WASH Beyond 2015: Improving Access and Sustainability
At the end of July 2015, WASH sector professionals came together in Loughborough for the 38th WEDC International Conference. The conference, an interactive learning event, provided a platform for reflection, debate and knowledge exchange between practitioners, researchers and policymakers.
What was it all about?
Arranged over 5 days, 3 were dedicated to presentations and discussion of peer reviewed content, and 2 to capacity development workshops.
The conference could not have been timelier. As the MDGs draw to a close, it was the perfect occasion for those in attendance to reflect upon experiences to date and to consider lessons learned that would help attain the universal access targets of the new Global Goals.
How was SHARE involved?
A range of SHARE-funded research was featured:
- Psychosocial impact of limited access (accompanying paper)
- Undoing Inequity (accompanying paper)
- Faecal sludge management in peri-urban Malawi (accompanying paper)
A particular success was the Inclusive WASH – Violence, Gender and WASH capacity development workshop. Led by WaterAid, this workshop featured SHARE research and sought to promote an inclusive approach to WASH programmes amongst those in attendance. The session trained NGO, academia and government representatives on considering violence and gender issues in WASH, MHM, and ensuring the inclusion of disabled and older people in WASH programming. Participants really appreciated the opportunity to share knowledge and best practice from the field and to learn more about the tools resources available to assist them with addressing these salient issues. These included: