Photo Essay: World Water Day 2013

Photo Essay: World Water Day 2013

World Water Day is held annually on March 22nd to recognize the importance of water in our world and advocate for the sustainable management of water resources. Global Communities is working with communities around the world helping them address their unique water challenges in locally appropriate and innovative ways.
 

Water for Urban Communities – Ghana
One of every two people on the planet live in a city, and 95% of the urban population growth in the coming years will happen in the developing world. As the world’s population becomes more urban, often settling into informal communities, proper management of water resources is ever more crucial. Lack of planning and mismanagement of water resources causes disease and hinders economic development. In Ghana, the most rapidly urbanizing country in the world, Global Communities has been working with slum communities in urban areas to address critical water and sanitation needs. Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded SCALE-UP and the USAID-funded WASH-UP programs, Global Communities has helped to raise awareness and improve access to clean water and sanitation for slum dwellers.Water for Rural Communities – Nicaragua
Global Communities is working in Nicaragua through the USAID-funded Municipal Governance Program (MGP) to strengthen municipal governance and citizen involvement. Through this process communities participate in the identification and prioritization of important community infrastructure needs. In urban areas of Nicaragua more than 90% of residents have access to water connections, while in rural areas less than 30% have access to potable water. Through MGP, more than 10,000 rural residents have access to clean water through new water systems. Read more about the Municipal Governance Program.Water for Pastoralists – Ethiopia
Persistent drought conditions and sporadic rains in the Somali region of Ethiopia are have hit pastoralists especially hard because they have been unable to find water for their animals. As a result, many pastoralists have completely lost their herds and are unable to continue with their traditional livelihood. Global Communities has been assisting drought-affected communities in Ethiopia since 2004. Under the current Redirecting Ethiopian Communities to Overcome Vulnerability and Enhance Resilience (RECOVER) program, Global Communities is working with communities to rehabilitate and construct water sources to increase the water supply and improve hygiene and sanitation conditions. Global Communities’ aim is to provide assistance that meets immediate needs,  but also lays the foundation for longer-term recovery by helping families better cope with extended drought periods in the future. Read more about our work with drought-affected communities in Ethiopia.Water for Farmers – Honduras
Our Millennium Challenge Corporation-funded water harvesting project in Honduras worked with rural farmers in Southern Honduras to build reservoirs that can be used to irrigate crops throughout the dry season, improving their productivity and economic security. Using one of the most advanced drip irrigation systems on the market, it allows farmers, who were only able to harvest corn once a year,  to produce multiple crops a throughout the year.  Read more about the Water Harvesting Project in Honduras.