Nominations open for CHF 500 000 Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value

This just came in the mail today, and I thought it might be of interest to those of you seeking funding for WASH programs. It might be of particular interest for those of you working on multiple use water progams:

Nominations open for CHF 500 000 Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value

Nestlé today opens nominations for its 2012 Prize in Creating Shared Value at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) global conference in Delhi, India.

Launched in 2009, the Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value offers advice and financial support of up to CHF 500,000 (more than USD 480,000) to an individual, non-government organisation, or small enterprise working in the field of nutrition, water, or rural development.

It is awarded in alternate years to an innovation or project that has shown outstanding promise in improving access to, or management of, water; enhancing the lives of farmers and rural communities; or providing better nourishment to communities suffering from nutritional deficiencies.

Entries can be submitted until 30 June 2011. Visit the website: Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value

Read the full story: Nestlé opens nominations for 2012 Prize in Creating Shared Value

Stockholm Water Prize Awarded to Bindeshwar Pathak and Sulabh International

I have been following Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak's work for years at Sulabh International, including a visit to his workshop and the Toilet Museum in New Delhi a couple of years ago. Don't forget to check out the Sanitation Fashion Show.

Great to see Sulabh win the Stockholm Water Prize a few days ago in Sweden. It's about time to see sanitation included in water discussions and global water events instead of it being the unruly red-headed stepchild at the kiddie table. We won't solve the global safe drinking water challenge, or stay on top of it when we do, if we don't deal with the untreated human waste of 2.5b people.

As the India Journal quoted:

If water is honored by the Prize being named after it, the importance of sanitation, its sibling, cannot be left far behind. The two complement rather than compete with each other,” Pathak said in his acceptance speech.

Yes. Go Dr. Pathak.