managing Director. “Our Management team sees this grant as part of our continuing efforts to restore normal financial relations with CAR, which will allow a scaling up of World Bank support for the country’s recovery and longer-term development.”
Asian Development Bank
ADB helps in Reducing Pollution in
A US$120 million loan from ADB will help to reduce environmental pollution to improve the quality of life for about 2.2 million people in Wuhai and Bayannur municipalities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The funds will be used for new gas and heating supplies that will conserve energy and reduce pollution, as well as wastewater treatment facilities to protect water resources.
Large boilers will be installed to replace 396 small coal-fired boilers in eight areas –Dengkou, Hangjinhouqi, Linhe, Wuhai, Wulatehouqi, Wulateqianqi, Wulatezhongqi, and Wuyuan. Gas transmission and distribution systems will also be provided to replace the use of liquefied petroleum gas and coal.
In Wulateqianqi and Wulatezhongqi, treatment plants and a sewage network will be built to improve wastewater treatment. In addition, staff in relevant government agencies will be trained.
Recent rapid economic growth in China has led to worsening environmental pollution and ecosystem degradation. For instance, rising incomes and home ownership in urban areas have increased demands for gas and heating. Inner Monglia, in particular, has air pollution problems due to heavy reliance on coal as its primary fuel, especially for urban heating.
The region also generated 0.75 billion m3 of wastewater in 2004, only 44% of which was treated, the rest was discharged into the
“Demand for gas, heating, and water supply for domestic and industrial use in
“Improved economic performance will not be sustainable unless there is an immediate response to the worsening trend of air and water pollution.”
ADB’s loan will cover 36% of the project’s total estimated cost of $330.4 million. The loan carries a 25-year term, including a 5-year grace period. Interest will be determined based on ADB’s LIBOR-based lending facility.
The balance will be financed by a $175.4 million equity from the project’s implementing agencies and $35 million in domestic loans. The Government of Inner Mongolia is the executing agency for the project, which will be carried out over about 4.5 years.
ADB’s Loan to Improve Urban Infrastructure and Services in Bhutan's Cities
ADB approves a US$24.6 million loan aiming to improve urban infrastructure facilities and basic urban services in Thimphu and Phuentsholing, Bhutan’s two largest cities, as well as in Dagana, a regional center.
Thimphu and Phuentsholing face the full force of urban migration and urban sprawl, as a result of limited job opportunities in rural areas. One result is that the expansion urban infrastructure is not keeping up with demand, for instance in the area of water coverage. Dagana, meanwhile, faces water shortages at times during the year and lack of water treatment facilities and intermittent flows pose a public health risk.
In Thimphu, the project will develop a new water supply system, upgrade a wastewater treatment plant, and improve solid waste management infrastructure. Local urban infrastructure, such as secondary roads, tertiary water distribution pipes, drainage, and sewerage, will also be provided in four new areas in the southern part of the city.
In Phuentsholing, roads and drainage, footpaths and a pedestrian bridge, and social infrastructure such as fire hydrants and street lighting will be provided.
Dagana, located in the same geographical corridor as the two project cities, is one of 20 regional centers that is yet unassisted by external aid. Under the project, water supply sources will be augmented, and the treatment and distribution system as well as sanitation will be improved, and roads and drainage upgraded.
“ADB's past assistance in the capital Thimphu and commercial center of Phuentsholing has been well received,” says Tomoo Ueda, an ADB Urban Development and Planning Specialist. “By further improving health and general living standards, the project will boost the growth potential of these three areas and assist the Government's drive toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals targets.”
About 55,000 people will directly benefit from improved urban infrastructure, while around 19,000 in poor areas will benefit from improved water supply and sanitation. The project will also help increase awareness in the communities of proper hygiene, and boost management of urban facilities by government agencies.
ADB's loan, which covers 80% of the project's total estimated cost of $30.75 million equivalent, comes from its concessional Asian Development Fund. It carries a 32-year term, including a grace period of 8 years, with interest charged at the rate of 1% per annum during the grace period and 1.5% per annum after. The Government will finance the $6.15 million balance.
The Department of Urban Development and Engineering Services at the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement will serve as the executing agencies for the project, which is due for completion in 2012.
ADB helps in Improving Access to Water Supply and Sanitation in Bangladesh's Small Towns
ADB will help to provide sustainable access to improved and safe water supply and sanitation services to about 1.6 million people in 16 towns in Bangladesh through a US$41 million loan.
The loan will support the $71.1 million Secondary Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector project, which aims to help the Government meet the water-related Millennium Development Goals and its own poverty reduction targets.
While the country has made good progress in increasing access to water supply and sanitation, about 28% of the urban population and 41% of the rural population still do not have access to safe water. With sanitation, only 74% of urban areas and 57% of rural areas are covered.
In around a third of small towns, or pourashavas, limited piped water supply is available for 2-12 hours a day. However, the water often has a high iron and mineral content. The rest of the population generally relies on hand tube wells, ponds, and other sources of doubtful quality. Contamination of water sources is a serious problem in the country, with 22% of its roughly 7 million tube wells contaminated with arsenic beyond the Bangladesh standard of 0.05 milligrams/liter.
The project will rehabilitate, develop and expand water sources, treatment facilities, and piped water supply systems in selected pourashavas, ensuring that only arsenic-free groundwater sources will be used.
To help the Government achieve its 100% sanitation coverage target by 2010, the project will educate communities on the link between proper hygiene and sanitation and health to increase demand for improved sanitation. Community, school, and public latrines will also be constructed.
