Global solidarity for natural and man made disasters

Local governance, hospitals and utilities in low and middle income countries need support in building urban disaster resiliency. IWA and partners are facilitating decentralized inter-city cooperation and capacity building. An important principle is leadership by local stakeholders who identify and drive the process. The aim is to help develop a concrete environmentally sustainable project in urban water supply and sanitation. 

The initiative is managed by IWA, WHO and WSMART and is called AQUA LOG. Its purpose is to support: 

• Capacity building to improve the capabilities of managing disaster resilient and environmentally sustainable urban water supply and sanitation systems
• Local public awareness building and community education towards a sustainable water safety culture and hygiene as critical preventive measures for mitigating disaster born public health risks and consequences
• Pilot projects to develop and assess locally adapted lifecycle-based measures for ensuring disaster resilient and environmentally sustainable urban development

Effective risk assessment and urban planning

The initiative links to national and city-wide processes of urban risk and vulnerability assessment, as well as other relevant city wide planning. The workshop on 16th March in Kampala shares lessons learnt from assessments in Kampala, Maputo and in the MENA region. IWA is in the process of putting together an international working group for disaster hotspot assessments to promote best practices and to develop new tools for the WASH Disaster risk management toolbox.

Pilot projects

About 5 pilots are expected to be launched during 2010 and discussions are ongoing with potential candidates.

•  Sanitation challenges for disaster prevention – lead by an action oriented learning alliance of local government departments (Dept of Environmental Coordination, Dept of Public Works and Housing) and private sector representatives from Mozambique (‘grupo de attack’) focusing on upgrading of waste water management in Maputo/Matola. The main utility of Lisboa (EPAL) in Portugal is actively involved in supporting the process.

• The WasteWater – “STREAM” Pilot Project - WasteWater & Sludge Treatment and Recycling for Eco-Agriculture Management – by the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility of the Gaza Strip Municipalities and the UN sponsored Civil Society Initiative.

• Other potential pilots are under consideration.
  

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