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UN PUBLICATIONSJune 2011Nature, Socioeconomics and Adaptation to Natural Disasters. New Evidence from Floods  This Policy Research Working Paper analyzes the determinants of fatalities in 2,194 large flood events in 108 countries between 1985 and 2008. Given that socioeconomic factors can affect mortality right in the aftermath of a flood, but also indirectly by influencing flood frequency and magnitude, the paper distinguishes between direct and indirect effects of development on flood mortality.
Radiotracer applications in wastewater treatment plants  Tracer techniques are very useful tools to investigate the efficiency of purification in wastewater treatment plants. This publication was prepared using the inputs from a meeting of experts held in June 2007 and lecture materials prepared for various IAEA regional training courses. It is intended to assist radiotracer groups in Member States to promote and apply radiotracer technology for better serving the environmental sector.
Toolkit for Public-Private Partnerships in Urban Water Supply for the State of Maharashtra, India  This toolkit is expected to assist the relevant public entities in the State of Maharashtra, India, for developing Public-Private Partnerships-based projects in water supply and sanitation, and may also be used as reference by similar other cities across the country. The toolkit comprises four parts. Part 1 is a comprehensive toolkit, while the other parts provide further detail on specific sections, including a series of case studies of sample cities in Maharashtra.
Assessing Direct Economic Effects of Reallocating Irrigation Water to Alternative Uses: Concepts and an Application  This study reviews the experience with irrigation water transfers, including the involvement of the World Bank. It then discusses the problems of assessing the direct economic effects of reallocations, with a focus on the foregone direct benefits (FDB) in irrigated agriculture. The study reviews the methodologies and model specifications used for estimating FDB; illustrates the impact of different model specifications on the magnitude of FDB estimates based on an application with a case example; and draws conclusions with regard to future efforts in assessing reallocation effects, including calculating adequate compensation for farmers.
Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Europe. A Review of Risk Governance  This study aims to analyse climate related disasters risk reduction governance in the European context. There is a particular focus on the flow of information from researchers to policy makers and the way in which the decision-making process in climate adaptation and risk reduction is commonly managed. The study looks into practical cases of European regional and national adaptation strategies. The paper is divided into three sections: (1) An overview of the climate-risks and disaster risk reduction field(s); (2) An analysis of the current governance structure (studying the flow of information and decision-making processes); (3) Recommendations for the enhancement of these practices in regional and international organisations. Floods and droughts related issues are particularly covered.
Climate change, water and food security  This report summarizes current knowledge of the anticipated impacts of climate change on water availability for agriculture. The implications for local and national food security are examined; and the methods and approaches to assess climate change impacts on water and agriculture are discussed. The report emphasizes the need for a closer alignment between water and agricultural policies and makes the case for immediate implementation of 'no-regrets' strategies which have both positive development outcomes and make agricultural systems resilient to future impacts. The conclusion focuses on action needed to assist countries, in particular developing countries, in assessing probable climate change impacts on irrigated agriculture and on food production, and in adapting agricultural water management to cope with the range and depths of anticipated impacts.
Long-Term Sustainability of Improved Sanitation in Rural Bangladesh  This technical report presents the key findings from a research aimed at identifying the degree to which sanitation behaviors and facilities has been sustained in Union Parishads that were declared open defecation-free (ODF) at least four and a half years ago; the level of sanitation programming that has been sustained in these Union Parishads; if there are perceived benefits of being ODF and have they contributed to sustained latrine use; the degree to which private sector sanitation service providers have been sustained, and whether household access to them contributes to sustained latrine use; and lastly, identifying other factors that might work in favor or against sustained sanitation behaviors and facilities. The document extracts some lessons from the Bangladesh experience that could inform sanitation strategies in other countries, particularly those struggling to increase access to basic sanitation in rural areas.
