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Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development

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    • Models must take into account the local context to promote knowledge and training
      • Evaluation as the point of departure to transmit knowledge - Darren SAYWELL

Evaluation as the point of departure to transmit knowledge - Darren SAYWELL

There is a need for information and communication programmes to make public opinion fully aware of the issues of water sanitation and related hygiene principles. For such programmes to be successful, clear and comprehensible messages must be elaborated using sound scientific foundations.

We have adopted several approaches to develop a sound evaluation system of our programmes. The WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All) is a case in point.

Launched at the International Conference on Freshwater in Bonn (Germany) in December 2001. Working with governments, civil society organisations, community groups and other stakeholders, the WASH campaign focused inter alia, on promoting the adoption of a sanitation target. This was highly recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002! The aim was obtaining high-level political support internationally, and to raise awareness of national actors on the importance of sanitation, hygiene, and water supply. With the inclusion of the sanitation objective gaining international recognition, the focus of the campaign has now shifted to country level, although international efforts still continue.

WASH aims to raise the commitment of political and social leaders to several objectives:

  • universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene
  • necessary behavioural changes through various information and communication channels (traditional and mass media)
  • promoting hygiene in schools
  • training and building local capacity in communications and improving networking and research.

The campaign thus encompasses social education, social mobilisation, advocacy for a change in behaviour. The campaign in fact seeks to send four very simple messages: water, sanitation and hygiene save lives; women and children must be a priority for action; reform and careful management are essential; the provision of water and sanitation are vital conditions for achieving sustainable development.

Elsewhere, every opportunity must be seized to establish links with other networks and sectors:

As a first step, it would seem essential to set up programmes based on simple but striking messages. We try in this respect to base our messages on local conditions and translate them into language which is as close as possible to the people who are most directly concerned. As a second step, a link must be established between national priorities (water and sanitation) and familiar events. Furthermore, the message must be based on scientific principles and also on practical experience. Finally, adaptable material and instruments condition success and effective dissemination to large numbers of people.

In our experience, we have found that in-depth cooperation with journalists and the media is also beneficial. Therefore, we work with a network of journalists, and we have designed special workshops for them.

Advocacy campaigns aimed at political leaders or large corporation have also turned out to be useful. Finally, we also are in touch with schools in order to promote social mobilisation.

This work has taught us that approaches must be kept simple and be based on striking messages. Applied research is always necessary in order to demonstrate to political leaders that the plans advocated actually work.