Water Papers

171 items available

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16997

Water Papers are produced by the Water Global Practice, taking up the work of the predecessor Water Unit, Transport, Water and ICT Department, Sustainable Development Vice Presidency.

Items in this collection

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

The Nitrogen Legacy: The Long-Term Effects of Water Pollution on Human Capital

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-12-10) Zaveri, Esha ; Russ, Jason ; Desbureaux, Sebastien ; Damania, Richard ; Rodella, Aude-Sophie ; Ribeiro, Giovanna

The fallout of nitrogen pollution is considered one of the largest global externalities facing the world, impacting air, water soil and human health. This paper presents new evidence that nitrogen pollution in water is an important determinant of variations in human capital. Data from the Demographic and Health Survey dataset across India, Vietnam, and 33 African countries are combined to analyze the causal links between pollution exposure experienced during the very earliest stages of life and later-life health. Results show that pollution exposure experienced in the critical years of development from the period of birth up until year three – is associated with decreased height as an adult, a well-known indicator of overall health and productivity, and is robust to several statistical checks. Because adult height is related to education, labor productivity, and income, this also implies a loss of earning potential. Results are consistent and show that early-life exposure to nitrogen pollution in water can lower height-for-age scores during childhood in Vietnam and during infancy in Africa. These findings add to the evidence on the enduring consequences of water pollution and identify a critical area for policy intervention.
Policy Instruments for Water Pollution Control in Developing Countries

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-12-10) Olmstead, Sheila ; Zheng, Jiameng

This paper surveys the economic theory behind regulatory and other solutions to the stark ambient water pollution problems that exist in many developing countries, and what is known from the empirical economics literature about the effectiveness of these solutions.
Water and Sanitation Services for Informal Settlements in Honiara, Solomon Islands

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-10) World Bank

The objective of this study was to inform Solomon Water of potential service delivery models for the expansion of water and sanitation services in informal settlements in Honiara. Currently, a range of water service delivery models are in use by residents of settlements. As described below, many of do not result in safe and affordable drinking and domestic water. Similarly, a range of sanitation practices are in use, most are not likely to result in safe containment of human waste. Solomon Water is currently expanding and improving its water and sanitation services in Honiara, and other regional towns urban center's. As a part of this improvement and expansion agenda, there is the opportunity to improve the water and sanitation services used by residents of informal settlements. In recognition of the diversity of environmental, social and economic diversity amongst urban residents in Honiara’s informal settlements, a range of water and sanitation service delivery models may need to be offered. This assessment identifies the range of possible water and sanitation service models, and, with input from Solomon Water, informal settlement residents and other stakeholders, together with analytical information and lessons about service delivery models used elsewhere, makes recommendations about the water and sanitation service options best suited to informal Honiara’s settlements.
Nutrition-Sensitive Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-03) World Bank

This document summarizes evidence and guidance on project design and results framework indicators for nutrition-sensitive water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) operations and WASH components of other sector and subsector projects. The current body of evidence on the links between WASH and nutrition provides important clues as to what nutrition sensitive enhancements are needed to achieve greater impacts on early child nutrition and human capital. Six principles are outlined that aim to address some of the limitations that are found with conventional WASH interventions. A set of results framework indicators are proposed to support nutrition-sensitive WASH monitoring and evaluation in water supply and sanitation lending operations and for WASH components of projects in other sectors.
Water, Well-Being, and the Prosperity of Future Generations

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2017-03) Chase, Claire ; Damania, Richard

Water-related diseases are a major health burden for populations, especially the poor. Meeting global aspirations for poverty reduction will require addressing the global water and sanitation challenge. This discussion paper provides an overview of the poverty-related impacts of inadequate water supply and sanitation services, and highlights the new policy challenges that have emerged in a more populated, polluted, and urbanized world with finite water resources. New approaches that assure sustained changes in individual behavior, more equitable access to services, and incentives for improved water resource stewardship are needed.
Institutionalization of Rural Sanitation Capacity Building in Indonesia

(Washington, DC, 2015-03-28) World Bank

Indonesia has made significant increase in rural sanitation access and services from 20.64 percent in 2006 to 44.09 percent in 2013. A study conducted in 2012 estimated a capacity gap of 12,000-18,000 sanitation professionals (from engineers to community workers) to meet the 2015 millennium development goal (MDG) targets, with 30 percent of community health centers not having frontline sanitation personnel. Capacity building programs have so far been largely conducted by technical units, projects, and local government offices. Following an assessment on how and where to best address the issues, the technical assistance (TA) recommended a transformative approach, away from project-based cascading training where training is done at national level and then repeated and cascaded to provincial, district, sub-district, and village levels to an institutionalized capacity building program. The institutionalization of capacity building program targeted two primary audiences: future professionals (pre-service) addressed through integrating national strategy for community-based total sanitation (STBM) modules into health polytechnic schools curriculae and current professionals (inservice) addressed through accredited and certified training programs, with an additional e-learning scheme to reach out to a wider group of professionals and interested parties. The support to scale-up the use of the STBM human resource capacity building system can be provided via a circular letter of Ministry of Health (MoH) to local health offices and STBM partners. Continuous support through the MoH system to follow-up and evaluate outcomes of training and education will be key to sustainability and roll-out across all provinces of Indonesia.