Investing in Girls / Water / Nike Foundation

Something I have been meaning to write about for some time:

Please read Maria Eitel’s piece in the Huffington Post last December entitled:

India Economic Summit Champions Investing in Girls

A couple of things about the article: if you haven’t seen the video at www.girleffect.org, do. Best two minute video I think I have ever seen as I have stated previously.

Plus, it makes two points quite relevant to this blog: girls’ education is fundamental to sustainable development, and both safe drinking water and sanitation enable that education quantitatively and qualitatively.

Maria Eitel puts it more provocatively with the second plank of her Call To Action:

Stop using girls as infrastructure. When we create proper infrastructures – build roads, install electricity and clean water – girls won’t need to be used as infrastructure any longer. Today they function as the electric grid as they carry firewood, plumbing system as they carry water, childcare system, etc.

Perfect - great way to phrase the challenge.

Haiti: Creole-speaking medical professionals needed urgently

This just in from the White House - please forward widely if you know of Creole-speaking doctors/nurses.

__

Dear Friends,

We need to identify Creole-speaking medical professionals to deploy to Haiti in the next few days.

Depending on specialties, there will be opportunities to work in existing hospitals, on the hospital ship USNS Comfort and at emergency field hospitals.

The call is for all Creole speaking personnel (doctors or nurses). However, the specialties most relevant to the crisis (such as general surgery, family, orthopedics, infectious disease, pediatrics, nutrition) will be prioritized.

Volunteers will need to be able to report to Miami .
Any medical professionals who speak Creole can sign up in one of two ways:

1) Individuals can go online and fill out a form here, ignoring the SEIU specific questions:
http://action.seiu.org/helphaiti?source=haiti&subsource=whitehouse

2) Organizations can submit multiple names by entering information into the attached Excel template and emailing the completed spreadsheet to volunteerhaiti@seiu.org. Be sure to write WHITE HOUSE in the subject line.

We recommend you sign up immediately, given the large number of people interested in volunteering.

There has been such incredible interest in helping our brothers and sisters in Haiti that there is no guarantee that everyone will be chosen for this particular opportunity, but the information will be saved by the Administration for future requests. As you know, there will be need for medical help not just in the coming days, but over the long term. This will not be the last call for help.

Thank you for your help and dedication.

Haiti / Water / Steven Solomon / Book signing and NYT oped

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Politics and Prose lecture and book signing by Steven Solomon, author of Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power and Civilization.

His lecture was great, as was the Q&A as is typical at that bookstore. Then I saw his brief and RIGHT-on-the-money NYT oped about Haiti and water (thanks waterlines.org for bringing that to my attention).

A Recovery Built on Water

It makes all the rights points about water being not only the most important response to an emergency, but being the foundation of sustainable development.

To quote: "Water poverty is the main reason for Haiti's abysmal illness and early mortality rates." and "Local water management both inside and outside the cities is a necessary condition for rebuilding all of Haiti."

My hope is that the crisis in Haiti - after the proper response has been taken to save as many lives as possible in the short term - can be leveraged, can be an enabler of efforts to address the development deficit that existed in Haiti long before the earthquake, starting with safe drinking water and sanitation.

Water for the World Act - Update

Just to keep you all in the loop on the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009, currently making its way through Capitol Hill:

The Senate version (S624) is in the Committee on Foreign Relations, and has Senator Durbin (IL) and 28 cosponsors on board. Sen. Durbin and the following Senators (with the dates of their cosponsorship of the Bill) deserve your thanks, and your encouragement to keep pushing:

Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] - 7/24/2009
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 6/22/2009
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 7/6/2009
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 10/5/2009
Sen Burris, Roland [IL] - 4/30/2009
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 7/15/2009
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 8/3/2009
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 4/20/2009
Sen Corker, Bob [TN] - 3/17/2009
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 7/27/2009
Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] - 7/8/2009
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 9/8/2009
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 9/24/2009
Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA] - 6/15/2009
Sen Johanns, Mike [NE] - 10/8/2009
Sen Kaufman, Edward E. [DE] - 12/4/2009
Sen Kirk, Paul Grattan, Jr. [MA] - 10/14/2009
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 12/23/2009
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 7/20/2009
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 3/17/2009
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 6/25/2009
Sen Reid, Harry [NV] - 9/8/2009
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] - 12/4/2009
Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 7/23/2009
Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] - 4/30/2009
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] - 10/7/2009
Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] - 10/22/2009
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 7/8/2009

The remaining Senators would no doubt welcome your letters of support encouraging them to cosponsor the legislation.

