Peter J. Bury a.k.a. profBury

ShareFair #188 Afghanistan's poor farmers struggle to access markets

2011-09-29T12:45:00.001+02:00

Session 188 – New Trends and thinking on market access challenges for small farmers

12:00-13:00 in B500

Gulla Jan Ahmadzai introduced us to the at time tough conditions for small Afghan farmers to increase their living standards through increased productivity, diversity and access to markets. Road conditions; a lack of consolidation of farmers associations (cooperatives, associations and federation); insufficient adequate product storage to influence and respond to market demands; and a lack of collaboration with intermediary traders and exporters do not favor the realization of their aspirations. Even IFAD itself, supporting them, has difficulties in identifying local context adjusted mechanisms to assist them in their endeavour.
Gulla presents and a lively exchange of experiences and suggestions ensues with among others colleagues working in similar environments like Kosovo.
Gulla will remain in touch with the 8 participants, send them the presentation and exchanged contact details.

Some notes on the discussion

- Similarissues in Bosnia

- Adviseservices to farmers are private in Afghanistan

- Dairyprojects, goats, poultry, training are donations

- Trainedpara-vet at district level, 10 para-vet in each district, trained

- Integrateddairy scheme

- Microfinance: small donations

- Loansprovided by IFAD, people not keen in getting loan against interest

- Conditionsfor the sharia loan: sharia production. Loan is given, pay back a % on benefitsmade. If no benefit is made, only the loan itself is to reimbursed

- IFAD workswith 4 implementing partners

- Projectarea about 500.000 ha.

- No processingincluded, no storage facility, off-season problems

- Examplemellon to Pakistan exported in season and comes back more expensive toAfghanistan from Pakistan in off-season

- Sugar caneis not processed, exported and Afghanistan imports sugar

- Much is stillin piloting stage, no loans provided up to know

Challenges

Storage foroff-season responding to demand

No off-storage does not allow meeting demand constantly, dispersed production doesn’t provide scale to invest in storage
Bosnia exchanges experiences on storage, gradually improving through much external support (including fresh fish and berries, starting with milk production in UHT)
Traditional storage experiences
IFAD works in 7 provinces, does not involve importers / exporters in project design (as IFAD does in Jemen and Jordan)
Cooling facilities for milk products are not big enough to cater for other products
Cooperative movements could address dispersed production and addressing dealing with private sector (Participant shares experience in Latin America) : farmer organizations are interested in investing this.
Consolidation of cooperative movement seems hampered by levels of education?
Ethiopia example of unions and federation of cooperatives, who then get access to bank loans
No processing facilities to add value
ICT can be used to increase market information: by voice or SMS

Suggestion toincrease information on markets, demand, fluctuation of prices

Look into traditional information channels
Grapes a promising product, dry with solar
Government strategy is weak because of political history
Only policy existing is for grain, still in draft
ILEIA suggestion: work more on cooperatives
ICT , paper by Jensen on fishermen in Kerala using cellphone, initially the richer people. Benefits are higher to them than the cost of the cellphone and its use. (paper can be made available, see list of participants).
In higher density areas people can benefit from only a few phones
If they are organized they can influence the market prices.

Gull will sharepresentation by email.

ShareFair #192 Cameroon's Tiko farmers go to Market

2011-09-29T12:24:00.001+02:00

Godwin Tanda introduced us to his small local NGO and his incredible drive, will-power and creativeness to assist poor small farmers on degraded former rubber plantation lands in Tiko on the SW coast of Cameroon to diversify, build their productive and marketing capacities and so gradually improve their lives.

The NGO, EPDA, is young, the initiative is young, but already there are things to share (see his presentation). Above all Godwin's objective is to receive peer assistance during the session, so I propose a round of introductions of some 7 participants and their work, encourage them to write up SWOT based feedback during the presentation, have Godwin present, and review and dig deeper in SWOT feedback received. Everyone learns, tips are exchanged, and so is the list of participants and their contact details.
A last tip from my side to Godwin and others (IFAD in Afghanistan): get in touch with the SDC RAS PPP experience in various parts of the world #229.

At the SF: Video Production session experience

2011-09-26T15:28:00.000+02:00

Wang, Robert, Carl & Peter experiment with video, doing interviews of each other on our motivation to join the session of Pier Andrea:

More to come...

CoP by Etienne

2011-09-26T10:36:00.002+02:00

CoPs run on social artists who when working in organizations account horizontally among peer learners but also vertically, as the org wishes to understand and use what the artist does. His talk about heart and trust comes close to Scharmer's Prescensing.

F2F versus nonF2F : the pro and cons, some musing...

2011-09-25T12:21:00.000+02:00

However much I can agree with the advantages (and need of, at least initially) of F2F meetings, I cannot help to think about the foot-print becoming darker and darker, In days of recession, travel is likely to become more and more unaffordable for many. So yes F2F by all means for those that are within reasonable distance of travel (the interpretation of this criterium depends of course on frequency and costs or means of travel available to those involved).

But we have to keep contributing to maturing channels, methods and tools to also (increasingly) collaborate and interact in nonF2F ways. Egypt, Tunesia, Jemen, Bahrein, Syria, UK would not have happened if only relying on F2F (I think).

And... it is definitely not only about channels, methods and tools. It's is about culture, practice, habit and willingness.

To make a very provocative statement: those of us - adventurersin the permitting conditions, tend to too easily choose for F2F as it permits them to have (tiring maybe) fun on planes and exotic places...

Just back from 2 weeks Uganda (my average annual footprint is dark grey, though compensated by a willingness to work from home, shop on a bicycle, and enjoying the challenge of nonF2F collaboration, even if regularly I make mistakes).

Towards understanding change thru Process Documentation

2011-09-17T17:28:00.003+02:00

Newyearing you an excellent 2011

2011-01-07T17:02:00.001+01:00

Newyearing you an excellent 2011
Originally uploaded by Peter J. Bury - IRC

think water, live safe!

2010-05-26T15:32:00.000+02:00

WASH PILS

Visit this group

WIN-SA on Ning

2009-07-23T14:57:00.001+02:00

Visit Water Information Network South Africa

meebo meets twitter

2009-05-13T17:17:00.000+02:00

To Tweet or not to Tweet, that is the question;
Whether 'tis better for Meebo to offer
Tips and hints for our users’ benefit,
Or to give warning of network troubles,
And after fixing, end them. To IM, to Tweet;
Ever more; and by Tweet we mean
The broadcast of a mere 140 characters
That spread Meebo joy — 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To IM, to Tweet;
To Tweet, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,
For in our Meebo, where all IMs may come,
Having unshackled ourselves from walled gardens,
We can be free. Happiness is in that
Which gives abilities like IM to anyone.
For Meebo sends the message in real time,
The content private, from one to another,
Safe for messages of love, of jest or play,
To message from the office, or to turn
At any moment to your most worthy trusted friend.
Whence shall we ourselves turn should any announcement make
For all to see? Who would follow us there,
To check our feed whenever need may be,
But those that have great time upon their hands,
Would check our blog o’er time and time again?
Some travelers return, read the blog,
And await each update we make of our message,
But how to reach the others that we know not of?
Thus Twitter is a newsreel for us all,
And with the easy manner now to reach you,
We will not Tweet without giving it great thought,
And only when it seems the perfect moment.
With this in mind please follow us on Twitter,
Account name Meebo: now take action.

copyright with Greg, Meebo

WASH Sector learning | Google Groups

2009-05-08T14:15:00.001+02:00

WASH Sector learning

Visit this group

Flickr: Web Trend Map 4 Final Beta

2009-04-09T14:06:00.002+02:00

attribution: www.informationarchitects.jp

Flickr Photo Download: Web Trend Map 4 Final Beta

Amazing map!

