01 December 2013 Development News Round Up

The collection of colonial archives on African borders is part of the follow-up to the Declaration adopted by the first meeting of African Ministers in charge of Border Issues, held in Addis Ababa, on 7 June 2007.

The Ministers had requested the former colonial powers to transmit information in their possession on the status of African borders.

Subsequently, the Commission approached those powers which indicated their willingness to provide the necessary support.

Germany has already transmitted the data in its possession, while Belgium, Portugal and the UK have confirmed their willingness to do the same.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui thanked the French authorities for the cooperation extended to the AU.

He said the documents will contribute significantly to the achievement of the objectives assigned to AUBP regarding the delimitation and demarcation of African borders where such an exercise has not yet taken place.

The Commissioner said he looked forward to enhanced cooperation towards the implementation of the AUBP.

On her part, French Ambassador to Ethiopia and to the AU, Brigitte Collet stressed that the transmission of data was intended to be a practical contribution to the implementation of AUBP, within the framework of its overall cooperation with the AU.

The archives provided by the former colonial powers are accessible through the Border Information System (BIS) established by the AUBP to accelerate the process of delimitation and demarcation of borders where such an exercise has not yet taken place.

In accordance with the decision taken by the AU Summit held in Malabo in July 2011, this process should be completed by 2017.

http://www.ertagov.com/news/index.php/component/k2/item/2024-france-hands-over-colonial-border-agreements-to-au

France Pledges 550, 000 Euros for Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia

Ambassador Brigitte Collet, French Ambassador to Ethiopia, on behalf of the French Government, and J. O. Moses Okello, UNHCR’s representative to Ethiopia, on behalf of UN Refugee agency, signed an agreement on Tuesday (November 25) to provide aid worth 550,000 Euros for Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia. According to the UNHCR, some of the funds will be allotted to help girls, orphans and children without adequate protection, and the remainder will go to support existing education and vocational training programs designed to equip the refugees with knowledge and skills as well as to work on projects to make them aware of the perils of illegal migration. This is intended to enable them to be productive in the fight against poverty when they leave the camps. The Government of Ethiopia has designed an ‘out-of-camp policy’ and provided hundreds of Eritreans with scholarships to attend Universities in various parts of the country along with Ethiopian students. These new funds will be vital to assist the refugees to stand on their own feet and encourage them to become self-supporting.  There are currently around 80,000 Eritrean refugees in six camps in Ethiopia.

http://www.mfa.gov.et/news/more.php?newsid=2759

Africa Need Not Suffer The Resource Curse

Africa   has 10 per cent of the world’s known reserves of oil, 40 per cent of   its gold, and 80 to 90 per cent of the chromium and the platinum metal   group, to list only a few.

But a number of commentators still refer to this wealth of natural   resources and minerals as “Africa’s curse.” They associate the many   wars, poverty and untold suffering of ordinary Africans to this   abundance.

It is true that the abundance of natural resources has been the   catalyst for wars and conflict. But should an abundance of natural   resources lead to Africa’s decline? The answer must surely be a   resounding no.

Recent literature on the Resource Curse and Dutch Disease suggest   that the real problem affecting commodity rich countries may be of   commodities specialisation in an economy with little or no history of   industrial development. The Curse and the Disease refer to a situation   in which a country’s seeming good fortune proves ultimately to have a   detrimental effect on the economy.

Commentators on African economies still insist that the continent’s   future lies in export of commodities; that Africa should continue to   export almost all they produce, without adding value, and import   virtually all that the people living on the continent consume.

They claim that if Africa adopts this economic growth model, and   assuming that commodity prices remain high (which seems to be the   projection of most analysts) then the projected growth rates of the   continent of an average of 6% over the next 30 years or so will no doubt   materialise.

But at what cost to Africa? Africa’s population is expected to   double in the next 30-40 years to over two billion. Already we are   seeing civil and economic unrest as a result of a lack of employment   opportunities.

Many of them have had access to education and, with the   consolidation of the democratic process, expect their popularly elected   governments to deliver on their promises of employment and improved   quality of life for the majority.