On the House side, the legislation (HR2030) currently has Rep. Blumenauer (OR) and 69 cosponsors on board. The following deserve your enthusiastic thanks, while the rest are waiting to hear from you:

Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 6/11/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 4/22/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 6/11/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 4/22/2009
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 6/11/2009
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 6/11/2009
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 6/11/2009
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 6/11/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 6/11/2009
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 6/11/2009
Rep Clyburn, James E. [SC-6] - 6/11/2009
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 7/29/2009
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] - 7/29/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 6/11/2009
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 6/11/2009
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 6/11/2009
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 6/11/2009
Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] - 7/16/2009
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] - 6/11/2009
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 6/25/2009
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 6/11/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 7/30/2009
Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] - 4/22/2009
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 10/20/2009
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 6/11/2009
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 6/11/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 7/24/2009
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 6/2/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 7/24/2009
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 7/24/2009
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 4/22/2009
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 6/11/2009
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 6/11/2009
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 6/11/2009
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 7/8/2009
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 6/11/2009
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 6/11/2009
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 5/7/2009
Rep Linder, John [GA-7] - 6/2/2009
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 5/7/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/20/2009
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 7/8/2009
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 6/11/2009
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 6/11/2009
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 4/22/2009
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 6/11/2009
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 7/8/2009
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 6/11/2009
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 7/16/2009
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 4/22/2009
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 7/8/2009
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 6/11/2009
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] - 6/11/2009
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 4/22/2009
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 6/11/2009
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 5/20/2009
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 7/8/2009
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 6/11/2009
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 6/11/2009
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 5/7/2009
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] - 5/14/2009
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 6/11/2009
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 4/22/2009
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 6/11/2009
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 5/14/2009
Rep Watt, Melvin L. [NC-12] - 6/11/2009
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 4/22/2009
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 6/11/2009
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 7/16/2009

Text of the legislation, etc., is available here.

Millennium Challenge Corporation hiring water consultants

Please see here for more information about the Millennium Challenge Corporation's staffing up on water.

A few words to encourage you to apply:

Consultants will assist MCC in conducting technical due diligence on infrastructure projects submitted for consideration and in further developing or refining projects proposed for assistance. Once a project has been approved and a funding commitment extended, further support may be requested from such Consultants in monitoring project implementation, construction progress, and/or milestones for MCC. Assistance may also be requested post project completion to periodically review and evaluate project sustainability, performance and impacts. Consultants may also be called upon to manage or integrate multiple inter-related tasks on a project.

Let me know how it goes...

Haiti / Water / Sanitation / How to Help / Background Information

A few resources for those of you interested in what happens with respect to drinking water and sanitation in an emergency like Haiti:

Peter Gleick: Water for Haiti, Now

And a list of resources (thank you Dan Campbell at USAID/CDM) for those of you who really want to get into it:

Lantagne, D and Clasen T (2009). Point of Use Water Treatment in Emergency Response<http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/ehkm/lantagne-pou_emergencies2009.pdf>

