The value of vouchers: Innovation and empowerment in Iraq

Corrie Sissons ICT4D, Protection

Corrie Sissons introduces a new e-voucher technology helping to meet the unique needs of households living through the Iraq crisis. The changing nature of humanitarian crises in a modern world means that agencies like Oxfam need to adapt to ensure we meet needs in an effective way. Oxfam in Iraq has been piloting a new approach that does just that; …

Podcast – Tiger worms: An innovative solution to sanitation

Angus McBride Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

[buzzsprout episode=’2559256′ player=’true’] In the first of our new podcast series on humanitarian learning, we’re diving into the world of tiger worms. Oxfam’s Sophie Mack Smith talks to Angus McBride, Public Health Engineering Team Leader. Speaking to her from Ethiopia, Angus tells us how these worms are being tested in refugee camps and why they could be the answer to some of …

Help! My toilet is sinking!

Lousie Medland Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Louise Medland, Carol Brady and Jessica Fullwood-Thomas examine the long term effects of annual flooding and waterlogging on people’s lives in Bangladesh.  Heavy rainfall during July and August in 2011 caused severe flooding in southern districts of Bangladesh, particularly Satkhira, Jessore, Khulna and Cox’s Bazar. Close to 90% of the population were temporarily displaced from their homes and were forced …

Unlocking the potential of social accountability to improve water and sanitation services

Carmen Fernández Fernández Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Achieving the targets within Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG) will require huge infrastructure investment to improve services and to extend them to those they currently do not serve. Social accountability Sustained universal coverage and water security will also need financial and institutional strengthening. This is particularly challenging for the water sector as it is highly dependent (75%) on donor funding …

Solar pumps, the simple solution we’ve been looking for?

Brian McSorely Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Brian McSorely introduces to solar pumps, the developments he’s seen over his career and his hopes for the technology for the future. Whilst World Water Day is a time to remind ourselves of the injustice that up to one billion people still lack access to safe water, this year I am going to focus on the positive achievements that I’ve …

Building a human economy requires more than a quick fix to corporate governance

Alex Maitland General, Inequality

Alex Maitland explores what business can do to help make a fairer economy that works for everyone.  Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged to “build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few”. Quite a task given that Britain has become one of the most unequal developed countries in the world. The private sector employs 80% of …

Role models for the next generation: women and democracy in Morocco

Nikki van der Gaag Gender

We arrive in the village in Larache province in Morocco via several wrong turns and a long bumpy earth road that wasn’t really a road at all, to find a huge tent erected on a patch of grass. A large number of women are all shouting animatedly into a microphone. As we enter the tent, an older woman is speaking: …

Winners of the WEE leadership awards 2017 announced!

Vincent Trousseau Gender, Women's Economic Empowerment

Today, Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam International Executive Director, has announced the four winners of the WEE Leadership Awards 2017 organised by Oxfam’s Knowledge Hub on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Agriculture! In her message to the winners and nominees, Winnie Byanyiama, Oxfam International’s Executive Director, underlines the importance of their contributions to Oxfam’s work and beyond. We received nominations for 43 inspiring …