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'Webinars', or Web-based Seminars, are presentations or lectures transmitted over the Web. With support from IFAD, TheWaterChannel started a series of Webinars on a variety of topics under three themes related to rural poverty alleviation. The Webinars will be organised together with our partners UNESCO-IHE and Cap-Net, and will feature some well-known experts on these topics. The Webinars will be collaborative; the participants will be able to communicate with the resource persons in real-time. Apart from lectures, there will be key resources, polls and question-answer sessions.
Webinar #6: Why Water and Integrity?
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Date and time: |
April 25, 2013, |
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Speaker: |
Binayak Das, Water Integrity Network |
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Watch the Recording |
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Download the Presentation |
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Description:
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Water will determine what world the future generations will live in. But this precious resource is underpinned by bad governance and lack of integrity. In many countries shortcomings are not due to shortage of water resources but due to governance failures, such as institutional fragmentation, lack of coordinated decision-making, corruption and low levels of transparency and accountability. The result is that governance systems are often not able to prevent or even provide incentives for unethical behaviour and poor professional practice. Corruption is moreover all pervasive and affects all aspects of the water sector – from water resources management to drinking water services, irrigation and hydropower, it occurs in all phases – from design through construction to operation and maintenance – and it is a major factor in the global water crisis. Integrity issues are often at the core of conflicts around water, which are arising at local, country and international levels.
Improving water governance requires transparency, accountability and fighting corruption. It requires the right knowledge, access to strong partnerships and good tools. Improving water integrity means working with preventive measures to promote transparency, accountability and participation in water. Lessons have already been learnt from this preventive work.
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About the speaker: |
Binayak Das is the Programme Coordinator for Knowledge Management and Action Research at the Water Integrity network and also is focal point for South Asia. He has been associated with the water sector for the past 13 years - as a journalist, writer, researcher, coordinator and consultant.
The Water Integrity Network (WIN) was formed in 2006 to respond to increasing concerns among water and anti-corruption stakeholders over corruption in the water sector. It combines global advocacy, regional networks and local action, to promote increased transparency and integrity, bringing together partners and members from the public and private sectors, civil society and academia, to drive change that will improve the lives of people who need it most.
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Image Courtesy: Supriya Biswas/Water Integrity Network
Webinar #5: Urban Rainwater Harvesting: Promising Solutions and Future Challenges
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Date and time: |
December 12, 2012 |
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Speaker: |
Vishwanath Srikantaiah |
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Watch the recording |
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Download the Presentation |
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Description:
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Urban rainwater has drawn some attention recently, especially in India. However, implementation has been a challenge, especially in the city of Bangalore (Population 9 million). A simple, monitorable law , tracking implementation and setting up a centre for rainwater harvesting has proved to be useful. The challenge lies in upscaling the system, incorporating aquifer recharge as a strategy and in developing ecosystem-based approaches.
This webinar would be of interest to all: water professional, students, urban planners, policymakers... and anyone living in an urban area.
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About the speaker: |
Vishwanath Srikantaiah is a Civil Engineer and Urban Planner. He studied Urban Environmental management at the Institute for Housing Studies, Rotterdam. Having worked for the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. -for 14 years, he now runs an NGO called the Biome Environmental Trust, which seeks to provide better water and sanitation facilities to government schools. Besides, he advises government/ non-government agencies on policies/projects related to urban rainwater harvesting. He is well-known for videos and articles in mainstream and social media, often published under the pseudonym ’Zenrainman.’
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(This webinar was supported by Nuffic's project NICHE-27, Yemen.)
Webinar #4: Water and Change
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Date and time: |
August 15, 2012 |
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Speaker: |
Henk van Schaik |
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Watch the Recording |
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Download the Presentation |
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Description:
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In the 1970s, rural water supply and health formed the core of the ‘Water Agenda.’ Since then, the agenda of the water community (policymakers, practitioners, private sector, users) has expanded in response to new and additional challenges such as growing water demands for people and food, the need for cost reveovery, environmental integrity, and climate change.
In his 40-year career, Henk van Schaik has been involved in policy processes and projects related to water, all over the world. Through his work, he has seen the Water Agenda evolve from being focused on rural supply and health in the 1970s, to Climate Change impact and adaptation in the early 2000s. In the coming decade, he sees ‘Water and Peace’ emerging as a top priority for the water community. He reckons that new water allocations for green growth, and Water & Cultural Heritage are other themes set to assume more importance.
In this webinar, Henk will outline these changes by revisiting some of the assignments and people that formed his career in the past, and through examples from his ongoing/upcoming work.