Overcoming low bandwidth - Maneno - About > Spread the Words

2009-04-08T15:15:00.002+02:00

An interesting initiative to make the web more accessible to people (in Africa) with a low bandwidth internet access.

Maneno - About > Spread the Words

NYT - Yellow Is the New Green - on waste water

2009-03-17T14:25:00.001+01:00

divert it you stupid!
Op-Ed Contributor - Yellow Is the New Green - NYTimes.com

Development funding & global crisis

2009-03-04T17:15:00.001+01:00

It takes just a minute or two of googling "will development aid suffer from crisis?" to find a deluge of high quality hits on the topic from very well placed sources ranging from OECD and Worldbank to UN and other funding and NGO pages.
Will the development crowd be as blind as most were early autumn last year about the global financial crisis and the effect it would have only a few months later on the so called "real economy" and now rapidly on thousands and thousands of people's jobs and pension payments ?

Explore the tags on Delicious and please contribute relevant bookmarks

I'm not scared and not a pessimist, but lets not play the ostrich and at least listen, think, talk and strategize... Peter

WASH: and monitoring the so-called "impact"?

2009-03-04T15:09:00.001+01:00

I keep wondering how reliable the often horrendously expensive monitoring PROJECTS are. I don't know about you, but I have rarely, if ever, come about a truely non-project funded and affordable and effective monitoring system in the many countries I have worked in the WASH sector.

Curious to see if PROJECTS like WASHcost will be able to convince us about more affordable and lasting approaches to monitor for action in the WASH sector and other innovation that truely leads to lasting impact of investments in hardware and 'software'.

RWSN Newsletter - February 2009 - profbury@gmail.com - Gmail: "Update on Sustainable Rural Water Supplies

It has been estimated that 30% of handpumps in sub-Saharan are not working. However, data from a number of sources suggests that in many countries the situation is much worse. It is becoming more apparent that financing new rural water supply infrastructure without proper attention to ensuring that it works for many years is a waste of money. In order to stimulate your thinking, we are providing you with perspectives on operation and maintenance from three rural water supply professionals, and encouraging experiences from an NGO in Malawi.

* May-day! May-Day! Our handpumps are not working! By Erich Baumann: http://www.rwsn.ch/documentation/skatdocumentation.2009-02-27.5294372959

* Operation and Maintenance of Rural Water Supplies by Richard Carter http://www.rwsn.ch/documentation/skatdocumentation.2009-02-27.0720442659

* Sustainable Operation and Maintenance of Rural Water Supplies: Are we moving in the right direction? By Peter Harvey http://www.rwsn.ch/documentation/skatdocumentation.2009-02-27.4704277730

* InterAide Support to Operation and Maintenance of rural Water Supplies in Malawi in 2008 by Bertrand de Saint Méloir http://www.rwsn.ch/documentation/skatdocumentation.2009-02-27.9651985043

RWSN is currently undertaking a mapping exercise of the handpump market in sub-Saharan Africa in order to obtain a realistic estimate of the number of handpumps procured from outside the continent. It will estimate the number of handpumps installed in sub-Saharan African countries each year; identify existing in-country retailers; estimate price differences between internationally and locally procured handpumps; assess current in-country quality assurance mechanisms and recommend how these can be strengthened; and review prospects for improved supply chains for handpump spares as a result of changing policies and practice in the use of the private sector for rural water supply operation and maintenance.

For more information on sustainable rural water supplies contact: pharvey@unicef.org"

WASH: who really cares? Are MDG a joke?

2009-03-04T15:00:00.001+01:00

An impression I unfortunately got some years ago reviewing danish supported WASH programmes in Benin and Burkina Faso. Will we really ever change our priorities? What use is it to spend a lot (really it's only relative peanuts anyway, isn't it?).

The most recent RWSN newsletter seems to endorse my long time fear that MDG is little or nothing different from earlier water years and decades: construct construct construct and don't worry about post project management and certainly not 5 years on when systems start to collapse again :-(

RWSN Newsletter - February 2009 - profbury@gmail.com - Gmail: "Who cares about operation & maintenance?

This edition of the Rural Water Supply (RWSN) newsletter focuses attention on the operation and maintenance of rural water supplies. Much is talked about targets for new construction, but very little attention is given to operation and maintenance. Numerous organisations will pay to improve service delivery but the responsibility for maintenance is passed on under-resourced local Governments or unsupported communities. As a consequence improved rural water supplies are in danger of going out of service just as fast as new supplies are being constructed. The result is obvious, and if we continue like this the future is bleak. As part of the Sustainable Rural Water Supplies Flagship of RWSN, we highlight this issue. As ever, we also provide you with the latest updates from the four RWSN flagships. Happy reading!"

Skype 4.0 for Windows - Download the latest version of Skype and get free computer calls

2009-03-03T17:50:00.001+01:00

Let me know when you are ready !

Skype 4.0 for Windows - Download the latest version of Skype and get free computer calls

MDGoals in water: problems (info in Dutch)

2009-02-18T19:54:00.002+01:00

MDGoals : problems in sanitation (info in Dutch)

2009-02-18T19:51:00.002+01:00

LinkedIn: LWG Local WASH Management (IWRM) Group

2009-02-18T10:53:00.001+01:00

Are you linkedIn? Do you network in the realm of Local Water (Resources), Sanitation and Hygiene Governance? Do you develop capacity of Local Government? You could consider joining

LinkedIn: LWG Local WASH Management (IWRM) Group

WASH Sector learning | Google Groups

2009-02-10T17:35:00.001+01:00

And there we are, after a good seven years learning and sharing on resource centre development, we now wish to broaden the scope and contribute to promote and enhance WASH sector learning to work towards a better governed, less corrupt, more efficient and above all much more effective Water Sanitation and Hygiene Education sector world wide with particular attention to servicing the poor and excluded in society

WASH Sector learning | Google Groups

Join in!