Driving Change in Water. Water Partnership Programme (WPP) Annual Report 2010  The Water Partnership Programme (WPP) 2010 Annual Report provides an overview of the Program's accomplishments and outlines its future direction. The report provides examples of how the WPP enables the World Bank to respond to the emerging needs of its client countries and bring innovative solutions and transformative knowledge to help them resolve complex water challenges.
Main Report of the First Water and Sanitation Trust Fund  This document presents the overall summary and synthesis of the first impact study of initiatives supported by UN-HABITAT's Water and Sanitation Trust Fund (WSTF). The WSTF, which was established in 2003, aims to leverage new investment and ideas to expand the water and sanitation (WATSAN) service coverage for poor urban dwellers and help build momentum for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Nepal Country Impact Study  This document is an internal Nepal country impact study of initiatives supported by UN-HABITAT's Water and Sanitation Trust Fund (WSTF) undertaken by a team of international consultants. The document presents the achievements and impact of a sample of 16 selected projects which are considered representative of the Nepal project portfolio of 48 projects and provides some recommendations.
Pharmaceuticals in drinking-water  This technical report aims to provide practical guidance and recommendations in managing concerns over pharmaceuticals in drinking-water, taking into consideration the available scientific knowledge and evidence. It emphasizes the importance to prioritize this emerging issue in the overall context of water safety management, which includes microbial and other chemical risks that may threaten the safety of drinking-water. This report focuses primarily on reviewing the risks to human health associated with exposure to trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in drinking-water. It does not discuss the potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems or the broader physical environment.
Rating of Cities: National Urban Sanitation Policy. Frequently Asked Questions  This document presents a set of frequently asked questions about the 'National Rating for Cities' exercise launched by the Government of India to achieve the goals of the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP). The exercise rated 423 cities (with population greater than 100,000) for their performance across various aspects of sanitation. This was measured through indicators that included physical infrastructure, systems, processes, and outcomes related to achievement of total sanitation. The first national rating was carried out in 2009 and results were published in May 2010.
Rehabilitation of hydropower. An introduction to economic and technical issues  This paper analyses the market for rehabilitation of hydropower for two regions (i) Continental Africa (including Madagascar) and (ii) Central America including Mexico. The paper also offers an introduction to the technical components that might be rehabilitated in a typical hydropower plant and analyses the economic gains of each. These factors have then been applied to the universe of hydropower plants identified to estimate the economic benefits of rehabilitating these hydropower plants for two scenarios (i) Life extension, or (ii) Upgrade. Finally, an analysis of nine case studies is presented and some lessons on how to successfully execute hydropower rehabilitation projects have been identified.
Scaling Up Handwashing Behaviour: Findings from the Impact Evaluation Baseline Survey in Senegal  This impact evaluation study utilizes a series of data collection activities to measure the impacts of the WSP Global Scaling Up Handwashing intervention, including baseline and post-intervention household and community surveys and longitudinal monitoring of diarrhea prevalence. In Senegal, the baseline survey, conducted between June and August 2009, collected information from a representative sample of the target population living in four regions. The survey comprised a total of 110 clusters and 1,600 households within 88 communes and rural communities. The survey results offer data on the characteristics of household members, access to water, sanitation and handwashing facilities, handwashing behavior, prevalence of child diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory infection, child growth and development, anemia and parasites prevalence. In addition, community questionnaires were conducted with key informants at the village level in all sample locations to gather information on community access to transportation; commerce; health and education facilities; and other relevant infrastructure; contemporaneous health and development interventions; and environmental and health shocks. The main findings of the Impact Evaluation baseline survey in Senegal are presented here.
Water and Sewerage Services in Karachi Citizen Report Card: Sustainable Service Delivery Improvements  This report discusses the key findings and recommendations emerging from a pilot Citizen Report Card (CRC) on water, sanitation, and sewerage services in Karachi. The CRC, pioneered by the Public Affairs Center (PAC), Bengaluru, provides public agencies with systematic feedback from users of public services. CRC gains such feedback through sample surveys on aspects of service quality that users know best, and enable public agencies to identify strengths and weaknesses in their work.
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