If African countries adopt the economic model of commodity-export   led economic growth, the most probable outcome will be economic growth   but with a heavily skewed income distribution curve.

In 30 to 40 years’ time there will be a tiny minority of   mega-wealthy Africans but the majority will be jobless. Many will be   surviving on the margins of poverty, alienated from their mineral wealth   and living in communities characterised by civil unrest and personal   insecurity.

Africa’s future is bright but only if Africans can use the resources   they have as anchors for regional growth clusters and then ensure that   they attract value-addition industries. Already the continent has a   number of good examples of value addition though not many in the area of   minerals;

Kenya has a well-established export base of horticultural products   to UK supermarkets. With time, Kenyan producers have been able to meet   increasingly stringent food safety regulations, demanding market   requirements and private standards, but have also upgraded into value   added products, such as chopped and ready to eat products.

Ethiopia’s strategy for the leather sector has revolved around a   combination of an export tax on unprocessed hides, incentives for value   added manufacturing firms, and aggressive measures on technology and   skills transfer. In particular, the export tax has forced reluctant   European manufacturers to relocate tanning and manufacturing activities   in Ethiopia.

As a result, the composition of Ethiopia’s leather exports has   changed dramatically: the share of hides in leather group exports   declined from 70% in 2004 to 0% in 2011.

The share of finished leather increased from less than a third to 93%   in the same period. A recent success story has been the export of shoes   under the Italian brand name Geox, a global leader in the footwear   sector, with the ‘Made in Ethiopia’ trademark.

There are exciting and lucrative value-addition opportunities   throughout the COMESA and the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite region in a   number of mineral sectors including coal, natural gas, mineral oil,   copper, iron and steel, manganese, phosphates and nickel.

However it is the beneficiation and value addition of the mineral   deposits and other commodities that holds the potential for the growth   of industrial clusters in Africa. In this way Africa will be able to   create jobs, regional markets, and equitable wealth.

The Author is the Secretary General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

http://www.comesa.int/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=980:africa-need-not-suffer-the-resource-curse&catid=26:other-news&Itemid=48

Russia donates 2,300mt wheat flour to support refugee operation

The government of Russia last Wednesday donated 2,300 metric tons of wheat flour valued over 56 million birr to support refugee operation in Ethiopia.

The donation was provided to the Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs through the World Food ProgramME (WFP).

The stated amount of flour will feed 200,000 refugees in Tigray, Afar, Somali and Benshangul-Gumuz States for a month.

Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Valery Utkin said on the occasion that his country will continue to support refugees.

UNHCR Representative Moses Okello and WFP Representative Abdou Dieng commended the government of Russia for its longstanding support.

Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs Deputy Director-General Ayalew Awoke said number of Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali refugees has reached 430,000.

Ayalew called on the international community to increase the support to the refugee operation, since number of refugees entering the country is increasing from day to day.

http://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/national-news/5012-russia-donates-2-300mt-wheat-flour-to-support-refugee-operation

International parliamentary organizations and HPR participation

IGAD Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-IGAD)

The Protocol establishing IGAD Inter-Parliamentary Union came into force on 28 November 2007 after being ratified by four IGAD member states — Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and Somalia.

The first meeting of the Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments of IGAD member states, the highest organ of the Union, took place in Addis Ababa on 28 November, 2008. The meeting was attended by Djibouti, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, Somalia and Kenya. Addis Ababa is the seat of IPU-IGAD. The House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) has been an active participant of IPU-IGAD.

Pan African Parliament

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004 in Addis Ababa. The PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years. Initially the seat of the Pan-African Parliament was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia but it was later moved to Midrand, South Africa.

The Pan-African Parliament has 265 representatives that are elected by the legislatures of 47 of the 54 AU states, rather than being directly elected in their own capacity. Additionally, Ten Permanent Committees were created dealing with different sectors of life in Africa.

PAP has the mandate to implement the policies and objectives of the African Union, cultivate human rights and democracy in Africa; make sure Member States adhere to good governance, transparency and accountability; let the peoples of Africa know what the objectives and policies of the African Union are so that they might be able to integrate themselves continentally while still working within the framework of the AU; engender peace, security and stability on the Continent and among other objectives.

