Welcome to Waterscape International Group
Sunday, 21 November 2010 09:47
administrator
Waterscape International Group is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization formed in California for research and educational purposes. We are interested in developing forward-looking strategies for understanding and managing environmental problems, in particular those relating to water resources and public health. Our group is composed of members from California, Washington DC, and Lithuania at present. We are seeking research and project partnerships in the United States, Eastern Europe, and the Newly Independent States.
Waterscape International Group is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization formed in California for research and educational purposes. We are interested in developing forward-looking strategies for understanding and managing environmental problems, in particular those relating to water resources and public health. Our group is composed of members from California, Washington DC, and Lithuania at present.
We are seeking research and project partnerships in the United States, Eastern Europe, and the Newly Independent States.
Our current goals are: 1) to engage in international research and projects in these areas and 2) to provide technical expertise to governments and organizations to initiate and carry-out projects and research in these areas. Please contact us if you have any questions or are interested in developing a partnership.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 04 October 2011 17:08
USAID Responds to Complex Emergency in Libya
Tuesday, 04 October 2011 17:07
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In mid-February, following civilian demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt, the people of Libya began protesting against the Muammar Gaddafi-led Government of Libya. As unrest spread throughout the country, Libyan security forces under the authority of Muammar Gaddafi responded to protesting crowds with violence that continues to escalate. In addition to death and injury, the conflict has resulted in large-scale refugee outflows; protection concerns; fear of food, fuel, and medical supply shortages; and global outcry from the international community regarding human rights violations.
On March 1, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) activated a regional humanitarian assessment team (HAT) and stood up a Washington, D.C.,-based Response Management Team to support the assessment team. On March 2, U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Gordon Gray declared a disaster due to increasing humanitarian needs on the Tunisia–Libya border. On March 8, the HAT transitioned to a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to respond to increasing needs; the DART is deployed in three countries in the region.
USAID is funding U.N. agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations to implement humanitarian activities in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. USAID grantees are providing food, medical supplies, and non-food items. USAID has also pre-positioned additional food and medical supplies in the region to respond to emerging humanitarian needs.
For more information, click here.
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World Bank: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Some Tools, Methods and Approaches
Sunday, 25 March 2012 02:50
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Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Some Tools, Methods and Approaches (World Bank Resource)
Government officials, development managers and civil society are increasingly aware of the value of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of development activities. M&E provides a better means of learning from past experience, improving service delivery, planning and allocating resources, and demonstrating results as part of accountability to key stakeholders. Yet there is often confusion about what M&E entails. This booklet therefore presents a sample of M&E tools, methods and approaches, including several data collection methods, analytical frameworks, and types of evaluation and review. For each of these, a summary is provided of the following: their purpose and use; advantages and disadvantages; costs, skills, and time required; and key references. The booklet discusses:
- Performance indicators
- The logical framework (logframe) approach
- Theory-based evaluation
- Formal surveys
- Rapid appraisal methods
- Participatory methods
- Public expenditure tracking surveys
- Impact evaluation
- Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis
Last Updated on Sunday, 25 March 2012 02:53
World Bank Report: Conflict and cooperation in managing international water resources
Saturday, 05 February 2011 12:18
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World Bank Report: Conflict and cooperation in managing international water resources
Water is often not confined within territorial boundaries so conflicts may arise about shared water resources. When such boundaries lie within a federal state, conflicts may be peacefully and efficiently resolved under law, and if the state fail to reach an agreement, the federal government may impose one. Similar international conflicts are more difficult to resolve because no third party has the authority to enforce an agreement among national states, let alone impose one. Such international agreements must be self-enforcing. Efficient outcomes may emerge, but are not guaranteed. International law may emphasize the doctrine of"equitable utilization"of water resources, but there is no clear definition of what this implies. In the Colorado River case, the polluter (the United States) agreed to pay for all the costs of providing the downstream neighbor (Mexico) with clean water. In the Rhine River case, the downstream country (the Netherlands) agreed to pay part - but not all - of the costs of cleanup. In Colombia River Treaty case, both parties agreed to incur construction costs on their side of the border and share evenly the gross (not the net) benefit. This division may well have yielded a smaller net benefit to the United States than unilateral development would have, but the United States ratified the treaty. Negotiated outcomes need not to maximize net benefits for all countries.
Read more...
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