RCD Community of Practice | Google Groups

2009-02-10T17:29:00.001+01:00

After a good 7 years we have decided to archive the Resource Centre Development googlegroup

RCD Community of Practice | Google Groups

Social Web Blog

2009-02-10T16:06:00.000+01:00

Are you saying you havn't joined us yet?
Social Web Blog

Reporting 2.0 for WASH by IRC

2009-02-10T10:05:00.001+01:00

Get this widget!

WASH water sanitation hygiene network ~ Twitter Groups ~ wash

2009-02-04T18:42:00.004+01:00

Are u working in the Water (services and resources) , Sanitation and Hygiene sector? Do you mini-blog (on twitter)?
Join

WASH water sanitation hygiene network ~ Twitter Groups ~ wash

on

Presencing Community: knowledge synthesis

2009-01-28T11:39:00.001+01:00

I followed the introduction to Presencing in autumn 2008. An overwhelming experience. Challenging stuff to really get into and change one's life and behaviour. Read on... About

Winning a SWITCH photocompetition

2009-01-12T18:57:00.002+01:00

On page five Adriaan Mels and myself are awarded having provided the winning entries, read on
GEN_NWL_Switched_On_04.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Mine was this one

Project 10 to the 100th

2008-10-02T18:46:00.000+02:00

May those who help the most win
Project 10 to the 100th
May those who help the most win
indeed

Skype Call Quality issues

2008-10-01T17:19:00.004+02:00

Have a look what you can do to improve the quality of sound (and video) of your skype calls, avoiding echo etc... Call Quality issues

Team Role Descriptions.pdf (application/pdf Object) by Belbin

2008-09-09T16:39:00.002+02:00

Useful to share with people one works and interacts with frequently
Belbin_Team_Role_Descriptions.pdf (application/pdf Object)
We used this in IRC in 2006. More on the method at Belbin Team Roles

I'm looking forward to the Presencing Global Classroom

2008-09-09T14:30:00.001+02:00

After reading Peter Senge, Otto Sharmer and others on the 5th discipline, presencing and Theory U, its high time to join the September 2008 Presencing Global Classroom

Comic answer to Yemen water crisis - BBC NEWS | Middle East |

2008-09-04T16:46:00.002+02:00

An nice way of visualizing and raising awareness about the (looming) water crisis
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Comic answer to Yemen water crisis

watch the video

Surprising Africa @ Picnic 08 in Amsterdam, NL

2008-09-04T15:47:00.000+02:00

I will not be able to attend, but hope stories of outcomes will be online after the event.
Consider to go Surprising Africa: Google, Vodafone, Nokia promote mobile access

Is charity or philantropy the way for development? An example in water

2008-09-04T09:46:00.000+02:00

Recent writing suggests that increasingly official aid, with all its politics and bureaucracy, may be replaced by private initiatives, charities, philantropy and otherwise. Will it? Is that the way to go?

A recent flashy example charity: water | september

LEDNA Local Economic Development

2008-09-03T19:29:00.003+02:00

There is clearly scope for synergies between the WASH-IWRM sector and Local Economic Development. Both 'sectors' seek to work with and through Local Government Associations and Unions. Social Networking pays of, no doubt. After linking up with Christian at GTZ GmbH at KM4Dev2008 and through him to Peter at SDC and through him with Gwen, current manager of LEDNA, I can see the great potential for synergies! Lets go for it. Join our initiatives!

LEDNA Join LEDNA if you believe in water as a key factor to local economic development.

The ´yuck´ factor makes people wash their hands

2008-09-01T19:30:00.001+02:00

Yeah Yuckkkkk!

Valerie Curtis: the ´yuck´ factor makes people wash their hands - IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

Read and wash your hands!

acronym WASH as in water - Google Search

2008-08-06T11:58:00.003+02:00

By the way, at times 'stepping out a bit' can be useful.
Have you - working in the water sector - ever tried to get the meaning of the commonly used acronym WASH?
Many will know, but just suppose you would like to make sure?
Well... give it a try... google acronym WASH as in water - Google Search
What do you think about the result?
It just reminds us how encapsulated we often are in our own 'worlds'.
A bit more "Presence" (google this book!) could help.
Or at times just try to explain your grand mother in a way she understands what you are working on!

Capacity Development at Local WASH Governance (LWG) level: reaching Local Governments

2008-08-06T11:32:00.006+02:00

Trying to play a role in capacity development at (in IRC jargon) Local WASH [as in Water Sanitation and Hygiene] Governance level, the team I work in looks at bringing together key actors of related fields, i.e. those working on water resources management (IWRM) and those on Local Government [as in municipalities and districts].

It's not obvious how to reach them 'at scale'. Working experience at small scale, local level, has been done since decades. At scale is less obvious. Whom to partner with? How to find partners? How to establish collaboration, also at a distance?

One channel is through local government associations and their unions. They exist worldwide.
In Africa the union, based in South Africa, has a website www.uclgafrica.com (last accessed 12/08/08).

Doing a search on 'local government associations Africa' the first 8 hits (today) are all links to South Africa based websites.

Challenging stuff, should you wish to join a growing network of people working on Local WASH Governance, go http://www.linkedin.com/groupsDirectory?results=&sik=1218746345901

Scribd another wonderful webbased sharing tool

2008-08-05T17:09:00.000+02:00

Read about Scribd on its The Scribd Blog a great online docs sharing tool.
I joined today, suggested by another KM4Dev community member

!!! a spammer: Yaari.com

2008-07-30T14:56:00.001+02:00

Apologies to all those whom my system sent invitations too without me being aware.
Yaari.com looks nice, but its a spammer :-(

Networking the periphery - a deep change in KM?

2008-07-23T14:37:00.004+02:00

With thanks to Ueli, who pulled me over the threshold...
"It's going mobile, stupid!"
Something to start promoting and supporting full blast at IRC, especially working with local government on developing their capacity in playing a major role in achieving MDG.

--
[km4dev-l] Networking the periphery - a deep change in KM?

Ueli Scheuermeier

to KM

show details 11:50 (2 hours ago)

Paul, Sebastiao,

I regularly get SMS in Switzerland from African farmers and traders who live two hours bicycle away from the next socket of the electrical grid. And I respond, even sending them airtime via SMS so they can stay in contact. We even exchange jokes. Unbelievable!! What's going on here?

Paul, you're asking whether isolated farmers can own their future via a single project? Whether what happens elsewhere might have more influence on them? Whether acting elsewhere has a better chance for changing things for the remote rural areas than actually being there on the spot? Whether project success depends on decisions that need to be made outside the project itself?

Sebastiao, you respond by saying that indeed dynamics outside the influence of the projects are increasingly more important (that's a systemic perspective), and that we must therefore concentrate on exploring and defining opportunities.

Your exchange triggers a slumbering idea that has been following me for the last two years at least after discovering that behind our backs the ICT revolution is exploding across the rural landscapes and penetrating deep into remote areas. I have come to believe we have yet to wake up to the fundamental developmental changes this will trigger - and already is triggering. Gosh, when I saw that Masaai young goran walking behind his cattle in the thorn bush miles and miles away from the nearest settlement suddenly whipping out his mobile in response to a call.... and then realizing that ALL of them have mobiles - I think that was when it sunk in that something is going on.

There is increasing anecdotal evidence, that remote people are in contact not only with the urban centers, but increasingly also with each other in their remote locations. This even starts happening over intercontinental distances, when bean growers in Kenya distrusting the export company that buys their beans directly take up contact with consumers in Scotland to know what the tin of beans costs in the supermarket there.

What this means is that remote people start to network among each other directly, bypassing the centers of knowledge, information, easy access and opportunities of scale that so far have been the huge advantage of the large urban centers. This - how shall I call it - "peripheral" networking among geographically isolated rural peoples has huge implications on the politics of rural-urban settings and powergames. And this has only very recently become possible, with the push of mobile coverage into rural areas. Add to that the GPRS signal coverage, and we get internet access to the weirdest places - vastly outpacing the coverage by the electric grid!!

Something is happening out there. It feels like something very fundamental and very important. Talk about KM, about constructivist integration of knowledge and information!
Here I sit in Berne, easily communicating with Bahat Tweve in Magunguli village (next electrical socket half an hour away at the paper mill) in the highlands of southwestern Tanzania on his ideas about sourcing timber for the local bulkers and big traders for the China market, or with people in remote Laos on how they might get that solar equipment to work in the remote villages - oh, and you know what? The Lao are now even directly talking with the Africans on how to make sure the recharging of their mobiles can work away from the grid, Bahat already has a piece of Lao equipment (but struggling to make it work, so he needs to talk with the Lao). And now they even use the internet to hunt up solid state laptops for use out there, because those need less electricity.... - And I know about it in Switzerland because we all SMS and Skype in all directions, and yes, I visit these places once or twice per year to catch up on the face-to-face aspects.

What's going on here? What does it mean for KM4DEV? Should we concentrate on facilitating such distance networking with its asynchronous communications, a fundamentally KM-type of activity along the "campfire" model but with ICTs thrown in - as opposed to wanting to organize KM in the "alexandrian" way or even wanting to build the typical classical projects we know so well?

HOW????

(And hey, where's "research" in all of this?)

Ueli

Water Poem

2008-07-17T15:57:00.001+02:00

Water Poem
Water A Wonderful Substance
Water, water what a wonderful substance
You are?
Useful in our lives
Everywhere they need you
Colourless you are but useful you are
Without you where could we be?
Life cannot be life without water
We need water in our households
We need water in our hospitals
We need water in our fields
We need water in our industries
Even the birds and animals of the world need you
Without water where could we be?
Water, water, clear water does
Not mean pure water.
Though useful can be harmful
Stagnant water can contain germs
Floods can destroy life
Water, water we need you
Hey Tsitsi who let the tap running?
Tsitsi flush the toilet
Water, water, where we can, we should
Conserve and preserve you
Water, water what a wonderful substance
You are!

By Tafadzwa Zishiri - North Park School, Harare, (2004)
source: IWSD Newsletter

Lively beyond Second Life

2008-07-17T00:48:00.000+02:00

Internet life promises to become Lively
Are you there yet?
Let me know!

Li Vely

LA-L ... Learning Alliances Light emerging?

2008-07-07T11:06:00.000+02:00

Great to read that ideas emerge to go for Learning Alliance Light approaches
Learning Alliance- light?!: exploring models that work « ICT-KM Program
Read also my comment there.
A similar idea I launched at the KM4Dev2008 f2f in Almada http://tinyurl.com/6qunbs
Something I'd really like to try at IRC, and launch at the UCLGA Congress coming week.

Peter

Top 100 Tools: Delicious

2008-06-24T15:08:00.000+02:00

Top 100 Tools: Delicious

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008

2008-06-24T15:05:00.000+02:00

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008

It's the International Year for Sanitation

2008-06-24T09:39:00.004+02:00

Read the WSSCC newsletter WSSCC_Newsletter_June_2008.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Get your sanitation kid at www.sanitation2008.org .

Explore photos from the KM4Dev2008 Almada Gathering group on the map

2008-05-29T14:40:00.003+02:00

Soon you should be able to see where all approx. 90 participants come from to attend the KM4Dev2008 event in Almada, Portugal Flickr: Explore photos from the KM4Dev2008 Almada Gathering group on the map

You may attend virtually on our blog http://km4dev2008.wordpress.com/

Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN)

2008-05-15T15:20:00.004+02:00

Shouldn't IRC (re)join the RWSN network? Peter

RTM the way to productivity?

2008-05-14T16:12:00.003+02:00

I recently discovered RTM = remember the milk.
Yes the one the milkman (SRV man in Dutch) used to put in front of the front door ;-)

Remember The Milk - Learn More

I'm going to find out if it indeed contributes to productivity... if so I might advocate it here in Italy ;-)

Design with people in mind: the customer is king

2008-05-05T09:04:00.005+02:00

Design with people in mind, an adagio to follow

I like the Google approach to their customers

In the last few years it's become a commonplace for businesses to say that they focus on users and talk about 'customer experience' or 'the experience economy' or related notions. This focus may have generated a good bit of jargon, but what lies beneath is a sound principle: the idea that designers and builders - whether of cars, phones, mobile devices, websites - need to pay attention to how real live humans use their item. The image of the designer who "knows best" (among many others, Frank Lloyd Wright required people who bought his houses to stock them with the furniture he built, and nothing else).
Fortunately, in many instances today, that kind of thinking is thankfully passe. As for Google, beyond our frequent mentions of focusing on users, we have developed "User Principles" that show a bit more of our thinking in this important area. Among others, they include #8, "Delight the eye without distracting the mind," and #3, "Simplicity is powerful." We encourage you to review the whole list and see what you think is most important in this all too often overly- complex, easily-distracting world we share.

WEDC 33 Conference, April 2008

2008-04-11T20:30:00.001+02:00

I attended - for the first time - the WEDC #33 conference in Accra, Ghana
a photographic report on WEDC 33 - a set on Flickr
If you would like to see more pictures than you see... well... let me know

Peter

WEDC - 33rd WEDC International Conference

2008-04-08T22:23:00.002+02:00

I'm currently - 7 - 11 April 2008 - attending my first WEDC conference in Accra, Ghana. The topic being global networking for local action. Link up here WEDC - 33rd WEDC International Conference

Part of my foto documentation is public [wish to see more? contact me].
Together with Joep, my colleague at IRC, we will present and facilitate a World Café on Resource Centre Development, Communities of Practice and the Learning Alliance approach

Peter

How to convince your organisation to use Skype for communication

2008-04-08T22:11:00.001+02:00

follow to the link to this otherwise also very interesting blog on i- and e- tools

I collaborate, e-collaborate, we collaborate

skype ircpjb

AfricaSan Declaration draft 13 Feb 2008

2008-03-26T15:21:00.003+01:00

Read and monitor whether this will help in the coming years... priority for sanitation in Africa?