African Union Parliament

The African Parliamentary Union (APU), formerly the Union of African Parliaments, is a continental inter-parliamentary organization set up in Abidjan on 13th February, 1976. Its Statutes have been modified and adopted during the 22nd Conference which took place on 17 and 18 September 1999 in Luanda (Angola).

APU has the mandate to bring together the parliamentary institutions of all African States; to encourage contacts among African Parliamentarians, on the one hand, and between African Parliamentarians and Parliamentarians of other continents, on the other hand; and to contribute to the strengthening of the parliamentary institution in Africa, the promotion of democracy, and the realization of the objectives of the Organization of African Unity for the establishment of a lasting peace.

The APU holds annual conferences in order to discuss these matters and also organizes parliamentary meetings in cooperation with international organizations or institutions. At present, 35 National parliaments are members of the APU. Ethiopia has been a member of APU since its foundation and hosted the 30th conference of APU in 2009.

Nile Basin Countries Parliamentary Union

The Nile Basin Countries Parliamentary Union is a regional institution set up by Nile riparian countries. Ethiopia has been an active participant of the Union.

Inter-Parliamentary Union

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is an international organization established in 1889 by Frédéric Passy (France) and William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom). It was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations. Initially, the organization was for individual parliamentarians, but has since transformed into an international organization of the parliaments of sovereign states. The national parliaments of 162 countries are members of the IPU, and 10 regional parliamentary assemblies are associate members.

The organization’s initial objective was the arbitration of conflicts. The IPU played an important part in setting up the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Over time, its mission has evolved towards the promotion of democracy and inter-parliamentary dialogue. The IPU has worked for establishment of institutions at the inter-governmental level, including the United Nations, an organization with which it cooperates and with which it has permanent observer status.

Ethiopia became a member of IPU 55 years ago and successfully hosted the 120th conference of IPU Assembly in 2009

http://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/editorial/5009-international-parliamentary-organizations-and-hpr-participation

Let’s buy made in Ethiopia

The share of domestic products in the supply market is still negligible. Coupled with weak promotion strategies of the already existing domestic products and those in the pipelines, the consumer is hardly aware of the domestic products in the market. The widely held conception within the society that domestic products are with low quality requires a trying promotion and awareness campaign tasks to be changed. The society is strongly attached with imported goods and products. Though some budding industries have started to supply products that can fit in quality with their overseas counterparts, due to lack of awareness and deeply held suspicion towards domestic products, they are yet to attract the deserved level of demand in the domestic market.

For the country’s flourishing manufacturing and other industries get the deserved level of domestic consumer pool, many scenarios in the present market system should be significantly changed. Bear in mind that no country have had a developed industry without creating reliable domestic consumer base and working to maintain its ties with it while expanding their reach to more consumers in and out of their location. For this to happen though, there are various hurdles that should be staved off.

Among the many things that our market lacks, trust between the trading community, the industry and the private and public sector in general is the main one. Without trust, it is not possible to think about the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations and other stakeholders should spare no effort to struggle the reasons behind low trust between both between consumers and suppliers and traders and the public sector. Of course, our market is still haunted by many unethical practices especially by traders that aim to enrich themselves via undeserved and illegal ways.

Quality and fair price could not be compromised at the expense of anything in today’s highly competitive and cut-throat business world. Our industry should undertake the uphill task required to move its products and services towards the possible level required by the consumer. Especially, the recently observed illicit and unfair price increasing trend by some supplying firms followed by hoarding to create shortage in the market, should be completely avoided if trust is to exist high in the market environment.

The market scenario in which some traders are benefiting from their guilt should be completely changed. This not only hampers competitiveness, but also erodes that badly needed trust between the market actors. The consumer protection proclamation should be relentlessly put into practice to create a fair market exchange in the country. Furthermore, the consumers and traders should be made aware of their rights and duties clearly stipulated in this legal provision. Unless this is done, the present market situation in which some traders are succeeding to unfairly enrich themselves by compelling those who follow the legal way leave the market for them could sustain itself.

