News, Blogs and Events

Empowering pastoralist women in Afar region, Ethiopia: the value of PhotoVoice in Covid-sensitive research

This blog is written by Christine Fostvedt-Mills and originally appeared on the Sanitation Learning Hub website

There’s much that can be said about the intersection of poverty, gender and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and nutrition outcomes of pastoralist women in Afar region, North Ethiopia. Here, women bear the burden of responsibility for nutrition and WASH provision but suffer disproportionately from the effects of poor WASH coverage. Lack of access to nearby reliable water sources means they spend large amounts of time fetching water and lack of adequate sanitation leaves them vulnerable to disease and physical insecurity when they are forced to defecate in the open. However, despite the implications on their health and wellbeing, it can be difficult for women’s voices to be heard when it comes to improving development outcomes for their communities.

Living archive aims to rejuvenate child and youth rights and participation

“I’m only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realise, neither do you.”
Severn Cullis-Suzuki, 12 years old, Rio Earth Summit, 1992

“You come to us young people for hope. How dare you. You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words… all you can talk about is money and eternal fairy tales of economic growth. How dare you.”

Greta Thunberg, 16 years old, UN Climate Action Summit, 2019

Celebrating the Sanitation Learning Hub’s new lease of life

For over ten years, IDS’s Sanitation Learning Hub (previously known as the CLTS Knowledge Hub) has been supporting learning and sharing within the international sanitation and hygiene sector, using innovative participatory approaches. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has recently awarded the Sanitation Learning Hub further funding for a four-year programme (2019-2023) so that the Hub can continue to support and strengthen the sector in tackling the complex challenges it faces in delivering universal safely managed sanitation by 2030.

The Workshop 2017

Praxis - Institute for Participatory Practices is scheduled to hold the 20th edition of its international commune on participatory development from 1-8 March 2017 at USI, New Delhi.

The Praxis annual commune is a residential event that brings together development workers, policy makers and proactive individuals from across the world to share information and experiences as well as keep themselves abreast of the latest in the field of participatory development. It provides a theoretical understanding of participatory approaches/tools as well as the opportunity to apply them in the field and network with like-minded individuals. For more information email info@theworkshop.in or go to The Workshop 2017.

Picturing inclusive CLTS Photo Competition

The Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Hub has launched its 2017 Photo competition! Much recent research has shown that more efforts are needed to make sanitation and the gains and improvements we have already seen, sustainable and inclusive. So CLTS are looking for photographs that show examples of inclusive CLTS, highlight good practice, depict innovative programming and emphasize the need to ‘reach the one in everyone’.

The winning entries will be published in a special feature on the CLTS website. Both winning and non-winning photos will be used in publications such as the Frontiers of CLTS series and/or Learning Briefs/Learning Papers, as well as on the website, with full credit to the photographer.

The top three entries will receive a hardcopy of Sustainable Sanitation for All: Challenges, Experiences and Innovations

New IDS Bulletin examines links between power, poverty and inequality

This new IDS BulletinPower, Poverty and Inequality’ edited by Marjoke Oosterom and Patta Scott-Villiers, brings together the latest analysis on understanding power and inequality and their links to poverty.

Ten years ago, IDS published an inaugural IDS Bulletin on power and change. This collection of articles were influential in developing ways to analyse socio-political situations using a power lens which helped people and organisations working in development improve effective policy and action. In particular, the issue clarified the use of the powercube, a tool for investigating the different faces of power (visible, hidden and invisible power), its levels (local, national, global) and spaces of operation (closed, invited and claimed).

Sustainable Sanitation for All

Edited by Petra Bongartz, Naomi Vernon and John FoxImage of book cover

Just published, this book describes the landscape of sustainability of CLTS and sanitation with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and through examples from Africa and Asia.  It captures a range of experiences and innovations from a broad range of institutions and actors within the WASH sector, and makes recommendations and practical suggestions for policy and practice for practitioners, funders, policymakers and governments.  It is published by Practical Action and is fully available for download.

Using Participatory Action Research to Improve Development Practice

image of participants at last year's course23 – 27 January 2017, Institute Development Studies, UK

This is one of the most inspiring, mind-opening courses I have been in!'
(2016 Participant)

Running for the second year, this five day short course is designed to develop participants' understanding and skills in the theory and practice of a range of PAR methods.  It will also provide the conceptual and practical tools needed for participants to design PAR in their own organisation and with their partners. Details are on our IDS website, or contact Richard Douglass for further information. The closing date is 16th September and places are limited to 20, so book yours soon!


 

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