AfricaSan Declaration draft 13 Feb-English edits 2.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Peter

GWSP Digital Water Atlas

2008-03-18T13:06:00.001+01:00

The Digital Water Atlas started as one of the fast-track activities of the Global Water System Project (GWSP) that were initiated at the first meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee of the GWSP in February 2005. This introduction gives a brief description of the aims of the Digital Water Atlas and the process of its implementation.

GWSP Digital Water Atlas - browse

interesting, Peter

Planning methods: project planning matrix

2008-03-06T14:56:00.001+01:00

A good example of a project planning matrix and its internal logic. A project planning matrix (PPM) is a key component of the objectives oriente project planning (OOPP / ZOPP) method and based on a logical framework approach.

example Project Planning Matrix (PPM) more on the method here www.methodfinder.net/ppm

Methodfinder has been set up by my good old friend Nicolaus Schall.

Peter (worked for GTZ GmbH from 1989 - 1996)

A to Z of water saving tips

2008-03-05T18:31:00.002+01:00

Save water now, get ready for world water day on 22 March
Use these tips BBC NEWS | World | A to Z of water saving tips

Peter

SWITCH Alexandria city Learning Alliance

2008-03-05T12:10:00.002+01:00

Great! The SWITCH Alexandria, Egypt blog is coming about, one in a growing family of city websites dedicated to Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM)

Visit Alexandria city Learning Alliance blog for more on other SWITCH cities

Peter, facilitating learning alliance processes

Google Earth Outreach

2008-03-05T05:30:00.000+01:00

Hundreds of millions of people now use Google Earth and Google Maps to explore the world around them. Google Earth Outreach gives non-profits and public benefit organizations the knowledge and resources needed to reach their minds and their hearts. See how other organizations have benefited from Google Earth Outreach, then learn how to create maps and virtual visits to your projects that get users engaged and passionate about your work.

A great introduction to the basics, illustrated with fabulous examples on Google Earth Outreach

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is now available at no cost and so user friendly, that any group or individual can start using it in a collaborative way. I have started using it for LEAL, SWITCH, RCD, IRC and for a wide range of private purposes.

It's time we pick this up seriously at IRC, lets reach out!

Peter

Water Alternatives - a flow of creative thinking

2008-03-03T09:27:00.001+01:00

Pointed to this initiative by the GTZ GmbH Aqua group, I have just joined this creative new journal on water, politics and development Water Alternatives . Explore and consider to join them and contribute!

Peter

redlining: a form of social exclusion in NL and IT

2008-03-02T22:13:00.003+01:00

An interesting study on social exclusion based on 'location' for getting a mortgage, a comparison between the Netherlands and Italy. Read the abstract and order here redlining
Relevant for our work on social inclusion in the SWITCH programme www.switchurbanwater.eu

- Peter

Global Development Commons [USAID initiative]

2008-02-29T09:26:00.002+01:00

USAID: Global Development Commons: "The GDC is the space where development actors unite - physically and virtually - to gather and exchange ideas and services, communicate, and form partnerships. The GDC will unite all those with a stake in development - from end-users/beneficiaries to governments, to partners, to citizens - into a seamless and accessible network, making it easier for developing countries and their citizens to find solutions and resources that match their development needs."

---
Peter : It is amazing how the last few months, stimulated by web2.0, the opportunity's for user based e-interaction is growing! Naturally this is also being taken up by the development sector, in this case by USAID. In the WASH/IWRM sector IRC should seriously looking into this and keep a leading position, in order not to loose in relevance.

Knowledge Management Lab: MicroLinks- Microenterprise Learning Information and Knowledge Sharing - USAID

2008-02-28T08:15:00.001+01:00

This is the kind of interactive living webpages we should aim for when rethinking our web presence at IRC

Knowledge Management Lab: MicroLinks- Microenterprise Learning Information and Knowledge Sharing

Sign up! And browse around. - Peter

SWITCH Lodz, Poland : children at work

2008-02-27T14:37:00.002+01:00

Gradually SWITCH - about half way it's project life - starts harvesting the fruits of addressing Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) in 13 participating cities in the world.

In Lodz, Poland, children have visualized their urban water impression, watch the slideshow

Picasa Web Albums - Switch Lodz - Konkurs "Woda... - Maria Dąbrowi...

Peter

A Mystery Vanishing Benefits story on Impact Evaluation

2008-02-27T11:41:00.000+01:00

Not sure I'm very convinced about the possibility of monitoring or evaluating impact of interventions. I believe that if we manage to monitor efficiency and effectiveness of our projects and programmes, we have already achieved a lot!
On impact, not much more than participative reflection can be done, whereby everyone draws their own conclusions.

Read a nice story about Impact Evaluation (IE) - currently being explored at IRC - on the Worldbank website
[not a big file, but note that by clicking, you will immediately open de .pdf file]

Mystery_Vanishing_Benefits.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Peter

LEAL proposal submitted

2008-02-22T17:11:00.003+01:00

Today the consortium in which IRC intends to take part, submitted a proposal under FP7 environment to the European Commission for approval. If approved, we will work three years in a learning alliances approach based way on enhanced IWRM of mediterrenean coastal waterbodies.

View Larger Map

Coming up 22 March - World Water Day

2008-02-13T10:29:00.001+01:00

This year's theme in SANITATION, what will you be doing on March 22? It's a Saturday, you got plenty of time ;-)
Read and get inspired on World Water Day

Peter

Water investement: no return!

2008-02-13T09:34:00.000+01:00

For those of you that read German, surely similar sounds can be found on english sites:

Investement in the water sector, a hype promoted by the Worldbank, now almost 10 years ago, is obviously not (yet?) providing any returns! So where is the solution really to reach those ambitious MDG till 2015?

Read Fonds & Zertifikate - Finanzen - Investor - FAZ.NET - Wasser: Viel Phantasie, wenig Rendite

Even if you don't read German, the graphics are saying more than a thousand words ;-) . Curious to read comments and alternatives.

Peter

SWITCH Stormwater online course

2008-02-10T17:13:00.000+01:00

Today I started my first experience with a 'blackboard' based online course. I am glad to participate in the first SWITCH online course on stormwater management.

More on the course here: SWITCH stormwater online course

You may still participate, if you hurry! It runs from 31 January till 24 April 2008.

Peter

An expedition into collaborative writing: The Holy of Holies

2008-02-10T07:42:00.000+01:00

According to some research, improved collaborative writing tools (think limitations with 'track changes' in Word or working in parallel on Excel tables) is highest on the priority list of digital tools of many organizations in the world.

Have a look at what Mitchell Stephens, New York University, is trying to do here The Holy of Holies

Get hands-on experience with collaborative writing tools and give it a try in the holy of holies!