Coupled with these and other challenges witnessed in the market, lack of adequate technological input in the industry sector is posing severe hurdles both in the process of production and supply to the domestic and overseas market. However, the society at large should gradually shift from fully depending on foreign products and services; follow on latest data on domestic products and buy them when they are better from foreign counterparts. For instance, the leather industry has started to supply products far unmatched by those from abroad, but are yet to get the needed level of domestic consumers that could strengthen its competitiveness.

In a nutshell, amid all unfair trading practices and inconveniences, we should turn our faces to our products that are at present becoming preferable from their foreign products both in domestic and overseas market. The public and private stakeholders in the market should work hand and glove both to promote new products and fight the challenges they are facing. The government should sustain its effort to encourage and strengthen import substitution schemes in various industries in the country. It is possible to turn the eyes of domestic consumers to our domestic products when our competitiveness both in price, quality and other necessary requirements reaches the needed level. As the message at the 6th international trade fair goes, “lets buy made in Ethiopia.”

http://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/editorial/5007-let-s-buy-made-in-Ethiopia

What does education in Ethiopia look like ?

It is widely recognized in Ethiopia that every nation and nationality has the right to learn in its own language at least at the basic education and general primary level. Ethiopia is one of the fast developing countries which has attached due emphasis to education recognizing that it is a pillar to bring about meaningful change in all aspects.

The Ethiopian New Education and Training Policy has ascertained the no tuition of any kind will be charged in the general education system. Nevertheless, there is provision for introducing a system of cost sharing mechanism step by step starting with the second cycle of secondary up to the tertiary education. Although the country has not yet reached the level it deserve with

respect to the education sector, the sector has long been given due emphasis.

On the other hand, it should be noted that ground work for the development of educational is underway in light of the ongoing reform and the framework of the sector.

The development of the education sector in Ethiopia has been at an early stage compared with what is happening in any other developing nations found at the same status. On the eve of the ongoing educational reform process, which began in 1994 following the endorsement of the New Education and Training Policy, “enrolment in primary education stood at about 2.81 million. Compared to African countries, Ethiopia’s enrolment ratios fared among the lowest in primary education and somewhat better though below average in secondary education.

Nevertheless, there are encouraging signs that enrolment at all levels is rising. In addition, the equity and quality issues are being addressed that significant result has been recorded. This is by and large an outcome of the Education Sector Development Programme (ESDP). And a comprehensive intervention package developed by the government in order to mobilize national and international efforts to boost the performance of the system, in particular the primary education sub-sector. It is in fact a document that “translates the policy statement into action” comprising the first five years plan within a 20 years perspective plan.

Production of citizens that possess human and national responsibility, having developed problem solving attitude and capacity making them able to participate in the production activities and production of lower, middle, and higher level skilled manpower that can participate in various fields ofthe economic sector and contribute to the country’s economic growth and social development. Similarly, the mission ofthe Ethiopian Education has been established to be producing good citizenship, ensure educational equity between urban and rural localities, between male and female as well as among National States of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, producing the required middle level skilled manpower at reasonable quality and sufficient quantity by establishing technical-vocational training system and opening new educational institutions, as well as expanding and strengthening existing ones in order to produce professionals at a quantity and quality levels that match the requirement of the country.

This move enables the community to directly participate in the school management and administration with sense ofownership and build manpower capacity at each level of the system to insure successful implementation educational management. According to sources, the current educational reform has been set within this context. It is a total departure from old approach to educational development that has lingered for over 50 years. The educational system has been organized in consistent with the Federal Government’s State Structure Accordingly, each of the 9 National States and the two City Administrations has its bureaus of education responsible for administrating and managing the educational system. Within each of these exists a network of management structure involving Zonal Educational Departments and Woreda Education Offices. The latter is the smallest educational authority responsible for all educational institutions in its territory.

Each State Education Bureaus is both administratively and financially responsible with substantial subsidy from the Federal Government for the general education and technical vocational training as well as teacher training colleges that operate in their respective States. However, tertiary educational institutions are the mandate of the Federal Government’s Ministry of Education.

