The WatSan Contiguum

Towards a more dynamic Interaction between Emergency relief, Rehabilitation and Development

Although the importance of WatSan in relief, rehabilitation and development interventions is being widely acknowledged, successful interactions between them remain largely a challenge. Often, the humanitarian aid and the development cooperation communities are considered as having opposed visions on the issue, but most probably they have much more in common than they perceive. The question is how to foster successful interaction between development initiatives and humanitarian aid responses in the WatSan sector.

Forty-eight humanitarian aid and development specialists from around the world gathered in Gwatt (Switzerland) in June 2009 for a week of intensive exchange on this issue within the framework of the 25th AGUASAN workshop. Based on the analysis of different case studies (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Moldova, Chad, Afghanistan, Haiti), the participants jointly developed:

• Contiguum guiding principles - the term Contiguum designating the simultaneous occurrence of various forms of assistance (relief, rehabilitation and development) within the same place
• A model for the planning and assessment of Watsan development programmes (integrating Contiguum issues)

• A series of practical recommendations to facilitate a successful transition from relief to development

The results of the workshopare available as online/downloadable PPT presentation with linked background documents at www.aguasan.ch.