By the way: Google Docs can already offer this, I use it occasionally, but am still looking for interested co-writers! Why don't we practice at IRC?

Peter

Tapping Local Innovation: Unclogging the Water and Sanitation Crisis | Changemakers

2008-02-09T16:19:00.000+01:00

Become a changemaker, like I keep trying to be ;-)
Join the discussion on the competition, or even...enter the competition!

look on Tapping Local Innovation: Unclogging the Water and Sanitation Crisis | Changemakers

Peter
'support the sustainability in trying to reach out to the MDGs'

Gates Foundation backs €9.86 million reality check for water and sanitation costs by IRC and partners - IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

2008-02-07T08:26:00.000+01:00

I can't help being proud to be member of the IRC gang. The more so, if you realize that the BMGF found IRC on the internet, rather than the other way round...

€9.86 million reality check for water and sanitation costs by IRC and partners

The project will be known as "WASHcost"

Peter

Dr Barbara Kazimbaya-Senkwe on OneWorld Radio Africa

2008-02-06T14:00:00.000+01:00

As from today I decided to start collecting key links relevant to the IYS (2008 the International Year on Sanitation) and the related IRC symposium. Here Dr Barbara Kazimbaya-Senkwe on winning hearts and minds to change behaviour (linking to a mpeg audio file on OneWorld Radio OneWorld Radio Africa

Peter

BT (tele)Conferencing ~ What is conferencing?

2008-02-06T08:44:00.000+01:00

I used this amazing facility yesterday to attend a virtual KM4Dev core-group meeting.
Excellent and easy to use. Something to introduce at IRC!

BT Conferencing ~ What is conferencing?

Peter

Google.org 4 KM4DEV one day?

2008-02-05T14:38:00.000+01:00

Being an engaged member of the KM4DEV community, I'd be interested in any good suggestion on how to draw google.org 's attention to this community's work and considering sponsoring it as from 2009 onwards

google.org/inform

*leave your comment, see below*

- Peter

Lodz, Poland IUWM vision 2038

2008-02-05T13:11:00.000+01:00

"VISION: Lodz 2038 „Lodz Uses Its Water Wisely”

The city’s resources management is based on an efficient and integrated system ensuring access to information for all. Investors and authorities respect ecological properties of land and waters. Infrastructure serves the functions and requirements of an environmentally secure city, is reliable, meets the needs of all the city’s population and assures good status of aquatic ecosystems. Green areas - river valleys along open corridors – provide space for recreation and are the ‘green lungs’ of Lodz. The population’s common and in-depth ecological awareness contributes to exceptional quality of life. Our city is a leading centre for innovation, education and implementation in Poland."

Lodz SWITCH website

Your pictures shared on Flickr: how to?

2008-02-05T11:19:00.001+01:00

An image can say more than a thousand words! Give it a try and start sharing your (work related) pictures. The greatest platform to do this on is without doubt Flickr ;-). Below a manual on how to get started, just click > and watch the slides - Peter

From: travelinlibrarian, 1 year ago

| View | Upload your own

SlideShare Link

SWITCH, RCD and other IRC work on the map

2008-02-05T10:37:00.000+01:00

Gradually all my work related photos are being geotagged. Would you like to have a view? You will only see *public* photos, if you like to see more, contact me!

Flickr: Explore your photos on the map

Peter

Dimdim Meeting Portal : 3.0.0 Beta

2008-02-05T09:01:00.000+01:00

Since today I have a dimdim account, the future for e-collaboration? Well let's discover.
My first attempt with 4 KM4Dev colleagues was pretty chaotic!

Dimdim Meeting Portal : 3.0.0 Beta

Peter

Why I still use Facebook, and other musings on social networks | confused of calcutta

2008-01-18T18:58:00.000+01:00

I'm not being very creative here, but I liked this write up about social networks, facebook in particular...
Why I still use Facebook, and other musings on social networks | confused of calcutta

Peter @ Schiphol

Facebook | My Groups

2008-01-17T13:57:00.000+01:00

I'm an avid Facebook user. Some companies have decided to replace their intranet with a company Facebook platform!
Something to consider at IRC ?
In the meantime have a look at the facebook groups I administer Facebook | My Groups

Peter

Facebook | Blog Friends

2007-11-22T17:58:00.000+01:00

Since some months I discovered [belatedly?] Facebook. I keep being amazed by its power and wealth of appications offered. Check out the blog friends one: Facebook Blog Friends . Peter

China in African waters

2007-11-16T14:09:00.000+01:00

A search on China's cooperation with Africa website on 'water'
Note: type 'water' in the site's search box [ a direct link to search water results didn't work ]
Time for IRC to review its strategic partnering?

Peter

Aguasan day 5 notes

2007-06-22T08:55:00.000+02:00

The 23d Aguasan workshop is coming to its end.

The daily review lead by the Sri Lanka team (Neil and Palitha) put up an absolute fantastic show bursting of jokes on facilitation, group processes and views on decentralized contexts in which WASH takes place.

All 4 cases and work of the concept group, e.g. lessons learned and recommendations for future work are presented and discussed.

Interesting things raised:
WASH services in informal / slum parts of cities: an animated discussion about the (long term) role of government. South Africa clearly states that WASH access is a fundamental right also in 'illegal' settlements. The development in Kibera, Nairobi, making use of the new policies on decentralization, shows initial steps by government to acknowledge this right and the needs of people in 'illegal' settlements.

A discussion arises around South Africa's free water policy and whether this is really manageable by local government and local providers and whether or not it is really conducive or not to reach the poor. The discussion highlights again that it is not absolutely true that world-wide we are really moving towards consumers paying for water in a consistent way, certainly not in marginal rural areas.

Again an interesting discussion about what can be really called private sector. The Swiss example visited 2 days ago cannot be called private sector, at least not in the sense that the provider is NOT allowed to make any profit. Discussions around whether a situation in which a company carrying out a management contract can be called a private sector water provision.

Formal ownership and the possibility to qualify for bank loans is another big issue. There is a very grey area around ownership in informal urban water supply (title deeds etc.) and rural water supply (who owns: the community or the municipality?) .

Good practices should include an explicit and productive inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in WASH. Too often only lip-service in paid. Yet the need is absolutely acknowledged by most participants.

Recommendations mentioned include:

More emphasis on (poor) urban sanitation policies and services;

More emphasis on capacity building (learn people how to fish instead of fishing for them) at local but ALSO at national levels;

Strengthening emerging local (small)(informal) private sector;

Further clarify and improve descriptions of roles in the decentralization context;

Suggestions for next steps are formulated (see forthcoming Aguasan #23 report, see link below):

Build a (web)based annotated overview and access to WASH in a decentralized context experiences and resources. IRC can play a role!

Disseminate finding with others in the sector. For IRC: to the scaling up thematic group, the RCD CoP, all the regional programme teams, relevant thematic teams.

A big family photo is taken, quite a big group indeed!