The management of the education system is thus a collective responsibility of the Ministry of Education and the National Regional State Education Bureaus. The former is mainly responsible for policy and guidelines that help implement general education on the basis of research and policy analysis.

The structure of the Ethiopian education system encompasses formal and non-formal education. Non-formal education covers wide areas of training both for the primary school age children as well as adults who have either dropped out and/or beginners. Though the Ministry of Education is expected to play a leading role, other ministries also get involved depending on the field of training and target of trainees. The formal programme has further been divided into kindergarten, general, technical-vocational and tertiary education programmes.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) processes emphasize the need for stimulating a holistic, integrated and interdisciplinary approach to developing the knowledge and skills needed for a sustainable future as well as changes in values, behaviour,and lifestyles.

This requires us to reorient education systems, policies and practices in order to empower everyone, young and old, to make decisions and act in culturally appropriate and locally relevant ways to address the problems that threaten our common future.

Obviously, an educational process aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the rapidly changing, interdependent and unequal world in which we live. It seeks to engage people in analysis, reflection and action for local and global citizenship and participation. It is about supporting people in understanding, and in acting to transform the social, cultural, political and economic structures which affect their lives and others at personal, community, national and international levels.

And development education is an active learning process, founded on values of solidarity, equality, inclusion and co-operation. It enables people to move from basic awareness of international development priorities and sustainable human development, through understanding of the causes and effects of global issues to personal involvement and informed actions. Development education fosters the full participation of all citizens in world-wide poverty eradication, and the fight against exclusion. It

seeks to influence more just and sustainable economic, social, environmental, human rights based national and international policies. Development education is an educational process aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the rapidly changing, interdependent and unequal world in which we live. It seeks to engage people in analysis, reflection and action for local and global

citizenship and participation.

It is about supporting people in understanding, and in acting to transform the social, cultural, political and economic structures which affect their lives and the lives of others at personal, community, national and international levels. Development education is concerned with knowledge, ideas and understanding of issues that relate to global poverty and underdevelopment. It is an educational process based on learner- centred and interactive methodologies. It has a strong values dimension based on a commitment to social justice and human rights and is oriented towards action to effect change for a more just and equal world.

http://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/society/5021-what-doese-ducatio-n-in-ethiopia-look-like

Bringing water to the African poor

In poor and remote rural areas,   Most Africans still do not have access to clean drinking water. Community water management may be more feasible than either public utilities or commercial companies in Ethiopia.

 Until six years ago, Eugenia Uwamahoro and several of her eight children had to trek two kilometres each day to a river to get about 140 litres of water for drinking, cooking, washing and feeding her four cows. There was a water pump in her village, Nyakabingo, in Rwanda’s Gicumbi district, but it hardly functioned. Then the Rwandan government, with financial support from the UNICEF, repaired the pump, and the community contracted a private manager to maintain it.

“It has improved my life,” Ms. Uwamahoro told African Renewal. Now we can rest.” Not only has the pump saved her considerable time and effort, but she also gets her household’s daily water supply at lower cost than she would have from the private village water carriers who cart it up from the river.

Across the continent, half of all rural households do not have access to clean drinking water; they must rely on water sources that may be unhealthy. The situation is better in urban areas, where 80 per cent of the population is covered. Yet more than half of city and town dwellers do not have a tap in their house or yard, according to World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

The irony is that Africa has abundant fresh water: large lakes, big rivers, vast wetlands and limited but widespread groundwater. African leaders have declared their commitment to achieving universal access to clean water, through their development blueprint, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and through their support for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The seventh MDG is to cut in half, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Some countries, such as Senegal, Gabon, Uganda and South Africa, are significantly increasing the number of new water connections and expanding delivery in urban areas, through both public and private investment.

Africa faces a number of constraints in achieving expanded access to clean water. These include an insufficient number of skilled personnel and effective institutions. In some countries, water scarcity or pollution also pose particular challenges. The most common hindrance is the limited resources available to most countries. “Inadequate financing is the single most important factor affecting the continent’s fresh water delivery abilities,” Peter Akari, chief water policy officer of the African Water Facility at the African Development Bank said.

