Water and Sanitation 08 Conference - Synthesis report a sign of the times

On Sunday 22 March, World Water Day, Bob McMullan MP, Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for International Development launched the Sanitation and Water 08 Conference Synthesis Report co-authored by WaterAid Australia.

The report was produced to highlight the sanitation and water challenges facing developing countries in our region and solutions and strategies to tackle these challenges, raised at the "Sanitation and Water Conference" held in Melbourne in October, 2008.

James Wicken, Head of Policy and Advocacy at WaterAid Australia, one of the report's authors said, "Two hundred people from around the world came to the conference in Melbourne to share their experiences on sanitation and water."

"This was a unique event for Australia, a sign of the increased priority given to water, sanitation and hygiene in the aid programme and a fitting way to mark 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation. The report captures the rich discussions and presents them in the form of 10 key strategies to addressing the sanitation and water crisis."

Mr McMullan said, "This initiative will increase the Government's focus on meeting the challenges of sanitation in the Asia-Pacific and Africa and providing better water supply and sanitation services to poor communities and households in both rural and urban areas."

WaterAid Australia is now working with governments and other stakeholders to move from talk to action and implement these strategies.

Download the Water and Sanitation Conference Synthesis Report ( PDF 1248KB).