The project will also help build pourashavas’ capacity to operate and manage water supply and sanitation investments, as well as the Department of Public Health Engineering’s capacity to oversee the sector and implement the Government’s development program for the water and sanitation in Bangladesh.
ADB’s loan comes from its concessional Asian Development Fund. It carries a 32-year term, including an 8-year grace period, and an annual interest of 1% during the grace period and 1.5% afterwards.
The OPEC Fund for International Development will provide $9 million for the project, while the balance will be shouldered by the Government, pourashavas, and communities. The Department of Public Health and Engineering is the executing agency for the project, which is due for completion in 2013.
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
IADB approves $30 million to Nicaragua for Potable Water and Sanitation
The Inter-American Development Bank has announced the approval of a $30 million soft loan for a program to improve the management of ENACAL, the state-owned utility that provides potable water and sanitation services in urban areas of
The resources will finance, among other activities, an emergency plan to rehabilitate key facilities and equipment in order to reestablish minimum service conditions in several cities, including
The program will finance repairs or rehabilitation of wells, repairs or purchases of pumping equipment, the supply of voltage regulating devices, the substitution of tubes and valves to enable repairs, the acquisition of chlorination equipment, accessories for monitoring and occupational safety, cargo vehicles, excavators and sewage cleaning.
To support a recently launched management modernization effort at ENACAL, the program will finance the purchase of equipment for the utility’s commercial, operations and maintenance departments. Regional offices will be upgraded and training will be provided to managerial, technical and operations staff. Studies will be financed to increase energy efficiency.
The program will also finance rehabilitation work on potable water and sanitation systems in several cities, starting with Masaya, as part of a comprehensive strategy to improve the quality and sustainability of services.
The investments will help improve existing networks to reduce water losses and ensure potability, as well as finance repairs of equipment, wells and storage tanks; minor expansions to bring water to poor neighborhoods and to extend the sewer network to areas with sanitation problems due to the lack of alternative systems to dispose of wastewater.
The new program complements an earlier IADB-financed program to modernize Nicaragua’s water and sanitation sector, under which ENACAL signed a service contract with a consortium led by an experienced international operator. The consortium advises ENACAL and supports, among other activities, the implementation of management processes to make the state-owned utility more efficient, the development of a cadastre of users, the acquisition of computers, water meters and the control of unbilled water.
The loan is for a 40-year term, with a 10-year grace period. Annual interest rates will be 1 percent during the first decade and 2 percent thereafter. The Swiss government might also support the program with an $8.7 million grant.
IADB approves $30 million to Honduras for Potable Water and Sanitation
The Inter-American Development Bank announced the approval of a $30 million soft loan to Honduras to finance investments in potable water and sanitation services in municipalities.
The new financing will extend an ongoing program supported by the IADB to decentralize drinking water and sanitation services in Honduras, strengthen the municipalities that take them over and finance investments to set up local service companies and expand water and sanitation networks.
The IADB has also supported the establishment of a specialized fund for water and sanitation and other local infrastructure projects, the Municipal Development Fund (FOMUNDE).
The program, which will be carried out by the Honduran Fund for Social Development (FHIS), will support projects in 21 municipalities that have already been identified and the inclusion of other municipalities interested in providing efficient services.
Additionally, the program will finance studies for transferring Tegucigalpa's potable water and sanitation systems, which are currently run by the SANAA state utility, to the Municipality of the Central District of Tegucigalpa.
Under the program participating municipalities and their service providers may receive technical assistance to strengthen their ability to manage the systems formerly run by SANAA. The program also finances studies on infrastructure construction and the dissemination of local policies to encourage citizen participation.
Most of the resources from the new IADB loan will be used to finance construction to expand potable water and sanitation systems. The financing is administered by a fiduciary bank that analyzes the loans requested by local governments.
Decentralized services may be run directly by specialized divisions within municipalities or by public-private companies established by local governments. In both cases municipalities must ensure the administrative and financial autonomy of the services; their financial, operational and environmental sustainability and community participation in decisions concerning reforms.
The IADB loan is for 40 years, with a grace period of 10 years. Interest rates will be 1 percent during the first decade and 2 percent thereafter.
UPCOMING REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEETS AND EVENTS
INPIM’s Ninth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation Management
4-8 December 2006
The Ninth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation Management will be held in
The seminar will highlight the diverse experiences of both the host country and other nations in the world, as well as selected cases with better practices in irrigation management. The seminar will offer the participants the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in irrigation sector, review state-of-the-art thinking on irrigation reforms, network with irrigation professionals, policy makers and donors from around the world, and see first hand the functioning of newly established institutions, including farmer organizations and water users associations in Pakistan. The program will be of five days and will include three and a half days of presentations and discussions and a day of field visits and interactions with stakeholders and staff of the newly established provincial irrigation and drainage authorities in Pakistan.