Governments should also be able to increase their own budgetary allocations somewhat. In addition, a number of countries, at the urging of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have sought to enlist private investment in expanding water facilities.

“There is not one single solution to ensuring everyone gains access to water,” says the UK charity WaterAid. “So it is impossible to say in general terms whether it is a good idea for private, public or community organizations to be involved in the delivery and management of services. Each circumstance should be looked at individually and a suitable pro-poor, affordable and sustainable solution found to fit each community.”

Governments must put in place the right water policies to embrace the participation of the private sector in water provision. With the absence of policies, it becomes difficult.”

Local public companies were formed to manage water in municipalities. They largely achieved their goal of increasing the number of customers served with improved water by 50 per cent and reducing water wastage by over 40 per cent, without raising tariffs.

Some publicly owned water utilities in Africa “are efficiently run using local management structures,” notes Stephen Donkor, a senior adviser on water issues for the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their achievements, he says, counter the negative image held by some that African public utilities are inherently inefficient and can only be improved by the introduction of private owners or contractors.

Some of those without house connections in towns and in some rural communities got water from public standpipes, mostly for free. But these publicly run systems left out millions of people. The expectation was that the private sector, mainly multinational water companies, will come in and take over public water companies, running them as profit-making entities while investing and expanding the network.

Africa thus suffered from decades of under-investment in water facilities. Given this, and the poor management that afflicted utilities in many African countries, the largely publicly run sector could not maintain existing levels of service, let alone make new connections.

But for the public utilities as well, increasing tariffs was also seen as a way to stem financial losses or increase resources for further investment. For many people who never had access to piped water or had previously gotten water from private carters who charged exorbitant prices, the new tariffs may have seemed worth it. But for many of Africa’s poorest, the costs were prohibitive.

But it started losing money for a variety of reasons, including unpaid bills and illegal connections. Maintenance of the system and investments in new equipment and extensions continued to be the responsibility of the public company.

The problem with most Africa’s countries’ water distribution system is not exactly that of management, but rather investment. The World Bank insists that improved management and investment are essential.

For many African governments, the challenge is not only finding more money for vital investments. It is also acquiring the technical know-how to use the resources most effectively and the institutions capable of managing them properly.

In some African countries, especially those emerging from conflict, such capacity is simply not available. About a third of African countries have the capacity to implement investments, if direct financing can be secured. But in the rest, such capacity needs to be built, perhaps as a component of project financing.

Currently, explains a representative the ECA, “Most grants come with informal conditions attached which force African governments to hire experts — consultants, technical management and designers — from donor countries to implement the projects.” This in turn makes it hard for countries to retain national water professionals, he adds. “Leaving out local expertise in the implementation of such projects makes the water sector unattractive, compelling many of the professionals to leave.”

The way forward towards achieving wider access to clean water are, among others, strengthening institutional capacity and governance at all levels, promoting more technology transfer, mobilizing more financial resources and scaling up good practices and lessons learned.

http://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/society/5030-bringing-water-to-the-african-poor

Tap water utilization in urban areas

The responsibility to provide clean water rests with locally-based water services authorities, which regularly monitor the quality of drinking water in urban areas especially. Tap water undergoes treatment which ensures it is free of harmful micro-organisms and contaminants. In some areas drinking water is rich in minerals and may involve a bit of getting used to. Avoid drinking water from streams and rivers, especially in areas where there is human habitation. These may carry water-borne diseases.

Should you find yourself in the unlikely position of not having clean water on hand, contaminated water can be disinfected by boiling for 10 minutes. Another method is to expose water to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours in a transparent container with a small airspace, shaking after filling and every hour after that. Some tap and natural water may have a slight brown tinge from humic acid, which is harmless and does not affect drinking water quality many areas.