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About the speaker: |
Henk van Schaik is currently Programme Leader, Water and Peace, at the University for Peace, The Hague.
Between 2001-12, he was the Programme Coordinator of the Cooperative Programme on Water and Climate, based at UNESCO-IHE in Delft, The Netherlands. From 1995 till 2002 he was a member of the Water Fund of Simavi, a Dutch NGO. In 2004 he created the Dutch NGO Climate Partners, which advises private sector companies including water utilities how to achieve a “climate neutral” footprint. From 1976 till 1987 he worked on rural water supply projects implementation and planning in respectively Malawi and Tanzania.
He has held many advisory positions, such as in the preparation of Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change prepared by the UN ECE in 2009; to the World Water Development Programme for the World Water Development Report 3, to Aquaterra, a biannual global Forum on Delta development; and to the Ministry of Development Cooperation, The Netherlands (1987-2001).
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Webinar #3: Water and Food: Agricultural Flows and Water Markets
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Date and time: |
September 28, 2011 (Watch the recorded webinar.) |
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Speaker: |
David Zetland |
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Registration: |
(Past event) |
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Description:
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Worldwide, our freshwater resources are depleting. Many even argue that we have reached the point of crisis. Some people claim the end of abundant water means the beginning of food shortage. But that’s not necessarily going to happen. Food shortages and water shortages are both caused by prices that are too low or policies that block trade from surplus to deficit areas. We need to retool institutions that govern water supply and use, that were designed in a context when water was abundant. This webinar will discuss physical and institutional dimensions affecting agricultural water flows, farmers’ irrigation and crop decisions, distortions caused by faulty policies and how water markets can be harnessed to manage scarcity. |
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About the speaker: |
David Zetland is Senior Water Economist at Wageningen University, The Netherlands, working on the EPI-Water ("Evaluating Economic Policy Instruments for Sustainable Water Management in Europe") project. He runs the popular Aguanomics blog, and is the author of the recent publication ‘The End of Abundance: Economic Solutions to Water Scarcity.’ |
Webinar #2: Update on new low cost water technologies for drinking , domestic use and irrigation
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Date and time: |
September 14, 2011 (watch the recorded webinar) |
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Speaker: |
Henk Holtslag |
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Registration: |
Past event |
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Description:
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Innovations over the last 10 years have drastically reduced the cost and increased the sustainability of many water and sanitation technologies. These can be harnessed by the private sector all over the world to develop affordable solutions for local water use/ sanitation needs. Through large scale capacity building on Smart Techs, developing countries could reach WASH (WAter, Sanitation and Hygiene) related MDGs (4 and 7), improve food security and increase incomes rural incomes. In this webinar, Henk Holstag will demonstrate some Smart Tech solutions with proven impact in various parts of the world. He will also discuss what goes into increasing their uptake by the water users and businesses. |
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About the speaker: |
Henk Holtslag has 25 years of experience as development worker in 16 countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa. He is an acclaimed expert on the development, dissemination and promotion of SMART Techs such as rope pumps, manual well drilling, water filters and irrigation. In 2008, Henk received a royal decoration from the Dutch Minister of Development Affairs for his enormous efforts with regard to advocacy, promotion and development of low-cost WASH solutions. |
Webinar #1: Innovations for Food Security: The Business of Sustainable Land and Water Management
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Date and time: |
May 18, 2011 (watch the recorded webinar) |
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Speaker: |
Frank van Steenbergen |
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Registration: |
Past event |
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Description:
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More than two-thirds of the global food production is based on rain-fed and flood-based low intensity farming. According to the International Water. Management Institute's Comprehensive Assessment on Water Management in Agriculture, this production system holds the biggest promise to meet the growing demand for food. In some parts of the world, the last fifteen years have seen major turn-arounds- landscapes and watersheds have been transformed, seeing higher food production and greater environmental protection. These experiences serve as major inspirations to other areas.On May 18th, Frank van Steenbergen discussed a number of such innovations in the management of land and water buffers; particularly the development of a number of new techniques, the scope for new financing mechanisms and the lessons from large turn-around programs. This webinar has been facilitated by IFAD and the EU FP-7 WAHARA program. |
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About the speaker: |
Frank van Steenbergen has worked over the past twenty years in Water Resource Management and Local Development. He has been involved in both in on the ground project implementation and the preparation of policy documents such as Framework for Action (Second World Water Forum), Dialogue on Water Governance (Third World Water Forum) and the Review of Mainstreaming Water and Environment (DGIS). |
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