Next Aguasan topics proposed include:

"The role of the private sector revisited (9 years later)"

"KM for decentralized WASH"

However in the context of 2008 being the year of sanitation, the likely theme next year will be around sanitation. A good thing! 2009 should be about "the role of the private sector revisited", ten years after the one on the same topic I attended in 1999.

The evaluation of the workshop scored well (on a variation of the darts board). Particularly the excursion and the venue scored high. Lowest - confirmed by my blog- scored the opening presentations on SDC / Aguasan by SDC and on the decentralization concept by the University of Bern. A pity, though the participants made the most out of this opportunity, a better introduction to the topics might have contributed to a more focussed and a more in depth analysis of the current situation of WASH in a decentralized context.

Aguasan is explained on the SKAT website here. Archives of earlier Aguasan workshops here.

Pictures of Aguasan 23 can be found on my website soon (use tag Aguasan). The report of Aguasan #23 should become available in September / October 2007, check the Aguasan archives (see below).

Ndala is joining me to Italy for a few days, lots of time in the car to reflect and discuss future collab in the Southern Africa programme.

That's it folks... would love to attend again in future years. The first time I attended was in 1999, The private sector, just a new hope?

Back to begin of workshop

Aguasan day 4 notes

2007-06-21T13:23:00.000+02:00

Day 4, the last full day, started with a sketch of the previous day. One clear message was that participants feel not to be given enough time for informal exchange and reflection. The workshop is a bit too structured and methods used not always the best to allow quality sharing and learning. The fact that the WASH sector also experiences various forms of RE-centralization was highlighted.

Group work was resumed, time to make an attempt towards convergence. Not easy! The Concept group - the one I participate in - finally prioritized visiting the four case study groups (1) urban sanitation for the poor in Kibera, Nairobi; (2) urban solid wast management (urban formal sanitation) in a Ukranian town; (3) Rural / small town water supply (and a bit of sanitation) in Mali and; (4) Rural / small town water supply (and some sanitation) in South Africa.

In turns out that in broad lines our analysis of roles and issues at various levels in the WASH sector in the context of decentralization are confirmed.

The group and others are adopting my proposal to be more precise when talking about types of decentralisation, degree of decentralisation and the mix that results from it. Not so much as a tool to measure degrees of decentralisation but more as a tool to be aware of the type of decentralisation and its trend in a particular case.

Hence:

Political decentralisation - <.......> + [includes regulation, laws, policies]
Financial decentralisation - <........> + [investment and running costs]
Administrative decentralisation - <.........> + [organizational aspects]

Some lessons and impressions:

To me it is clear that many of the participants, working specifically in the WASH sector, are not explicitely dealing with decentralization issues, at most with some aspects of it within their own sector.

Cases confirmed my earlier statement that in many situation though officially people pay for water, this is not generally true for rural / small town water services.

The concept group could have benefitted from stronger facilitation.

Overall the workshop so far was planned and timed in a too rigid what and overlooked the fact that the group is quite big (45 participants).

Surprised that in Mali the idea of associations of municipalities, an idea Marc Vézina worked already on in IRC around 1997, is still in the idea stage and anyway very ambitious.

Impressed by the high quality level of many participants expressed in their very realistic opinions about: start small and follow an incremental approach; go for process thinking; do not stick to too ambitious unrealistic approaches; over regulation (laws and otherwise) leads to rigidity in decentralization and WASH which leads to unability to respond to contextual changes.

The rest of the day is spent on group and inter-group and informal talks and preparing presentations for the last day. It is not an easy work. But in the end the concept group manages to structure its work better and fill the gaps particularly on lessons learned based on the 4 cases, emerging lessons learned, and recommendations for WASH policy and programmes but also for next steps in terms of further research and joint learning & sharing.
It was interesting to work in a very intercultural concept group including people from WSP-LA (Peru), WSP-SA (Bangladesh), Mauritania, Nicaragua, Niger lead by Francois, the SDC water boss and facilitated by Peter myself ;-).
The evening is spent under dark clouds on the border of the lake under the old castle of Spiez with Palitha, Neil, and participants from Guatemala and Mozambique.

Day (last one) of workshop

Aguasan day 3 notes

2007-06-21T08:23:00.001+02:00

A review theatre summarized what happened yesterday.
Since we are 45 participants and cuasi equally mainy marketstalls, we market in 2 rounds of an hour learning and sharing. Quite a number of participants had picked up the idea of "I sell, I'm looking for". Before starting each market stall holder had 60 seconds to present this to the crowd, quite a challenge I found out! During the market I did a bit of bumblebee and butterfly. The stalls where I lingered most where Luca's EU Bolivia one about setting up the RC thinking based FUNDASAB. We both think IRC has a lot to offer, definitely something to follow up within our Latin America programme. Mozambique remains a challenge in terms of language, I dont think we should consider it a focus country, however involving them in Southern Africa regional level programme is certainly useful.
After the market we had another round of further deepening our understanding of the relationship between decentralization and doing WASH in that context. The concept group, which I now facilitate, got a bit clearer about its task. Being more explicit about the various types of decentralization (Political, Financial, Administrative) is essential. It is important to be aware of the sliding scales of more or less decentralization of each of the three types and realize how many mixed models do emerge out of this.
I keep finding it difficult to convince other participants that in the end it is al about broad minded MANAGEMENT skills... and hence building capacity at that level... but I keep trying.
The afternoon was spent on a field visit in the Emmental hills between Bern and Thun: an example of giving roles to 'private sector', though NOT allowed to make a profit like in the UK ("over my dead body" said the Canton WASH head!). We also realize now that there are also forms of re-centralization (not only in Switzerland!).
A great tour in horse drawn carts and a lavish dinner ended the day.

Day 4 of workshop

Aguasan day 2 notes

2007-06-20T08:13:00.000+02:00

Five participants conducted by the fabulous conductor Hans Hartung put up a great humoristic show about jargon, methods, language and initial outcomes from yesterday. Jokes centered particularly about a WBank claim that post project support would be no longer needed and that sustainability of WASH services is near to perfect! Another one was about the 'big bang' claim: decentralization needs to be implemented in one big go otherwise it will fail !?!? Another one about the fact that there are still people that see monitoring as a bottom-up control tool only (work at hand!).

The second day started with 4 short presentations of cases coping in a decentralized context: urban poor sanitation in Kibera, Nairobi ; Local Government providing WASH services and the support it gets in South Africa (yes among them WIN-SA, one of my babies :-)) ; Urban solid waste management through PPP in Ukraine ; Decentralized municipal rural and small town WASH services and municipal associations in Mali.