Second, assuming that the choice of water treatment reflects quality perception, municipal water sources are not perceived to have higher quality as compared to private sources. Household characteristics, such as higher education and income level, explain in part the choice of treating the water, but there appears to be a location specific factor that should be further investigated.

With the notable exceptions, urban households are more sensitive to water quality issues, as reflected by the decision to treat tap water for domestic consumption. The availability of clean tap water brings major public health benefits in towns and cities in particular. Usually, the same administration that provides tap water is also responsible for the removal and treatment before discharge or reclamation of waster water. On many areas, chemicals containing fluoride are added to the tap water in an effort to improve public dental health. In some countries, this remains a controversial issue for a portion of the population.

Tap water may contain various types of natural but relatively harmless contaminants such as scaling agents like calcium carbonate in hard water and metal icons such as magnesium and iron, and odoriferous gases such as hydrogen sulfide. Local geological conditions affecting groundwater are determining factors of the presence of these substances in water.

The potential of using Effective Microorganisms (EM) to purify waste water, including that of a sewage system, for recycling purposes was evaluated. Long term application of EM reduced the adverse characteristics of waste water. The quality of the treated water was high, which indicated its potential use for reuse without health hazards. It also enhanced crop growth as measured by its effects on cucumber. Application of EM products to tap water also eliminated the ill effects generally found in chlorinated water.

The treated city water was more effective in promoting plant growth. Application of EM to sewage sludge enhanced its value as a fertilizer. Plant growth was enhanced in contrast to application of untreated sludge, which had toxic effects. The value of EM in sanitation programmes and the potential of recycling wastes after treatment for nature farming at a low cost is presented on the basis of these studies.

The collection of garbage, foul smell and the out flow of city sewage are all problems that need immediate solutions to make cities habitable for humankind, and preserve at least a moderately clean and disease free environment. The problems of waste water in cities, along with sewage disposal are being studied by many countries. Most methods offer treatment with toxic chemicals, which in turn makes the treated product more harmful that when contaminated with biological substances. In most cities of the world, this treated water is discharged into waterways or the ocean, thereby polluting the environment in an indirect manner.

Determining the effect of EM the quality of waste water, and the potential of utilizing treated water and sludge of urban sewage plant on plant growth. Before any treatment is done on water, it is best to arm oneself with some information as to what options are available. Obviously, the best choice to improve water quality is to remove the source of contamination. In some cases this may be possible, removal of a leaking underground fuel tank and contaminated soil. However, source removal is impractical in most cases. It is here that treatment options come into play.

When choosing a water treatment plan it is important to keep in mind operating and maintenance costs. Also, remember what needs to be removed from the water. Some chemicals may be easily removed using a filter, while others may need a chemical pump. In either case, the best choice is to contact a professional.

The problem with chlorine is that it is a known poison and the safety of drinking this poison over the long term is highly uncertain. If we are on a municipal system with chlorination, theoretically we are protected against bacteria. However, if the level of chlorination isn’t enough from the municipal source to our tap, bacteria can re-infect the water anywhere along the distribution system. The piping system — whether it’s the mains of our house plumbing — has bacterial growth in it happening all the time.

If people are on a spring or a wall, with no chlorine, then they are very vulnerable to bacterial contamination. Even the most pure sources cannot prevent occasional contamination from animals either dying or defecating in the source, or from neighboring pollution traveling from an adjoining watershed to contaminate the source. Also, the pipes are again a source of bacteria.

Many people do periodic testing on their well or spring source and rely on this method to assure themselves that they have good water. What they don’t realize is that there are a few problems with testing. First, the test is only good for the moment the sample was taken. Bacteria can have blooms, if the conditions are right, which potentially occur hours, days or weeks after the testing and therefore remain undetected. Other casual contamination can occur from animal or human sources, as mentioned above, which the test never detected because the sample was taken before the contamination occurred.

Second, testing can be very expensive to do, depending on what is being tested for. Most basic tests cover bacteria levels of sediment and decaying organic matter, and amount of total dissolved solids. With any extra testing the price goes up per test. Lead, asbestos and specific chemical contaminants are more difficult and therefore much more expensive to test for.

