Building Resilience Faster: a dive into our WASH SDG en WASH First programmes during World Water Week

Article: 22.07.21, Amsterdam, Wendy Klaasse

This year the World Water Week 2021 was held as a full-scale digital event on 23-27 August. The theme was Building Resilience Faster, with a focus on concrete solutions to the world’s greatest water-related challenges.

Look back with us

7 days, 7 sessions and hundreds of visitors from all over the world: the highlights and insights of World Water Week 2021 are numerous. We are proud to have been able to meet so many people and share stories from our work, that of our partners, and the people we work with. We dove into our programmes WASH SDG and WASH First, re-watched the sessions you've missed or check out some of the highlights.

Water Resource Management for WASH: strengthening communities for climate resilience

August 24 | 10:00 - 11:30 (CET)

Climate vulnerability and resilience (CVR) is a cross-cutting theme within the Netherlands WASH SDG programme. This session provides interactive, virtual field visits to successful IWRM interventions where participants are invited to interact with community members and programme staff. In Ethiopia we will showcase catchment restoration and in Uganda, constructed wetlands.

Hosted by Arjen Naafs, IRC the Netherlands.

Adaptive WASH planning to confront uncertainties during emergencies and beyond

August 24 | 10:30 - 11:55 (CET)

In this super interactive session we investigate how and why the WASH sector should move beyond using Theory of Change and apply adaptive planning practices to identify and prioritise critical assumptions and uncertainties, develop associated adaptation actions and monitor triggering indicators.

Hosted by Sara Ahrari, Simavi

Inequalities in resilience: experiences from Bangladesh and Uganda

August 24 | 13:00 - 14:00 (CET)

Globally, we need to develop impact and cost benefit investment pathways for the most vulnerable to mitigate and manage the impacts of the climate and health crises. This interactive grounding session will host a panel focused on how different sectors will be affected and includes examples of good practice which demonstrate the rationale and materiality for urgent interventions.

Research presentation by Agnes Neray

Making first line of defence accessible for the furthest behind

August 24 | 15:30 - 15:55 (CET)

Most countries have taken measures, such as lockdowns, social distancing and campaigns to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Those in vulnerable situations, however, either were not informed about these measures or lack the necessary means to follow them. This session illustrates how WASH First programme changed this narrative.

Hosted by Sara Ahrari, Simavi

Shift the balance: WASH COVID-19 responses that enhance (gender) equality

August 25 | 08:00 -09:00 (CET)

Crises like COVID-19 and climate change disproportionately affect those with little or no access to quality WASH services and information. However, they can also catalyse behaviour change and, with dedicated efforts, contribute to a shift towards greater equality. Learn from those most impacted how this can be done.

Hosted by Tracey Keatman, WASH SDG programme

How sustainability compacts contribute to institutional sustainability

August 25 | 18:00 - 19:30 (CET)

Effective monitoring, asset management and planning are key to generate sustainable WASH service delivery systems that leave no-one behind. Join us in this super-interactive session to explore how and to what extent formal agreements such as sustainability compacts with local/national WASH authorities can strengthen institutional sustainability and build resilience for WASH.

Hosted by Esther de Vreede, Simavi

Why collaboration matters: lessons from partnerships for WASH and IWRM

August 27 | 11:00 - 12:00 (CET)

Hot of the press! Key lessons learned from three mid/end-term reviews of long-term WASH/IWRM partnerships will be shared in this dynamic session. Strong partnerships and inter-organizational collaboration are considered an important accelerator to improve governance, and build resilient and adaptive societies with sustainable water and sanitation, leaving no-one behind.

Hosted by Pim van der Male, Government of the Netherlands

You can also find an overview of our WASH SDG sessions. Download it here. 

Esther Oeganda

Everbody has the human right to safe water and sanitation.

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