International Conference on “Productivity and Growth in Agriculture: Strategies and Interventions”
6-7 December 2006
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF),
Pakistan
The international conference on “Productivity and Growth in Agriculture: Strategies and Interventions” is being organized by UAF to discuss the multi-discipline strategies and options for increasing productivity and growth in agriculture for larger impacts on poverty reduction. In a country like
Conference Themes
i) Enhancing Resource Productivity in Agriculture
Ø Enhancing land, water and labor productivity
Ø Promoting effective management institutions
Ø Promoting agricultural enterprise diversification and farm household incomes
Ø Developing and promoting effective resource conserving technologies
Ø Reducing resource degradation
Ø Addressing ecology and biodiversity
ii) Reducing Resource Inequities in Agriculture
Ø Understanding linkages between resource inequities and poverty
Ø Reducing inequities in land and water resources
Ø Food and nutrition security
Ø Social security and policy reforms
Ø Good governance and decentralization
iii) Promoting Investments in Agriculture
Public-private Partnership in:
Ø Agricultural institutions
Ø Agricultural infrastructure
Ø Agricultural small and medium enterprises
Ø Micro-Finance in agriculture
Ø Diversification, value addition and marketing of agricultural products
Ø Capacity building to address WTO regime
Call for papers
Papers are invited on the given conference themes. Paper abstracts should be submitted to the following E-mail addresses confars@uaf.edu.pk, confars@walla.com and ihussain@inpim.org, as soon as possible but not later than
- Length: No longer than one A4 size page
- Font: Times New Roman 12 point
- Margin: One inch around the entire page
Papers for presentation must be submitted by
- Length: No longer than 10 A4 size pages typed on one side
- Font: Times New Roman 12 point
- Margin: One inch around the entire page
For details, contact:
Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmad Gill,
Conference Secretary,
Chairman, Department of Development Economics,
E-mail: confars@uaf.edu.pk,
Ph: +92-41-9200504
+92-41-9200161-70 Ext. 2811
Fax: +92-41-9200764
Website: www.uaf.edu.pk
International Congress on River Basin Management
22-24 March 2007
Antalya, Turkey
International Congress on River Basin Management is being organized in collaboration with DSI and WWC in Antalya, Turkey during 22-24 March 2007. This congress aims at protecting, and managing water resources and preventing flood hazards, will address these important issues. International experts on water resources will attend the Congress, which will be held between 22 and 24 March 2007. Conclusions of the International Congress on River Basin Management will contribute a great extent to the background of 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul in 2009.
This Congress will bring together international experts, academicians, public and private sector representatives and researchers working on matters related to river basins. The aim of the congress is to exchange information on methodologies and techniques used in the river basin management.
The working languages of the Congress will be English and Turkish
1. Administrative Structure Coordination
Ø Water Legislation
Ø Public, Private, and Non-Governmental Organizations
Ø National and International Coordination and Cooperation
2. Water Information Systems
Ø Collection of Hydrological Data (Meteorologica1, Hydrometric,
Ø Water Quality, Observation Network)
Ø Verifying Hydrological Data, Data Bases, Management Systems and
Ø Data Sharing
3. River Basin flood Management
Ø Rood Forecasting Models
Ø Integrated Flood Management Applications
4. Decision
Ø Models (Hydrological, Water Quality, Groundwater, Eco-Hydrology, Regional, Hydrometeorology, Basin and Land Use Models)
Ø Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing
Ø Expert Systems
5. Basin Water Management
Ø Water Resources Planning
Ø Water Supply Management
· Planning of Hydraulic Structures
· Irrigation Planning and Management
· Domestic Water Supply
· Energy Planning
· Ecology and Environment
Ø Water Demand Management
· Water Saving Systems
· Re-use and Recycling
Ø Basin Resources Protection
Ø Case Studies on River Basin Management
6. Social and Economic Perspective
Ø Water, Education and Culture
Ø Water Resources Economy
Ø Participation of Women in Water Management
Abstracts of up to 300 words, in English or Turkish, are now invited on the themes listed above. Please fax or email abstracts, together with the title and names of authors of the paper and their contact address, to the address below. The abstract should summarize briefly the scope and content of the paper proposed, including keywords. A short CV of the author should be included. When submitting an abstract, please confirm that the author or his/her representative would be willing to attend the Congress to present the paper, if accepted for the programme.
Deadlines:
Submission of abstracts 15 October 2006
Notification of abstract acceptance 15 November 2006
Submission of papers 15 December 2006
Congress date 22-24 March 2007
An international exhibition will run alongside the Congress, to introduce scientific and technical work and/or activities. The Congress and Exhibition will take place in the Gloria Golf Resort Hotel, Belek, in the city of Antalya. This venue is excellent as regards location, transportation, climate and capacity.
Contact Details:
For further information/Submission of abstracts or Registration:
DSI Genel Müdürlügü
Inönü Bulvari
Yücetepe
06100, Ankara, Türkiye
Tel: +90 312 425 46 14
Fax: +90 312 425 46 14
Email: riverbasinmanagement@dsi.gov.tr
Web page: www.dsi.gov.tr
3rd International Conference on the ‘Water Resources in the Mediterranean Basin’ (WATMED 3)
01-03 November 2006
The main objectives of this conference will be to:
Ø Review and compare the state of water resources in the Mediterranean basin
Ø Find ways to reconcile the scarcity, quality, and durability of resources
Ø Examine the relationships between broad global changes and drought and desertification
Ø Review the methods of assessment and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems
Ø Formulate strategies and identify eco-technological approaches for the restoration and management of aquatic ecosystems
Ø Identify areas of cooperation in aquatic sciences between Mediterranean countries.
The event is being organized by Lebanese University, Lebanon; Lebanese Committee for Environment and Sustainable Development, Lebanon.