According to sources, the human body is over 70 per cent water. To think that contaminants in our drinking water have little or no bearing on our short term and long term health picture is to ignore reality. Federal, state and local authorities will strive to do their best to ensure that we get the best water possible but they can’t undo all of the damage to our water sources over decades of ignorance and abuse.

It’s up to us to take personal responsibility to safeguard the water we use to drink and prepare our food. That responsibility starts at each household’s kitchen tap. Removing all contaminants at the kitchen or bathroom taps just before consuming the water is the most logical, efficient and economical solution to drinking water purification. In this manner, only the drinking water is filtered.

Today there is enough grassroots consciousness about the dangers of tap water that cheap carbon filters are now available in any hardware store which attach easily to the kitchen faucet. It is likely that such filters get rid of most of the chlorine – for a while.

It is difficult to find one filter that does everything: many reverse osmosis filters take out fluoride, but also the healthy minerals. Many of the high-end carbon filters will not remove fluoride or nitrates, but leave the healthy minerals.

Fluoride is obviously an important one. Find out if the filter you are about to buy removes fluoride, and what percentage. After what we have learned about fluoride, we should expect a filter to remove it, wouldn’t you say?

Most water utilities are unprepared for the effects of climate change─especially in developing countries. Climate change is too far away and too abstract given today’s real and pressing problems. Even utilities in poor countries can take action to prepare for the effects of climate change and that action can be profitable in the short term.

http://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/society/5029-tap-water-utilization-in-urban-areas

Public-private partners at UN pledge to seek funding for sustainable energy for all

The United Nations and the World Bank Wednesday announced a concerted effort by governments, international agencies, civil society and the private sector to scale up efforts to provide sustainable energy to all, with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling for massive new investments in the face of a rising “global thermostat.”

“Sustainable energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, social equity, a stable climate and a healthy environment,” UN news quoted him as telling reporters after co-chairing with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim a meeting of the Advisory Board of his Sustainable Energy For All initiative, in which he called for action in four areas: finance, energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“We are now starting in countries in which demand for action is most urgent,” he said. “In some of these countries, only one in 10 people has access to electricity. It is time for that to change.”

Launched two years ago, the initiative seeks to achieve three inter-linked goals by 2030: universal access to modern energy, doubling energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy, thus providing services such as lighting, clean cooking and mechanical power in developing countries, as well as improved energy efficiency, especially in the world’s highest-energy consuming countries.

Mr. Ban praised achievements already attained such as Brazil’s ‘Light for All’ programme that has reached 15 million people, Norway’s commitment of 2 billion kroner ($330 million) in 2014 for global renewable energy and efficiency, and Bank of America’s Green Bond that has raised $500 million for three years as part of its 10-year $50 billion environmental business commitment.

He also lauded OPEC’s (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) announcement of a $1 billion fund for energy access.

“Now we need others to follow and build on these commitments. Achieving the goals of Sustainable Energy For All needs massive new and additional investment,” he said, stressing the initiative’s crucial roles in achieving overall sustainable development, reducing poverty and raising opportunity, combating climate change and “laying the foundations for the future we want.”

“The global thermostat is rising, threatening development goals and economies small and large,” he added. “It is clear that we need a transformation in how we produce, use and share energy.”

The meeting was the Advisory Board’s second, bringing together 42 representatives of business, finance, governments and civil society in a global public-private partnership.

It is co-chaired by Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Charles Holliday, Chairman of Bank of America. Other members include Peter Löscher, chief executive of Siemens, Ibrahim Mayaki, the chief executive of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and Petter Nore from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Mr. Yumkella pointed to widespread support not only for Sustainable Energy for All from numerous partners but also for energy to be at the heart of the global development agenda beyond 2015, the deadline for the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“Eighty-one countries are now participating in this initiative,” he said. “Their action is complemented by that of private sector companies and associations, as well as civil society groups. We will continue to work with key stakeholders to achieve sustainable energy for all, to drive action that transforms lives.”

http://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/news/5006-public-private-partners-at-un-pledge-to-seek-funding-for-sustainable-energy-for-all