Next Tuesday, March 22nd, the world will observe World Water Day, a day set by the United Nations to focus attention on the importance of clean, safe and sustainable water resources.   IHC is a strong advocate for greater access to water and sanitation services in cities, especially for the very poor. We recognize the important connection between Goal 6 and Goal 11 of the Global Goals, which focus on water and sanitation and on sustainable and inclusive cities respectively. Lack of access, together with poor quality and high costs for water or sanitation in urban areas, place significant stress on the very poor. Lack of access to either adequate is a core part of the UN definition of a slum, which provides a critical linkage to Goal 11. 

The UN predicts that two-thirds of the world will live in cities by 2050, with 90% of growth taking place in the global south. The complexity of providing water and sanitation in dense urban neighborhoods will only become more apparent as need continues to grow. Water is truly a global issue, both rural and urban, and a s the world grapples with the ideas of inclusive and sustainable urbanization, water and sanitation are critical to ensuring greater urban equity for all.

We therefore hope you will join IHC on March 22nd to 

Go #Blue4Water. 

Blue4Water asks people all over the world to post a photo of themselves wearing blue and use the hashtag #Blue4Water.  Don't have a blue article of clothing? That's okay! Post a meaningful photo that shows why you care about clean water - a photo of a water drop, a photo of your blue coffee mug, whatever!

This Tuesday IHC, in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson Center's Urban Sustainability Lab, USAID, the World Bank and Cities Alliance, hosted the concluding workshop of the 2015 Urban Poverty Essay Competition. 

Three students traveled to Washington, to present their research related to the poor living in cities in the developing world, and were joined by three expert commentators. 

All three panelists highlighted specific interventions that aim to create a more equitable and inclusive urban fabric. Common themes throughout the workshop were the importance of community inclusion, finding the correct incentives that encourage successful public and private partnerships, and ensuring that an intervention addresses actual need rather than simply shifting it.

Read more commentary on the workshop here. The webcast of the event will be available soon here. In the meantime, read more  read the papers from the three winners, in addition to other finalists in the published book here.