Contact: Jalal Halwani
E-mail: mailto:jhalwani@ul.edu.lb
URL: http://www.watmed.com/
ECO-IDB-FAO Regional Workshop on Water Demand Management Policies for Agriculture
5 -
The ECO-IDB-FAO Regional Workshop on Water Demand Management Policies for Agriculture is a joint undertaking of ECO, Islamic Development Bank and FAO with the support of the Federal Water Management Cell (FWMC) of the Ministry of Food Agriculture & Livestock (MINFAL) who acts as Focal Point for establishing network and coordinating all the activities among member states with regard to Water Management in the ECO region [Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan].
Objectives of the Workshop
The objective of the workshop is to develop capacity building of participants by training to:
Ø Formulate water demand management policies that improve the sustainability of the resources use in competing sectors.
Ø Strengthen the integration of economic ad environmental factors and sustainable issues in the formulation, planning and analysis of water, agricultural and rural development projects especially in the area of water resources.
Ø Policy reforms that improve productive and allocative efficiency of water use.
Ø Adopt institutional reforms with focus on decentralization of responsibilities at local levels.
Ø Provide practical approaches to implementation of water demand management policies.
Elements of Training Programme
The workshop will stress the following elements:
Ø Integrated Approaches to Water Resource Management
Ø Policies to Promote Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture
Ø Cost Recovery and Irrigation Service Pricing
Ø Environmental Externalities and Valuation
Ø Implementation of Water Demand Management in Agriculture
Ø Irrigation Management Transfer
AWRA 2006 Annual Water Resource Conference
06 –
The conference is being organized by American Water Resources Association (AWRA). This conference presents an opportunity for water resource practitioners from diverse disciplines to gather and interact together. The conference will offer a broad range of technical, social, and legal topics, as well as a number of sessions focusing on topics of current interest, including infrastructure asset management, water (homeland) security, watershed management, dam rehabilitation or removal, sustainability of drinking water supplies, impacts/solutions of urbanization on water resources, drought and flood management, and ecological restoration of wetlands and stream corridors. The conference will feature cutting edge water resource related research and project case studies throughout the world, offering interesting and profitable learning opportunities to all attendees.
Contact Name: Terry Meyer
E-mail: terry@awra.org
Water Finance and Investment
08-09 November 2006
Focused on the clean water supply and waste water treatment sectors of the water industry, this conference is designed to meet both the needs of water company executives and Wall Street’s newly emerging and rapidly accelerating interest in the water industry. The conference will examine high growth sectors, investment strategies, financing trends, and partnership opportunities. Important issues this conference will cover include:
Ø Identification and analysis of growth markets
Ø Regulatory update and key legislative initiatives impacting the water industry
Ø Global market opportunities
Ø Key financial considerations for success in the water industry
Ø Water company executive presentations covering
Ø Exploring public-private partnerships
Ø Key opportunities for technology innovation in water.
This conference is being organized by Financial Research Associates (FRA), United States.
Contact Name: Victoria Crimmins
E-mail: vcrimmins@frallc.com
URL: http://www.frallc.com/
International Forum on Water and Food
12-17 November 2006
The forum is being organized by the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) and Mekong River Commission (MRC). This forum will highlight research achievements in the field of water productivity in agriculture, expand on this knowledge, and recommend future areas for research and development investment. The forum will recommend areas for research and development investment in the field of water productivity in agriculture, and show how water productivity research results can be better translated into positive development impact.
Contact Name: CPWF Secretariat
E-mail: cpsecretariat@waterforfood.org
URL: http://forum.waterandfood
32nd WEDC International Conference on Sustainable Development of Water Resources, Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation
13-17 November 2006
This conference which is being organized by the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), United Kingdom will provide a global forum for practitioners, policy-makers, academics and researchers from a wide range of disciplines and working in the water and environmental sanitation sectors to meet and share experiences on the conference theme.
The topics of this conference are:
Ø Water resources
Ø Water supply
Ø Environmental sanitation
Ø Institutional issues
Ø Cross-cutting issues.
Contact: Conference Secretariat
E-mail: wedc.conf@lboro.ac.uk
URL: http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/conferences/
Workshop on Groundwater Management through Policy Interventions and Regulatory Measures
15 November 2006
Lahore, Pakistan
The Groundwater Management being a very important area, Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) has decided to hold a workshop at Lahore, Pakistan to review the existing groundwater management policies, practices and regulatory laws and highlight any shortcomings/ gaps in groundwater management and its governance.
The participants of the workshop will be divided into two thematic groups to discuss at length i) Groundwater Management Issues and ii) Groundwater Governance Issues.
i) Group 1: Groundwater Management Issues
The group will critically review the following issues related to Groundwater Management:
Ø Existing Groundwater Conditions
Ø Monitoring
Ø Measurement
Ø Management Efficiencies
Ø Pollution of Groundwater
Ø Arsenic and Fluoride Contamination
Ø Recharging Aquifers
Ø Waterlogging and Secondary Salinization
ii) Group 2: Groundwater Governance Issues
The group will focus on the following governance related issues:
Ø Existing Groundwater Regulations and Practices
Ø Legal Framework to be Adopted
Ø Groundwater Entitlements
Ø Enforcement Difficulties
Ø Default Penalties
Ø Preventive Measures
ICASALS 2006 Conference ‘Water in Arid and Semiarid Lands: Innovative Approaches and Informed Decision Making’
15-17 November 2006
The conference is designed to provide policy-makers, educators, researchers, students, and practitioners with information about state-of-the-art dryland research, advances in technology, and new field practices applicable to arid and semiarid lands with an emphasis on water resource management.
