Monday, August 1, 2011

International Conference on Community and Water Services: Challenges for Sustainability, 29th – 30th September, 1st October 2011, Kandy Sri Lanka

Announcement
International Conference on 'Community and Water Services: Challenges for Sustainability'
29th – 30th September, 1st October 2011, Kandy Sri Lanka

The Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage of Sri Lanka together with Community Water Supply &  Sanitation Project (CWSSP), National Water Supply & Drainage Board ( NWS&DB) and Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum ( LRWHF) will organize a 3 day conference under the theme "Community and Water Services - Challenges for Sustainability"

Millennium Development Goals (MDG) are set to halve the world's population without access to safe water by 2015. Despite Asia's  fast growing market for consumer goods, technology and global investment, the stark fact is that out of the 1.1 billion  global population without access to improved water, almost two thirds live in Asia. Many Asian countries are ill equipped to provide the needed safe water and sanitation to their growing population. Many of this un-served population also live in rural areas which are primarily agriculture based.  Lack of access to water in an agriculture based rural economy, will inevitably impact adversely on the socio-economic well being of the community. Asia also has fast burgeoning mega-cities with major resource constraints especially for the underprivileged communities

There are economic, environmental, social and cultural constraints associated with the provision of safe water.  Women are the most affected from lack of access to safe drinking water since in a water scarce situations  they spend a large part of their  time in accessing water for domestic needs, thereby limiting their involvement on other  especially income generating  activities
Sri Lanka has over 15 years of experience promoting community organizations to provide their own water supply and sanitation facilities through community water supply & sanitation projects. Over 3500 community based organizations that were formed to implement the projects are now empowered to manage, operate and maintain these systems.
Our region has had extensive experience over the past three decades in promoting the role of communities and households in deciding, executing and maintaining their own water service systems through community based projects. These achievements contribute to such success stories in water and sanitation in our region.
In view of the urgent need to provide water services for an ever burgeoning Asian population, it is useful to take stock of current status in planning future activities. This conference plans to provide a platform for sharing knowledge, strategies, experiences and best practices of the region's communities with special reference to the role of women.


Objectives:
1. To share and highlight experiences of actors and beneficiaries in community empowerment through water supply
2. Promote Beneficiary participation including the role of women in community water projects

Themes
  1. Water as a tool for community Development, success stories & lessons learned.
  2. CBO concept and empowerment of communities
  3. Micro/Financing & self financing by CBO's.
  4. Institutional, legal and social framework focusing on community
  5. Water Governance and Democratization
  6. Technology Management at Community level
  7. Environmental and climate vulnerability in community water supply schemes
  8. Water for community during disaster and conflict situation
  9. Health and  water quality
  10. Gender issues related to Community Development and providing of water services

Target Groups - Water practitioners, CBO members, water professionals, Donors, NGOs and Industries.

Venue: Plant Genetic Resource Centre ( PGRC), Gannoruwa, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Registration
Overseas Participants US $ 100
Local participants: Rs. 5,000
Local CBO members. Rs. 2,500

Registration fee includes: Travel from the Bandaranaike International Airport to Kandy and back (only for overseas participants), Conference kit, Lunch and refreshments during Conference, social dinner and field visits

To register for the Conference please fill the form below and send the to the Conference Secretariat by mail, fax or email"

Accommodation
There are number of Hotels and Guest houses available in Kandy. Below are some examples. More details and contact numbers are available in the web site (http://waterboard.lk). Participants are advised to book early,

Hotel Name
Rates
Stars
01
Queen's Hotel
USD 55
4 stars
02
Hotel Suisse
USD 55
3 stars
03
The Tourmaline/Hilltop
USD 75
3 Stars
04
Kandyan Art Residency
USD 40
Guess House
05
Royal Mall
USD 20
Guess House

Important Dates:
Registration Begins: 25th July 2011
Submission of Abstracts: 15th August 2011
Selection of Abstracts:  30th August 2011
Submission of accepted papers : 15th September 2011
Last date for registration: 15th September 2011
Conference dates  : Technical sessions - 29th -30th  September 2011. Field Visits – 1st Oct. 2011


A. Abeygunasekara
Secretary, Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage, Sri Lanka
International Conference On "Community and Water Services"
Challenges for Sustainability
29th -30th September & 1st October 2011
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Registration Form

Name:(Ms/Mr/Dr/Prof)…………………………………………..……………………
Designation……………………………………………………………………………
Institution………………………………………………………………………………
Affiliation : Govt NGO  Academic Research Pvt.   Industry
Local Participants     Overseas Participant
Address for correspondence
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Tel………………………………………………Fax:……………………………………………..
Email: …………………………………………..Mobile:………………………………………….

Do you need accommodation booked:  Yes      No 
Paper to be presented: Yes         No

Title of the paper
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Note- Those who wish to present papers at the conference are requested to submit abstracts of their papers to the secretariat (by mail or email). The abstract should be limited to  300 words,  indicate the name/s of the authors, their institutions and the name of the person who is going to present the paper A template for the abstract is available at the conference website

Secretariat address
Community and Water Services Conference
Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage
35, 'Lak Diya Medura" New Parliament Road
Pellawatta
Battaramulla
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94-112-177222,  +94-112- 820851 Fax: +94-112-177242, +94-112-768520

No comments: