Difference between revisions of "Rural Water Supply Network"

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{{Orgbox |
 
{{Orgbox |
 
name = Rural Water Supply Network|
 
name = Rural Water Supply Network|
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class = Network NGO|
 
class = Network NGO|
 
keywork = research facilitation, <br /> technology development, <br />commercial technology application, <br />consultancy |
 
keywork = research facilitation, <br /> technology development, <br />commercial technology application, <br />consultancy |
website = [http://www.practicafoundation.nl www.practicafoundation.nl]
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website = [http://www.rwsn.ch www.rwsn.ch]
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''PRACTICA foundation''' aims to facilitate research, development and commercial application of technology in the field of water and energy in developing countries.
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'''The Rural Water Supply Network''' (RWSN) functions as a global knowledge network with its secretariat hosted by a Skat Foundation, a resource centre based in Switzerland. It aims to facilitate the provision of safe water and sanitation to the poor and deprived through the promotion of sustainable technologies that are affordable and responsive to the needs of the users.
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RWSN blends a strong engineering capacity with the principles of balanced development, including institutional, financial and social aspects. The network acts as a depository of knowledge and provides support to sector partners; it pools the experience and expertise of its members and places the results of their work in the public domain through the production of publications and international specifications. RWSN concentrates on affordable, groundwater-related technologies that are easy to maintain and acts as a focal point for standardisation of low cost water supply technologies.  
  
PRACTICA evolves within large development projects that include the introduction and dissemination of appropriate technologies as manual well drilling and rope pumps. PRACTICA supports the technology components and implements training courses and capacity building for the public and private sector.
 
  
Other areas of work include product development, applied and scientific research, feasibility studies and consultancy services.
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Assisting sector partners initiatives through knowledge sharing and dissemination is at the core of all RWSN activities. The organisation helps in cross-fertilisation of experiences and prevents "reinventing the wheel". RWSN helps in the preparation of case studies, technical notes and field monitoring reports. It provides technical back-up on low cost technologies and assists in the introduction of implementation procedures.  
  
The process of introducing low-cost technology to private manufacturers / workshops and end-users is labour-intensive. Even if in a region a particular technology ultimately catches on, it takes a relatively high investment to get to a ‘critical mass’. PRACTICA aims to accelerate this process by taking care of the ‘introductory and dissemination process’. At the same time PRACTICA has a general role as a clearing house, advocate and source of practical knowledge on promising new affordable technologies and services in the water and energy sector.
 
  
 
== Main activities ==
 
== Main activities ==

Revision as of 11:29, 16 July 2008

Rural Water Supply Network
Logo RWSN Switzerland.JPG
Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland
Type: NGO
Class: Network NGO
Key work: research facilitation,
technology development,
commercial technology application,
consultancy
Website: www.rwsn.ch

The Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) functions as a global knowledge network with its secretariat hosted by a Skat Foundation, a resource centre based in Switzerland. It aims to facilitate the provision of safe water and sanitation to the poor and deprived through the promotion of sustainable technologies that are affordable and responsive to the needs of the users. RWSN blends a strong engineering capacity with the principles of balanced development, including institutional, financial and social aspects. The network acts as a depository of knowledge and provides support to sector partners; it pools the experience and expertise of its members and places the results of their work in the public domain through the production of publications and international specifications. RWSN concentrates on affordable, groundwater-related technologies that are easy to maintain and acts as a focal point for standardisation of low cost water supply technologies.


Assisting sector partners initiatives through knowledge sharing and dissemination is at the core of all RWSN activities. The organisation helps in cross-fertilisation of experiences and prevents "reinventing the wheel". RWSN helps in the preparation of case studies, technical notes and field monitoring reports. It provides technical back-up on low cost technologies and assists in the introduction of implementation procedures.


Main activities

  • Increase access to basic water and sanitation services
  • Maximise the impact of investment through successful application of cost-effective technologies
  • Institutionalise technology selection and standardisation in a demand responsive environment
  • Address institutional aspects of co-operation between all stakeholders
  • Reduce well drilling costs
  • Improve sustainability of existing water supply facilities through ensured supply chains for spare parts.
  • Mobilise additional resources, especially at local level.


External links

Practica Foundation website