Some of the topics of this conference include:
Ø Water supply (surface and subsurface)
Ø Watershed management
Ø Water and energy
Ø Urban, rural and industrial use
Ø Water quality
Ø Water harvesting
Ø Water reuse.
This conference is being organized by International Center for Arid and Semiarid Land Studies (ICASALS) at Texas Tech University (TTU), United States; United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO IHP); Association of Arid Lands Studies (AALS), United States
Contact: Dr. A.C. Correa
E-mail: mailto:AC.Correa@ttu.edu
URL: http://www.iaff.ttu.edu/home/icasals/
7th International Symposium on Water Supply Technology
22-24 November 2006
Since 1988, "International Symposium on Water Supply Technology" has been held once every 3 years in
The organizing committee proposed the symposium theme: "New water supply technologies and development of water utility management". The conference themes are:
Ø Advanced water treatment technologies
Ø Advanced technologies and appropriate management for water distribution
Ø Development of water utility management
The symposium provides the opportunity for technical information exchange and recent views on the topics. Also, experts of leading waterworks from several countries will make special speeches.
Call for Papers
Submission of abstracts:
Notification of acceptance: End April 2006
Submission of full papers:
Contact: Noboru Saito
Director of
Email: Wateryokohama-paper@congre.co.jp
5th FRIEND World Conference - Water Resource Variability: Processes, Analyses and Impacts
27 November-
The objective of the conference is to present the results of the UNESCO FRIEND (Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data) research programme that has stimulated international cooperation to meet local and regional needs. A focus of the conference will be to discus how advances in analytical techniques and process hydrology are improving our assessment of water resource variability and the impacts of environmental change. The conference will give a high priority to establishing links with related international programmes and with related disciplines of groundwater hydrology, ecohydrology and climatology.
The main organizers of the conference are UNESCO-IHP, Latin America and Caribbean AMIGO FRIEND, Cuban IHP National Hydrological Committee, German IHP/HWRP National Committee, Institute of Meteorology of Cuba, National Institute of Water Resource of Cuba, IAHS and WMO
Contact: Dr Eduardo Planos Gutierrez
E-mail: planos@met.inf.cu
URL: http://www.friend-amigo.org/conferencia2006/
International Symposium on Water Resources and Renewable Energy in
30 November- 01 December
This event which is being organized by the International Journal on Hydropower and Dams will bring together international experts concerned with the development of dams for all purposes and renewable energy schemes in Asia. Particular emphasis will be on the
Contact: Mrs. Margaret Bourke
E-mail: mailto:sales@hydropower-dams.com
URL: http://www.hydropower-dams.com/
International Conference on ‘Rainwater Harvesting and Management in
04-08 December 2006
This conference is designed to facilitate the sharing of experiences in rainwater harvesting (RWH) and management through the presentation of technical papers and posters on planning, research and development activities. This year’s theme will be ‘Rainwater management for disaster mitigation and sustainable development’, with sub-themes including: institutional capacity building for rainwater management; urban and peri-urban RWH; agricultural water management; the role of RWH in conflict resolution; RWH for environmental conservation and management; RWH as a coping strategy for climate change.
The organizers of this conference are the Kenya Rainwater Association (KRA) and Southern and Eastern African Rainwater Network (SearNet).
Contact: Kenya Rainwater Association Secretariat
E-mail: gharp@wananchi.com
URL: http://www.searnet.org/newsitem
An International Perspective on Environmental and Water Resources Conference
18-20 December 2006
This conference which is being organized by Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), United States will cover a wide variety of topics related to water resources and the environment. While technical sessions will include topics on both developed and developing countries, much of the focus of this conference will be on water resources and the environment in developing countries, especially in
Some of the topics to be included in this conference are:
Ø Water supply and sanitation in non-urban areas
Ø Wetlands restoration and protection
Ø Inter-basin water transfers
Ø Conflict resolution in interstate and international water disputes
Ø Artificial recharge of aquifers
Ø Global climate change and effect on water resources and the environment
Ø Irrigation management and land reclamation
Ø Saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers
Ø Privatization and pricing in the water sector.
Contact: Katy Gorscak
E-mail: mailto:mkillgore@louisberger.com
First International Conference on Groundwater in the 21st Century
26 -
The first International conference on Groundwater in the 21st Century will present the more recent technological and scientific developments associated with the management and control of groundwater resources. Issues of groundwater quality, quantity, management and planning, as well as other related topics, are essential to the future of the world population.
The conference will be an opportunity to bring together scholars, scientists, experts and researchers confronting end users, managers, decision makers and stakeholders from universities, institutes, agencies and authorities all over the world to discuss and develop a general frame work for optimizing groundwater management and control for sustainable development
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Approaches to Private Participation in Water Services: A Toolkit (2006)
Approaches to Private Participation in Water Services is an informative toolkit that provides options for the design of policies to facilitate the delivery of good quality water and sanitation services to the poor. It highlights the need for tariffs, investment, stakeholder consultation, and regulatory policies to address the affordability and sustainability of those services.
Targeted to an audience that includes government advisors as well as consultants, lawyers, and donors, the toolkit builds on previous global experience in private participation in water and sanitation supply. Developing country governments and those interested in private participation in water and sanitation supply will find this toolkit an invaluable resource.
