Rainwater Harvesting

ACTION PLAN:

International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance

Report from Implementation Conference Discussion

25 and 26 August 2002

1. Introduction

The group, representative of all continents, met to discuss a proposed initiative to establish a global collective. A list of the participants is attached. The proposal initially considered by the group aimed to specifically focus on:

	Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting using community buildings; and,
	Surface Rainwater Harvesting for groundwater recharge.

While the group saw merit in the proposal, it reached the conclusion that it would be more appropriate to establish a broader initiative. Certain individual members of the group gave their support to the original proposal.

The group agreed to establish the Global Rainwater Harvesting Partnership. It would be a global network for all with an interest in the field of Rainwater Harvesting. The Partnership would initially use the Internet as a basis for communication, although its activities would develop beyond this over time

2. Higher Order Purpose

The group agreed that the Partnership would have the higher order purpose of serving:

	The right to water for people and ecosystems;
	The interests of poor communities; and,
	Gender equity.

3. Objectives

	The Partnership would aim:
	To focus on all aspects of Rainwater Harvesting;
	To promote Rainwater Harvesting;
	To raise the issue on the sustainable development agenda;
	To exchange ideas and experience;
	To influence policy at the international, national and local levels;
	To provide a vehicle for creating partnerships; and,
	To promote a globally representative approach, allowing regional and other variety.

4. Initial Participants

A list of initial participants in the partnership were identified. This is attached as an annexure to this document.

5. Facilitators

The group identified facilitators for the group who would facilitate the initial establishment activities of the network as set out in this document. The facilitators are:

	Geoffrey Smith of Australia; and,
	Margarita Pacheco of Colombia/Switzerland.

6. Seed Funding

Blue Planet Run, a US-based NGO, undertook to provide initial seed funding of $ 50 000 on condition that an appropriate budget was provided for it. The facilitators will prepare a draft budget for the set-up activities and circulate this to group members for comment and approval.

7. Internet Communication

The facilitators will establish an email and web site based communication mechanism for the use of participants.

8. Structuring

The Partnership would be incorporated in Australia.

The facilitators will prepare a proposal on matters related to the structure of the Partnership and conduct a process of seeking consensus on it among the proposed participants. The following matters will be addressed in this way:

	Name;
	The precise focus;
	Constitution;
	Legal Status;
	Governance;
	Roles and Responsibilities;
	Membership Criteria and Procedures;
	Accounting and Reporting Procedures; and
	Branding and Identity.

The process of considering these matters will be concluded by the end of 2002 with the intention that the Partnership be formally incorporated and its first members formally signing up within this period.

9. Activities and Budget

Detail regarding the ongoing activities and budget of the Partnership will be determined through the implementation of the following steps:

	A call will be made for proposed activities and associated budgets;
	The proposals received will be circulated to participants for debate and prioritisation through an internet-based consensus seeking process; and,
	A draft budget will consequently be prepared for fundraising purposes.

Annexures

One: Participants in the Group Discussion

Two: Proposed Initial Participants for the Partnership

Annex 1: Participants. Working group on Rainwater Harvesting

First Name	Last Name	Organization	Country
Danford	Banda	Copperbelt University	Zambia
Maria	Branco	Fundação Joaquim Nabuco	Brazil
Mark	Brantingham	The Australian Association of YOGA in daily life	Australia
Jason	Connelly	The Australian Association of YOGA in daily life	Australia
Derick	Du Toit	AWARD	South Africa
Ahmed	Farah	CIDRI	Kenya
Elizabeth Sita	Fletcher	The Australian Association of YOGA in daily life	Australia
Surjeer	Kaur Chahal	SHRG Sikh Human Rights Group	UK
Crispino	Lobo	Watershed Organisation Trust	India
Bancy	Mati	Kenya Rainwater Association	Kenya
Sorssa Natea	Merga	DCG / CARE	Ethiopia
Jethro	Monareng	AWARD	South Africa
Ravi	Narayanan	WaterAid	UK
Ekron	Nyoni	Dabane Trust	Zimbabwe
Margarita	Pacheco-Montes	New Synergies in Development	Switzerland
Sharon	Pollard	AWARD	South Africa
Bunker	Roy	Barefoot College	India
Mathew	Santosh	LEAD India	India
Laxman	Singh	Barefoot College	India
Geoffrey	Smith	The Australian Association of YOGA in daily life	Australia
Shiney	Varghese	Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy	US
Mario	Vasconez	Centro de Investigaciones "CIUDAD"	Ecuador
Jin	Zidell	Blue Planet Run Foundation	US

Annex 2: Proposed initial Participants in the Partnership

	AWARD
	Barefoot College
	Blue Planet Run
	CIC
	CIDRI
	Colegia Verde de Villa de Leiva
	Colombian Confederation of NGOs
	CSE
	Dabane Trust
	DCG/CARE
	Gender and Water Alliance
	Gift Economy Network
	Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
	International Secretariat for Water
	Joacim Nabuco Foundation

	LEAD
	New Synergies in Development
	OzGreen
	Research Programme on Sustainable Solid Waste Management and Sanitation
	SHRG
	Southern and Eastern African Rainwater Network, including organisations representing the following countries: Botswana; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Rwanda; [Somaliland]; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe
	WOTR
	YIDL
	Water Aid