After this the 45 of us divided in 5 groups. Four explored further the case studies and one group - which I joined - tasked to further consolidate and clarify concepts around decentralization as context for WASH services. Group 5 struggled with confusing diverging discussions and finally ended up structuring thoughts and key-issues linked to levels in a UK 'drats' model (yes Andrew from WEDC was still around). The darts model (see pic) consists of ognion layers representing levels and 4 quadrants for the sub-sectors Urban Poor Water; Urban Poor Sanitation (subdivided in off site and on site) ; Rural Water ; Rural Sanitation. Key issues to be addressed in coming days where then placed on the darts model.

Then Sylvia, our overall facilitator, regrouped us in a complicated but creative way in roaming 'carroussel' groups with always one representative of all five groups. We then for an hour moved around in short questions and enrichment stages at each initial groups displays.

After a short 'apéritif' break (it was almost 19:00 hrs by now) we continued with a 'working dinner' during which some of us till midnight prepared our market stalls for the next day. We were encouraged to think commercially: what do we have to offer, what are we looking for.

With a few others we reflected on the day and the confusing title of the workshop (what are the organizers really looking for?) on a terrace in old Thun.

The title is "Opportunities and Challenges for the WASH sector in a Decentralized Context"

Day 3 of workshop

Aguasan day 1 notes

2007-06-18T19:36:00.000+02:00

Topic of this year is 'Opportunities and Challenges for the Water and Sanitation Sector in a Decentralized Context'.

This first notes are written in a haste, sorry about that, but otherwise I miss my dinner ;-)

Overall organizer as usual is SKAT, particularly Roger Schmid, whom I last met in Cotonou, Benin during the Danida WASH evaluation visit there 1 year ago.

We are 45 participants, and where told more women and more southern participants than ever.
Many familiar faces: Palitha, Roger, Andrew Cotton, Neil, Tandia, and .... others.

Day one started in a relaxed way in a fabulous venue on the lake of Thun. Sunny weather. Around 11.00 a short opening talk about context by Roger. Drinks, coffee... Then lunch and getting our rooms.
After lunch programme and objectives. Facilitation as usual by Agridea, this time by Sylvia. Personal presentations in two 6 people shifts in garden and A4 of each one on pin boards.
An optimistic overview of sector developments world wide by Francois (WASH SDC) and mentioning a not yet published work by WB that very few systems collapse and sustainability is okay !?!?!? I'll try to get more details. Very optimistic about reaching MDGs too! Unfortunately no discussions.
Then a conceptual presentation on decentralization by Georg, political sciences from Univ Bern. I miss the historic approach, the 'western' experience, the private sector experience with back and forth between centralization - decentralization. A short but somewhat chaotic discussion, reminding me of our own Capacity Development symposium of last year.
Finally we were given a from for our own daily diary to be used the last day for lessons learned.

PS you can leave comments, suggestions and questions underneath each of my blogs entries! Look forward to read you there!

That's it for today. A bit more reflection next time. Peter near Thun

Day 2 of workshop

Aguasan #23, 18 - 22 June 2007

2007-06-18T19:06:00.000+02:00

Today the 23d edition of the SDC funded Aguasan international workshop started in Gwatt, Switzerland. A sunny warm day. I intend to report on what we do and did on a daily basis till Friday. Peter, participating (for the 2nd time) on behalf of IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.

To day 1

Season's greetings end 2006

2006-12-22T10:34:00.000+01:00

Flying home over the majestic Alps (see the Matterhorn?) into the Po Valley to celebrate with dear ones. I send you season's greetings and very best wishes for 2007... hopefully a year with less religious strife, more equity and real opportunities for all. Lets go for better hygienic practices, more integrated water management and less bottled water... offering more open space, meeting in world café's and; maybe try flying a bit less, whenever evermore userfriendly e-collaboration options offer viable and acceptable alternatives! Peter

Did you know? [toilet-talk]

2006-10-12T23:32:00.000+02:00

Talking about sanitation Did you know? about toilets and shit? (vrij naar Madeleen Wegelin) - Peter

It's the sanitation, stupid!

2006-10-11T14:05:00.000+02:00

We tend to use the word 'water' when speaking about the water, sanitation and hygiene sector. It's easier, it's more obvious. But... really in terms of addressing people's health situation it is sanitation that matters, also when talking about clean water! An impression of how bad the situation in the world still is, have a look at maps on worldmapper.

Worldmapper: The world as you've never seen it before: "Of all the people in the world, 39.8% of us do not have access to basic sanitation. This means living within walking distance of private or shared (not public) latrines or toilets that effectively prevent human and animal contact with excreta.
In Indonesia 98 million people, or 45% of the population, do not have access to good latrines. More people in Indonesia live without access to good toilets than in the whole of South America. Of the South American population, 22% live without good sanitation.
In Southern Asia and Central Africa, 65% of people live without access to basic sanitation."

Peter

I collaborate, e-collaborate, we collaborate

2006-09-30T10:07:00.000+02:00

Through KM4Dev I found this interesting initiative of Dutch NGO's that share experiences on e-collaboration : I collaborate, e-collaborate, we collaborate - Peter

Communities of practice for development: Practical examples so far

2006-09-30T10:04:00.000+02:00

I am involved in encouraging learning and sharing within a network of people working in WASH sector Resource Centres all over the world. It is challenging to make and keep a Community of Practice a living and learning community. The one I facilitate can be found here www.irc.nl/rcdcop . We can learn and share with others, inventorized here Communities of practice for development: Practical examples so far - Peter

Balanced Scorecard - a management system - explained

2006-09-06T17:14:00.000+02:00

What is the Balanced Scorecard? Recognizing some of the weaknesses and vagueness of previous management approaches, the balanced scorecard approach provides a clear prescription as to what companies should measure in order to 'balance' the financial perspective.

Note: IRC opts for this management system - Peter

Are you drinking bottled water? Reconsider, in most cases it's a waste!

2006-08-24T14:10:00.000+02:00

What's In Your Water Bottle? "More than 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Many of these people, particularly those in developing countries, increasingly depend on bottled water for their survival. But consumption of bottled water is also soaring in developed countries with adequate supplies of potable tap water. People with access to safe public drinking water-who are willing to spend up to 1000 times more for bottled water-represent the world's largest consumers of bottled water. "

I'm lucky I live in Zola Predosa, we have great quality water from the Colli Bolognesi, part of the Italian Appenines - Peter

"There you go!", a satire on development

2006-08-23T11:03:00.000+02:00

Are you interested in development (cooperation)? Are you involved in it and struggling with making your work meaningful, or explain to others what it is all about? Are you interested in visual - storytelling - ways of conversing about development? Have a look here Survival International thereyougoenter ! - Peter

Water, water everywhere? | Economist.com

2006-08-23T10:06:00.000+02:00

Water is a problem in many parts of the world, nobody denies this. How to address this issue is the big issue. Traditional approaches versus revolutionary ones... An interesting article and related links can be found here: Water, water everywhere? Economist.com .

A paradigm shift I forsee will come about once affordable desalination and long distance transport of water will become available. That is not to say that we shouldn't keep working on efficient and effective use of available water sources - Peter