Non-renewable Groundwater Resources – A Guidebook on Socially-Sustainable Management for Water-Policy Makers (2006)
The utilization of non-renewable groundwater resources, whether on a planned or unplanned basis, implies the mining of storage reserves. To confront the challenge posed in achieving socially-sustainable development of non-renewable groundwater, an integrated approach to resource management is essential. It is for this reason that the guidebook places strong emphasis on the socio-economic, institutional and legal dimensions of groundwater utilization and management. The target audience for this publication is water resource decision-makers, and the guidebook is written in a style intended to provide easy reference for them, with a specific framework of guidelines being presented upfront.
Fellowship and funding opportunities
Asian Development Bank -
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) - Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) was
established in April 1988 with financing from the Government of Japan.
It aims to provide an opportunity for well-qualified citizens of ADB's developing member countries to pursue postgraduate studies in economics, management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at participating academic institutions in the Asian and Pacific Region.
Upon completion of their study programs, scholars are expected to contribute to the economic and social development of their home countries.
The ADB-JSP enrolls about 300 students annually in 20 academic institutions located in 10 countries within the Region. The ADB-JSP provides full scholarships for one to two years.
Contact:
ADB-Japan Scholarship Program
Office of the Co-financing Operations
Postal address: P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines
E-mail: adbjsp@adb.org
Fax: + 63 2 636 2444; + 63 2 636 2456
Web site: http://www.adb.org/JSP/default.asp
PEP’s (Poverty and Economic Policy) Grants of $20,000 for Developing Country Researchers Studying Poverty Issues
The Poverty and Economic Policy (PEP) Research Network (www.pep-net.org) invites researchers originating from and residing in developing countries to submit research proposals. The PEP network provides financial (roughly 15 $CAN 20,000 research grants per year) and scientific support to member researchers, as well as funding to participate in training workshops, PEP meetings, international conferences, study visits and other activities. A shortlist of teams will be invited to present their proposals. Proposals may be submitted at any time. The submission deadline for our 2007 meeting (to be held in Peru in May or June 2007) is November 30, 2006.
The Poverty and Economic Policy (PEP) Research Network brings together and provides support to developing country researchers working to reduce poverty. The network receives funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) as part of its Micro Impacts of Macroeconomics and Adjustment Policies (MIMAP) program (www.mimap.org). Specific objectives are to:
Ø Better understand the causes and consequences of poverty.
Ø Propose alternative strategies, policies and programs to reduce poverty.
Ø Improve the monitoring and measurement of poverty.
Ø Develop local research (and training) capacity in these areas.
Ø Develop new concepts and methodologies through fundamental research.
PEP is composed of three tightly linked constituent subnetworks:
Ø Community-Based Monitoring Systems (CBMS) - designs and pilots
community-based monitoring and local development systems aimed at
poverty in its multidimensional sense.
Ø Poverty Monitoring, Measurement and Analysis (PMMA) - aims to
develop and apply analytical tools to monitor, measure and understand poverty, and to analyze a wide range of poverty issues.
Ø Modeling and Policy Impact Analysis (MPIA) - uses economy-wide
models as a "laboratory" to identify and analyze the links between specific
policies and shocks and their eventual impacts on poverty.
This call for research proposals concerns only the PMMA and MPIA subnetworks. All team members must originate from and reside in a developing country during the course of the project. To maximize capacity building, we favor teams composed of a senior researcher supervising several less experienced researchers, including some female researchers.
Contact:
MPIA/PMMA office
PEP (Poverty and Economic Policy)
Dept. d’Économique Université Laval
Ste. Foy Québec, G1K 7P4
Canada
Email: pep@ecn.ulaval.ca
Website: www.pep-net.org
capacity
building and trainings
Structuring and Financing PPP Projects in the Electricity and Water Sectors
6-14 November 2006
Cape Town, South Africa
The electricity and water sectors worldwide receive billions of dollars of investment every year from the private sector. The government plays a critical role in the planning, implementing, and monitoring of these investment activities. To address the issues involved with private sector investment more effectively, participants who attend IP3's intensive training course on Structuring, Financing, and Monitoring PPP Projects in the Electricity and Water Sectors will learn how to identify, design, structure, implement, and monitor public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The course specifically addresses these five critical issues to creating and managing effective PPP projects:
Ø Project identification and pre-feasibility analysis of PPP opportunities
Ø PPP options analysis and procurement/bid evaluation methodology
Ø Project financial structuring and tariff modeling
Ø Project/contract monitoring, regulation, and process institutionalization (PPP Units)
Ø Public awareness and communications of a PPP electricity and water strategy
Through presentations, case studies, simulated exercises, and on-site meetings with leading experts, participants will gain new knowledge and skills and bring these to bear in developing their own plan of action for implementing PPP arrangements in the electricity and water sectors. The tuition Fee is $2,850. For more information, please email at training@ip3.org
Dates: 06 Nov 2006 - 17 Nov 2006
Location: Cape Town
Country: South Africa
Source: Institute for Public Private Partnerships, Inc (IP3)
Agriculture and the Environment: Practices and Processes in Soil and Water
7-28 November 2006
Israel
The 3-week course is offered by the Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation, Training Centre R & D Courses, The Volcani Centre, Agricultural Research Organization Ministry of Agriculture Complex. The course is designed for researchers and academic staff of agricultural research institutes and universities, and senior executive staff active in the topics covered in the course. Applicants should have relevant academic degrees and at least 3 years of experience in their work. Good command of the English language is essential.
