Short Bio
A senior development and WASH expert, he has worked with the national government, with international and national development agencies including WaterAid, CARE, Oxfam, WSSCC, SPWD and AKRSP. Has led research and advocacy initiatives in livelihoods and WASH, and contributed to the development of urban capacity development frameworks and approaches. Currently as Director Water Program at the Centre for Science and Environment New Delhi, he works on the research to policy and practice continuum and leads the rural and urban water program in India, with commitment to develop a global south research agenda in water and waste water, in partnership with organisations in Africa and South Asia.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
Motivated to provide a governance and thought leadership to Susana 2.0 WASH global agenda. Increase representation of global south in the development of WASH programs and advocacy. To contextualise the water sensitive urban design and planning agenda for the global south city priorities – for a new urban water and waste water work. To develop a second line of leadership in WASH community and in Susana. To prioritise and to volunteer mentoring young WASH professionals.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the SuSanA community?
I was part of the Task Force to restructure Susana 2.0 where I advocated for a change in focus of Susana 2.0 from a learning and sharing networking path, to a more policy and advocacy future. Retaining the old and adding a new element.
Advocacy to promote the issues of global south WASH countries that are falling though the cracks. For example UN organisations and even country level NGOs are reluctant to address accountability of governments in WASH sector. There is a lot of rhetoric on City Wide Inclusive Sanitation(CWIS) and Water Sensitive Urban Design and Planning(WSUDP) that is bereft of accountability and governance in any concrete sense. It refrains from mentioning a real estate private builder and political nexus leading to unplanned urbanization of global south cities and the consequent failure of water, waste water and storm water management. Cities of global south face the twin and simultaneous challenges of water scarcity and heat in summer, and flooding during rains.
I would like to continue the learning and networking agenda of Susana. But with a more energised and expanded Working Groups that have global south representation in the Leads and Co Leads and a more active working group engagement to develop and deliver on learning agendas.