WHO Technical Notes for Emergencies

1. Cleaning and disinfecting wells <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_01_Cleaning_and_disinfecting_wells.pdf>
2. Cleaning and disinfecting boreholes <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_02_Cleaning_and_disinfecting_boreholes.pdf>
3. Cleaning and disinfecting water storage tanks and tankers <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_03_Cleaning_and_disinfecting_water_storage_tanks_and_tankers.pdf>
4. Rehabilitating small-scale piped water distribution systems <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_04_Rehabilitating_small-scale_piped_water_distribution_systems.pdf>
5. Emergency treatment of drinking water at the point of use <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_05_Emergency_treatment_of_drinking_water_at_the_point_of_use.pdf>
6. Rehabilitating water treatment works after an emergency <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_06_Rehabilitating_water_treatment_works_after_an_emergency.pdf>
7. Solid waste management in emergencies <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_07_Solid_waste_management_in_emergencies.pdf>
8. Disposal of dead bodies <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_08_Disposal_of_dead_bodies.pdf>
9. How much water is needed <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_09_How_much_water_is_needed.pdf>
10. Hygiene promotion in emergencies <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_10_Hygiene_promotion_in_emergencies.pdf>
11. Measuring chlorine levels in water supplies <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_11_Measuring_chlorine_levels_in_water_supplies.pdf>
12. Delivering safe water by tanker <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_12_Delivering_safe_water_by_tanker.pdf>
13. Planning for excreta disposal in emergencies <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_13_Planning_for_excreta_disposal_in_emergencies.pdf>
14. Technical options for excreta disposal <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_14_Technical_options_for_excreta_disposal.pdf>
15. Cleaning wells after seawater flooding <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_15_Cleaning_wells_after_seawater_flooding.pdf>
16. Complete: all 15 notes in one file <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TN_ALL.pdf>

And a quick Q&A from Water.org:

Q&A on Response to Haiti Earthquake

Q1. How is water affected during a disaster like this?
A. Underground water and sanitation pipelines and concrete water storage tanks are highly susceptible to damage from earthquakes and will likely need to be repaired or replaced.

Q2. What is the response plan to get people safe water?
A. The short term response typically includes bottled water and the use of high volume purification equipment. While this is expensive, it can be quickly deployed as a short-term solution. There are many relief agencies involved in these types of efforts. The response of organizations like Water.org involves the rehabilitation and expansion of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure.

Q3. What is Water.org doing to help?
A. We will provide assistance to our local partners so that they can restore and expand water and sanitation infrastructure.

Q4. How is Water.org coordinating with other agencies?
Before the earthquake, Water.org was already coordinating with the Clinton Global Initiative, the United Nations, and other agencies. On the ground, Water.org will work with local NGO partner organizations, consistent with our approach over the past two decades.

Q5. How has this affected Water.org's work in Haiti?
A. It had made the need for safe water and sanitation even more urgent and will likely mean our focus will initially be rehabilitation, and then expansion of water services.

Q6. Is Water.org's staff safe?
A. Four of our staff members returned from Haiti on Saturday. We're in touch with our local partner but do not currently know the status of its staff members.

Q7. Where can I get additional information and what can I do to help?
A. If you are interested in supporting efforts to restore and expand water and sanitation services in Haiti, you can donate at: http://donate.water.org. If you would like to donate to immediate relief efforts in Haiti, you’ll find more information at: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact.

Development Grants Program - $18m available for water - deadline Feb 12, 2010

Good news for the water, sanitation and hygiene sector: this year's USAID Development Grants Program includes $18m for water available to nonprofits around the globe. Applications due by February 12, 2010. Please forward broadly across the WASH sector.

Here is the full pdf of the RFA for the program.

More information:

Dear DGP Colleagues:

I am pleased to inform you that the Request for Applications (RFA) for the 2009 Developments Grants Program (DGP) was released on http://www.grants.gov/ on December 22, 2009.

You can find the RFA in two places:
1) On the PVC website at http://www.usaid.gov/ Keyword DGP, and
2) On http://www.grants.gov/ at www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=50806&mode=VIEW and click Full Announcement at the top.

You may find it useful to mark your calendars with the following important dates from the RFA:
February 12, 2010 - Deadline for receipt of Concept Papers (Step 1)
March 19, 2010 - Applicants notified of decisions by USAID Missions. Invitations to selected Applicants to submit Full Applications (Step 2)
April 30, 2010 - Submission deadline for Full Applications
June 11, 2010 - Applicants notified whether they are recommended for awards

Additional information about the DGP program can be found at the following link: http://www.dgpconnect.net/. Or you can send me a note at john_oldfield  (at)  rocketmail  (dot)  com