The course covers a variety of issues related to the interaction between agriculture and the environment. The main topics to be discussed are: irrigation with marginal waters (saline and treated sewage) — agricultural and environmental considerations, recycling sewage sludge, soil-pesticides interaction (sorption, degradation, volatilization, bound residues), hydrology of dissolved contaminants, soil microbial ecology and interactions in the root, and soil and water conservation (runoff and erosion, salinity, sodicity and ion toxicity).
Crop production and Ecophysiology
13 November – 1 December 2006
United Kingdom
This course on Crop production and ecophysiology is offered by the Centre for Arid Zone Studies, Natural Resources, and University of Wales. This course is suitable for professionals in agricultural and rural development in the governmental, NGO and charity sectors and donor agencies. Ideally, participants should possess appropriate academic qualifications coupled with 5 or more years' experience in the sector. Participants who do not have formal training, but who have significantly greater experience in the sector, are also eligible. The course consists of one standard module: Crop production and ecophysiology (4017)
By the end of this course students should be able to:
Ø Recognize the principal crops and types of crops grown in tropical agriculture at various growth stages.
Ø Describe the basic structure and function of plants.
Ø Discuss the difference between monocotyledons and dicotyledons.
Ø Discuss the principal natural and physical factors influencing small-holder crop production in developing countries.
Ø Identify the interactions between components in small-holder agriculture in developing countries.
Ø Demonstrate a basic understanding of seed production, both at the technical and the regulatory levels, and realize the importance of the seed supply system to tropical agriculture.
Ø Discuss the major constraints and principle management issues affecting agricultural production in developing countries.
Ø Describe the issues governing national and domestic food security.
Ø Describe a number of typical farming systems practiced in developing countries.
Ø Prepare the cropping cycle for such typical farming systems.
Ø Design and analyze a simple experiment to examine one or more environmental effects on seed germination or crop growth.
Training Workshop on "Project Design and Management for Professionals in the Water Sector"
18-22 November 2006
Sana'a,
As part of its regional initiative to enhance the Capacity of Professionals in the Water Sector, the International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID) jointly with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) are organizing a training workshop on "Project Design and Management" in Sana'a, Yemen, from 18 to 22 November 2006. The workshop is the fourth leg of a Training Programme on the subject conducted previously in Egypt,
The objective of the Training Programme is to effectively enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals in the water sector throughout the project management cycle, from preparation to delivery, by means of five-day face-to-face training workshops in the respective countries. It also includes an online resource forum that will help increase knowledge and awareness of participants so that they are able to share experience with colleagues and representatives of partner institutions. The web resource is currently password protected allowing only participants from the four countries to access and join a moderated discussion on key aspects of project design and management. Following completion of the training programme, the online resource will be open to the public.
For more information, visit the web site or contact Maher Salman, Technical Officer, IPTRID/AGL
3rd International Training Course – Environmental Restoration for Sustainable River Basin Management
19 November- 15 December
This training course is an opportunity to improve knowledge and techniques in environmental restoration of river basins so as to promote the sustainable development of the natural resources and environment of the
This training course is being organized by Chilean National Forest Corporation (CONAF) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Contact Name: Dr. Samuel Francke Campaña
E-mail: mailto:sfrancke@conaf.cl
URL: http://www.conaf.cl/?
Agricultural Extension Practices
20 November -1 December 2006
Thailand
The short training on Agricultural Extension Practices is being conducted by the AIT Extension, Asian Institute of Technology for Agricultural extension officers, senior agricultural officials and policy makers. The objective is to provide an opportunity for participants to visit, observe and make critical analysis on the effectiveness, success and shortcoming of the methods being used by the Thai government agencies and multi-national private agro-industry companies in transferring the technologies to the farmers.
Participants will:
Ø Visit leading farms (the types will be selected according to the responsibilities and interests of the participants) to observe and discuss with the farmers on their farming practices and management, problems related to production, farm input, and produce marketing.
Ø Meet extension officers and farmers to discuss the approaches
being used by the Thai government agencies and universities in
transferring new technologies to the farmers with different levels of knowledge, attitude and socio-economic background.
Ø Visit and observe technology transfer center, a new agricultural extension approach where farmers take leading roles in sharing their knowledge and experiences with their peers, and other supporting services and facilities provided by the government as necessary measures for the success of agricultural development programs.
Ø Learn the strategic approaches used by private sector and multi-national agro-industry companies in transferring advances production technology for high value products such as vegetables, hybrid seeds, poultry, etc. to farmers; and
Ø Meet international participants and local counterparts to discuss and share experiences from their respective countries.
Community-based Integrated Watershed Management
20 November – 8 December 2006
The Philippines
The course is offered by the Education and Training Programme, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. The course is designed for planners and field staff working with government and non-government organizations in the areas of food security, sustainable agriculture, water resources and natural resources management in rural areas.
This course offers a new approach in integrating technologies and participatory strategies within the natural landscape or “watershed” for sustainable resource use, conservation and protection. The course aims to share concepts and strategies for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating natural resource management projects in partnership with local communities using the watershed as a unit of analysis, planning and action.
Field visits to community-based watershed management programs and field practicum, where participants work with communities for hands-on demonstration and practice is a highlight of the course. Other training methodologies include workshops, case study analysis, and interactive discussions. The course fee for this three week course is US$ 2700.
Social Issues in Natural Resource Management with Soil and Water Conservation
29 January – 9 March 2007
United Kingdom
The course is offered by the Centre for Arid Zone Studies, Natural Resources,
The course consists of two standard modules:
a) Social Issues in Natural Resource Management (4018)
b) Soil and Water Conservation (4020)
Course objectives:
By the end of this course students should be able to:
Ø Discuss the key social and political influences on the management of natural resources by different groups of people in particular environmental contexts.
