History of the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG)

In the Rotary year 2003-04 the then President of Rotary International asked Rotary clubs and districts to emphasize water and sanitation in their programs. Initially he created the Water Resource Group whose function was to provide information and support to clubs wishing to embark on "watsan" projects. It soon became apparent however that clubs needed more. They needed access to the most appropriate technologies, to outside funding and to expertise, none of which were available within the traditional Rotary structure.

Most important, it became apparent to Rotarians and to potential funding partners that the original Rotary model - many small projects with limited community involvement or empowerment - would not have the impact many Rotarians were seeking. Nor could the supply-driven focus of many clubs achieve any significant degree of sustainability.

Thus was born the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG)−Rotarians working to improve life and livelihood through the provision of safe water and sanitation. WASRAG´s mandate is:

"To provide information, support and encouragement to Rotarians, Rotary Clubs and districts to take active roles in projects/programs to develop safe water and sanitation as a means of promoting health and alleviating hunger."

To fulfill this mandate WASRAG´s goals are to:

• Create awareness among Rotarians of the importance of conservation and sustainability and of local and global water issues;
• Raise awareness of the need for, and benefits of, safe water and sanitation;
• Develop a compendium of best practices to ensure sustainability and cost-effectiveness;
• Distribute information on appropriate technologies for supplying, conserving and purifying water and for sanitation;
• Build and encourage mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations, corporations, agencies and NGOs sharing common water and sanitation related goals;
• Identify alternative sources of financing to complement The Rotary Foundation e.g. private foundations, corporations, government agencies;
• Assist in identifying and formulating programs and projects that will promote sustainability;
• Implement mechanisms to determine the effectiveness of projects;
• Create a network of experts accessible to Rotarians and Rotary clubs;
• Provide training and education on water/sanitation technologies and issues;
• Facilitate the exchange of information via a web-based forum a forum;
• Establish a bibliography of relevant materials, references etc.;
• Give information on relevant conferences;
• Act as advocates on water issues;
• Support Rotary clubs seeking financial and/or technical assistance;
• Foster "Centers of Excellence" on water/sanitation;
• Operate a web-site and produce regular newsletters or bulletins;
• Implement procedures to ensure sustainability and cost-effectiveness;

WASRAG was authorized by Rotary International to carry out this mission in February 2007 and was officially launched on World Water Day, March 22nd, 2007 at the National Press Club, New York. Since then it has facilitated some 200 projects−helping clubs find partners, helping to ensure sustainability, stressing the importance of a needs-driven approach, developing best practices, encouraging a holistic, integrated approach in which water is not the end in itself but is rather the means to a better life and livelihood in the community. Most importantly it links water and sanitation to personal hygiene, better health, empowering the community - especially women, irrigation and agriculture, education and literacy and, ultimately, child mortality.

Posted: November 2008