Dumping the Dirty Deed
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Concerted efforts around the globe have made open defecation a dying practice. But it is not dying fast enough. The years between 1990 and 2006 saw only a slight drop—from 24% to 18%—in the number of people engaged in this practice. This means a staggering 1.2 billion people, most of them in rural areas, still defecate in the open, unaware or unmindful of the health and environmental problems they are creating. This issue focuses on the efforts of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, and Indonesia to loosen the tight grip of open defecation on its people. The reforms highlight the crucial role knowledge plays—when people become aware of the consequences of their actions and the alternatives available to them, they are able to make the informed decision to stop the practice.
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| Champion of Reform |
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Members of Tonle Sap’s floating villages defecate directly into the lake, harming their health and environment in the process. Can Lien Aid, a Singapore-based NGO, alter this behavior through customized floating toilets? “We listened to what they wanted and factored in ease of use, affordability, adaptability, and cultural acceptability when we designed the toilets,” says Lien Aid CEO Sahari Ani. Will these efforts be enough to change a generations-long habit? |
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| Focus |
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US$1 sanitation investment or US$36 cleanup cost? The choice seems clear so why do countries continue to lose big because of unmet sanitation needs? |
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With chants and whistles, children shamed residents of
Dinajpur district away from their dirty habit of defecating in the open. Can the district sustain this momentum?
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From open defecation to household latrines in 2 years, Sudhamnagar residents proved that once people understand what they’re missing, they’ll find ways to get it. | |
A dedicated teacher and healthier children more aware of environmental and hygiene matters work together to improve the health of poor river communities. |
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| News |
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Experts to Brainstorm on Sanitation Issues, Options, and Solutions
Asia's sanitation issues will be the focus of an ADB conference on 3-5 March in Manila, Philippines. Specialists and heads of water, health, environment, and finance ministries from ADB's developing member countries will discuss relevant socio-economic issues and deliberate on investment and technology options. |
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Korea, ADB Team Up for Urban Water Development
ADB and the Republic of Korea, through the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), established a new partnership to help improve water utilities' performance in South Asia. K-Water has already been helping the Dhaka water utility in improving its operations under ADB’s Twinning Program. |
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New Partnership Strengthens River Basin Water Security
ADB joined forces with the Japan Water Agency to support the Network of Asian River Basin Organizations’ efforts to improve water security in Asia's rivers basins. The partnership will focus on 8 key result areas, among them leadership promotion, capacity development, and investment projects. Read the Letter of Intent.
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New Water Pilot Projects Approved in Nepal, Philippines
A new water pilot project in Nepal will strengthen water users associations' capacity for managing the country’s irrigation system. Another in the Philippines will develop financing models to help small scale water service providers access funds and improve operations.
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Training Focuses on Proficiency in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
The Network of Asian River Basin Organizations is conducting its 5th training program on IWRM in Hoi An, Viet Nam this 18-25 February. Directed by Australia’s International WaterCentre, the training uses the case study approach to increase the skills of middle-to-senior level staff of river basin organizations and national water agencies. |
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Water Utility "Twins" Meet to Improve Twinning Process
Officials of 16 water utilities participating in ADB's Twinning Program, which matches an expert utility with a developing utility to help the latter enhance operational efficiency, met at a forum last 10-13 February in Daejeon, Korea to strengthen twinning relations and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange.
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Cambodia: Ministries to Boost Financial Management Capacity for Rural Development
The Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology will boost their public financial management capacity. A US$10.8M ADB grant will help ensure that much-needed government funds reach the rural poor. |
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Pakistan: Investment, Reforms to Arrive in Sindh Province's Secondary Cities
Sindh's cities will enjoy improved water and sanitation infrastructure, thanks to ADB's $300M multitranche loan. ADB's Juan Miranda said, “Institutional reform and better service delivery will make secondary cities more attractive for business and investment, and create a healthier environment for residents.”
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People's Republic of China: ADB Lends a Hand in Songhua River Basin Cleanup
An ADB US$200M loan will help control pollution of the Songhua River Basin and improve the health of some 9.4 million residents. The project will improve the supply of potable water, increase wastewater treatment coverage, and enhance solid waste management.
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People's Republic of China: Lake's Rehabilitation Offers Hope for Polluted Waterways
A new ADB publication highlights the restoration of Zhejiang province's West Lake as a model for the successful revival of damaged wetlands. ADB's Klaus Gerhaeusser said, “What is credited for turning the lake around is not more infrastructure but planning solutions.”
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(ADB) to provide current information
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issues that affect the pace of development.
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While ADB tries to provide high-quality content on its web
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