DENVER, CO, Aug. 18, 2009 -- Denver-based international development organization, Water For People, announced its first Fellow in Innovation and Sustainability yesterday. The organization, which focuses its work on 10 countries around the world, will apply the learning of the new Fellow toward Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Africa. To meet the world's long-term water needs, IWRM was established by sector stakeholders to create a long-term plan that takes into account all of the uses of this vital resource.
Overall, the organization supports safe drinking water and sanitation projects in developing countries in response to the 884 million people worldwide who lack access to safe drinking water and the 2.5 billion who lack adequate sanitation.
The first fellowship year launches an organization-wide effort on Water For People's behalf to incorporate IWRM into its programs. The first year will focus on Africa, and particularly, Malawi. The next two fellowship years will stay with Africa, moving through the country programs in Uganda and Rwanda. The fellowship will rotate through Water For People's other program regions of India, South America, and Central America in subsequent years, maintaining the focus on IWRM.
Water For People announced that Stephanie Ogden will be the first Fellow and has six years of field experience in the areas of water, sanitation and health, including time as director of a small nonprofit in El Salvador. She recently completed her master's in environmental policy from Oregon State University, with a focus on water policy. "I am so glad to join Water For People for this project. I am looking forward to helping Water For People evaluate what I think is a central issue for development work in water and sanitation worldwide, as well as an issue that has increasing importance here at home. Water For People's interest in evaluating the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management in conjunction with its own work demonstrates both foresight and thoughtfulness as an organization, and I am honored to take part," said Ms. Ogden.
The fellowship term will begin January 2, 2010 and end December 31st. Ms. Ogden will work out of Water For People's headquarters in Denver, Colorado and in Logan, Utah, with two extensive trips into the field.
"Having our first Fellow in place is a significant event in the life of our organization. The work of the Fellow will enhance our capacity for thought leadership and catalyze our efforts to make IWRM a reality within our programming," said Nina Miller, Director of Volunteer Services, Training & Applied Research at Water For People.
About Water For People
Founded in 1991, Water For People is a nonprofit international development organization that supports safe drinking water and sanitation projects in developing countries. Water For People partners with communities, local governments, and other nongovernmental organizations to help people improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, improved sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs. Water For People supports communities with professional development advice, financial support and volunteer technical services. Typical technologies employed include protected spring-fed community water systems, gravity-fed systems, wells with hand pumps, latrine construction, operator training and hygiene education. Water For People is currently working in 10 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. In 2008, Water For People supported the provision of safe and sustainable drinking water resources benefiting 91,722 people in the developing world, sanitation facilities benefiting 92,983, and hygiene education benefiting 153,843. More information is available at www.waterforpeople.org.
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