Lunch presentation on April 11, 2008, co-sponsored by CWS and iEARN, the International Education and Resource Network. Photo: Lynne West, CWS

June 9, 2008

Church World Service works with partners, including Mr. Gaim Kebreab of Norwegian Church Aid, on its Water for All campaign. Water for All supports community-based water projects and building local community capacity to inform national water and sanitation policies, and provides a collective ecumenical voice in the global public debate on water and sanitation issues at events such as the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).

The Commission met at the United Nations in New York City, May 5-16, 2008, to examine barriers and constraints in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and other UN commitments, in relation to agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification, and Africa.

"International organizations, such as the World Bank, have a role to play, but they are not the key to achieving the Millennium Development Goal on water and sanitation. Local groups are the key,” emphasized Mr. Gaim Kebreab at the roundtable discussion, "Engaging People in Sustainability: The Role of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue," held on May 12 as a related event to CSD.

The importance of community engagement was highlighted by Ms. Nilima Vyawahare, of iEARN-India, at a CWS-sponsored lunch on April 11, 2008. In talking about improving the environmental condition of rivers in India, she explained, “The government is stepping into this because the people are pushing them.” Vyawahare is one of several educators and students from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and the United States participating in the Four Rivers, One World program sponsored by iEARN, the International Education And Resource Network. As a part of this program, students learn how to responsibly advocate for environmental enhancement.

Educators at the lunch were eager to learn about CWS partners and their funding, such as the Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) in India, which receives funding from CWS and the Presbyterian Hunger Program for its sustainable agricultural program. CASA provides training to enable people's organizations to hold government officials accountable.

The work of the CWS Water for All campaign and others bore fruit at the Commission meeting this year. The value of local involvement in water policy and programs was stressed by many including non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The statement (PDF) of Mr. Indra Raj, Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources of India, was included in the Chairman’s Summary (PDF), which will be used to recommend policies for next year’s meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development.