Ø Discuss the use of different frameworks for the analysis of rural livelihood strategies and the natural resource management systems stemming from these.
Ø Discuss the impacts of participatory approaches to resource management in different rural sectors.
Ø Describe the main kinds of soil erosion and land degradation.
Ø Demonstrate an understanding of the climatic and edaphic factors contributing to land degradation.
Ø Use simple methods to model soil erosion.
Ø Assess land degradation using simple classification methods.
Ø Use a simple land classification system.
Ø Describe a range of appropriate agronomic and physical measures to ameliorate land degradation in a drought prone area.
Ø Design a simple water-harvesting scheme.
Ø Discuss the main social, political and economic contributor factors influencing land degradation.
Ø Lay out contours and small gradients using simple surveying implements.
Ø Demonstrate an understanding of the operation of advanced surveying tools.
Soil and Water Conservation
2 February – 9 March 2007
United Kingdom
The Centre of Arid Zone Studies, Natural Resources, University of Wales offers course on Soil and Water Conservation. This course is suitable for professionals in agricultural and rural development in the governmental, NGO and charity sectors and donor agencies who wish to understand the local contexts of their work, with particular emphasis on socio-economic aspects and at the wider systems level as well as technicians and managers of agricultural programmes in semi-arid areas. The course also provides an excellent introduction to project work for those interested in pursuing careers in developing countries. Ideally, participants should possess appropriate academic qualifications coupled with 5 or more years' experience in the sector. Participants who do not have formal training, but have significant experience in the sector, are also eligible. The fee is £1300 per participant for a 3-week course.
The course consists of one standard module: Soil and Water Conservation (4020)
Course objectives:
By the end of this course students should be able to:
Ø Describe the main kinds of soil erosion and land degradation.
Ø Demonstrate an understanding of the climatic and edaphic factors contributing to land degradation.
Ø Use simple methods to model soil erosion.
Ø Assess land degradation using simple classification methods.
Ø Use a simple land classification system.
Ø Describe a range of appropriate agronomic and physical measures to ameliorate land degradation in a drought prone area.
Ø Design a simple water-harvesting scheme.
Ø Discuss the main social, political and economic contributor factors influencing land degradation.
Lay out contours and small gradients using simple surveying implements.
Soil Management and Extension Techniques
5-23 March 2007
Thailand
This course by AIT Extension, Asian Institute of Technology is designed for Agronomists, soil scientists, agricultural extension officers and planners. The objective is to enhance participants' ability to identify constraints of agricultural soils for crop production and corrective measures to restore and maintain their productivity. It also covers how to transfer those techniques to farmers through effective extension strategies.
Course Contents:
Module 1: Soil Fertility Management
Overview of nutrition and plant growth; diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies and corrective measures; organic and inorganic fertilizers; criteria for fertilizer recommendations; roles of organic matter and its maintenance; soil fertility management through integrated plant nutrition systems.
Module 2: Management of Problem Soils Physical, chemical and agronomic characteristics of problem soils:
saline, sodic, saline-sodic, and acid sulfate soils; remedial measures and management techniques for selected problem soils.
Module 3: Soil Conservation
Mechanics of soil erosion; erosivity and erodibity; mechanical and biological measures for erosion control; tillage management.
Module 4: Extension Techniques
Overview of agricultural extension approaches; conceptual framework for agricultural extension campaign; extension program planning and implementation.
Module 5: Case Studies and Study Visits
Case studies on problem soils and soil fertility management in various parts of the region and measures taken as well as experiences learned from implementing those techniques; soil and water conservation practices including indigenous approaches.
There would be field visits to sites with soil problems to observe the on-going research/testing for remedial measures; soil nutrient management practices and extension techniques; mechanical and biological erosion control; soil and water conservation measures. The duration of this course is 3 weeks and the fee is US $ 2500.
11 June – 6 July 2007
Thailand
The course is offered by AIT Extension, Asian Institute of Technology for the Natural resources development planners and managers, forest officers, rural development workers, agriculturists and agricultural engineers. The objective of the course is to improve the knowledge and skills of participants in beneficiaries-oriented participatory planning and management of natural resources development, with a focus on the watershed areas, to achieve sustainable development.
Course Contents:
Planning Tools and Techniques: Integrated natural resources planning concepts; GIS and remote sensing for watershed management; watershed classification and land use; environmental impact assessment; agro-socio-economic development planning; strategic planning workshop.
Watershed Management:
Overview of tropical watershed management; policy and legal frameworks; land-use zoning; bio-diversity conservation; forest rehabilitation; agro-forestry development; protected area management and conservation.
Soil and Water Conservation:
Watershed hydrology; soil erodibility and erosion control; small-scale soil and water conservation structures; monitoring and evaluation of water yield and soil losses.
Community Participation and Institutional Strengthening:
Participatory problem analysis and development planning; community participation in watershed management; community leadership an institutional strengthening; strategies and approaches for empowering the poor; participatory monitoring and evaluation.
Case studies on community forest, agro-forestry, soil and water conservation measures, integrated development programs in forest area, public campaign programs, natural resources degradation and environmental impact by various forms of exploitation and development will be conducted. Field visits to successful and unsuccessful watershed management projects, integrated watershed management projects, community forests, agro-forestry project. The costs for this four-week course are US$ 3000.
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Last modified 04-11-2006 12:18 AM