NGO network Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) contributes to the workshop “Towards a Green Economy — The Water-Food-Energy Nexus” with two case studies from Georgia and Kyrgyzstan “Linking Water & Sanitation to Agriculture and Energy —Two Case Studies from Georgia and Kyrgyzstan” (http://www.wecf.eu/english/articles/2012/08/worldwaterweek-wecf.php).

Georgia and Kyrgyzstan are two post-Soviet countries where the infrastructure, especially water supply, adequate sanitation and wastewater management have been deteriorating increasingly during the last 20 years. The situation in rural areas is dramatic and the people are left alone with insufficient support from the local authorities to ensure their infrastructure. Households in rural and peri-urban communities largely suffer from energy poverty. They rarely have enough energy to produce heating and warm water in their homes. The lack of fuel has caused localized environmental problems such as deforestation for fuel, cutting of windbreaks, burning dung instead of using it for fertilizer, resulting in soil degradation. Their food security and income are based on subsistence farming. There is a high rate of unemployment and people lack of ideas for business and marketing, and alternatives solutions for sustaining livelihoods. WECF, RCDA and KAWS have been working together for 5 years to improve the living conditions of the population and to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas.

The holistic approach to link water, sanitation, energy and farming through a community based system is innovative. Through capacity building programmes, the trained craftsmen have the opportunity to set up their own businesses (constructing toilets, solar collectors, solar dryers for fruits and vegetables or providing equipment for the technologies).

The holistic approach to link water, sanitation, energy and farming through a community based set up is innovative for the region.

In the Georgian case study, there are NGO based resource centers which provide advisory services on construction, operation & maintenance for the infrastructure technologies (Ecosan toilets, solar collectors for warm water, solar driers for fruits). For urine diverting dry toilets (UDDT), people have the choice of different designs, a concrete or ceramic UDDT toilet seat, UDDT devices made of metal and slabs made of tiles can be purchased. In the villages Khamiskuri and Kheta in Western Georgia, the toilet design has been increasingly improved and adapted to make the UDDT more affordable for even the poorest people. The centers also support the construction of solar collectors for the households built with local material or deliver and install the solar collector. The same for the solar fruit dryers.

In this Kyrgyz case study, the community based drinking water user unions (CDWUU) provide the same service for the villagers. The installed resource centers provide the technical background for the technologies where the service is provided and the technologies further developed.

Demonstration centers: In both countries, demonstration centers were set up so that the villagers can see hands on how the technologies are working. This is a crucial aspect as most people are firstly sceptical about new technologies. The demonstration centers are usually at public places, such as CDWUU offices, post office, village health care center and schools and they are fully funded by donors. Villagers can there have a look and test the new technologies and decide if they want to purchase and install it in their homes.

Initial community mobilisation and trainings: To introduce the community based approach and technologies, initial community mobilisation and adapted trainings about the technologies are needed. The initial community mobilisation is a process by the local NGOs, best on street level. For awareness raising and capacity building, the communities and service centers are trained.

To see the poster please use link: "Linking Water & Sanitation to Agriculture and Energy – Two Case Studies from Georgia and Kyrgyzstan".