Synopsis
IRC is an international think-and-do tank that works with governments, NGOs, entrepreneurs and people around the world to find long-term solutions to the global crisis in water, sanitation and hygiene services. At the heart of its mission is the aim to move from short-term interventions to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services. With over 45 years of experience, IRC runs projects in more than 25 countries and large-scale programmes in seven focus countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is supported by a team of over 80 staff across the world.
Episodes
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Why integration of WASH and nutrition matters
06/05/2025 Duration: 14minListen to this podcast with Namukolo Covic on the need to integrate WASH and nutrition interventions. Namukolo Covic is the President of the African Nutrition Society and the Director General's Representative to Ethiopia for the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the CGIAR Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. Namukolo Covic is well known in the nutrition field and, although currently based in Ethiopia, she is originally from South Africa and has worked in many countries. She is an avid advocate for making food production and consumption processes more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. In this episode, Namukolo Covic talks about key opportunities for integrating WASH and nutrition to create healthier, more resilient communities. She reflects on: • How inadequate WASH practices affect nutritional outcomes in vulnerable populations • What is needed to accelerate impact at scale in the nutrition space • Advice for the next generation of practitioners and changemakers work
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From exclusion to inclusion
02/05/2025 Duration: 13minListen to this podcast with Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh, on why strengthening WASH systems is inherently an issue of social justice. She gives examples on how they are creating inclusive services in Bangladesh; the topic of the online course "Gender equity and social inclusion: The basics''. This podcast was recorded for free the online course Gender equity and social inclusion: The basics on the WASH Systems Academy. Go to www.washsystemsacademy.org
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Ethiopia's Bold Push to End Stunting
02/05/2025 Duration: 08minIn this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Sisay Sinamo Boltena, Senior Program Manager for Ethiopia’s Seqota Declaration—a pioneering initiative to end stunting through integrated, multi-sectoral action. Dr. Sisay reflects on: -What it takes to turn bold national commitments into coordinated action across ministries -The challenges and lessons from Ethiopia’s journey so far -What it really means to scale integration nationwide—and the systems being built to sustain it This podcast was recorded for the online course 'WASH and Nutrition Nexus: The basics'. The objective of the online course is to provide knowledge and skills on practical tools to create better more impactful integrated interventions together. The online course has been created by IRC in collaboration with the Max Foundation, the Healthy Consortium Ethiopia, Plan International, the Seqota Declaration Programme Ethiopia, the Government of Ethiopia and the Right2Grow. To access this free course of 2.5 hours go to: www.washsystemsacademy.org
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Why integrating WASH and Nutrition is a game-changer
29/04/2025 Duration: 03minIn this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Sisay Sinamo Boltena, Senior Program Manager for Ethiopia’s Seqota Declaration, why integrating WASH and Nutrition is a game-changer—and how this course can help drive impact. This podcast was recorded for the online course 'WASH and Nutrition Nexus: The basics'. The objective of the online course is to provide knowledge and skills on practical tools to create better more impactful integrated interventions together. The online course has been created by IRC in collaboration with the Max Foundation, the Healthy Consortium Ethiopia, Plan International, the Seqota Declaration Programme Ethiopia, the Government of Ethiopia and the Right2Grow. To access this free course of 2.5 hours go to: www.washsystemsacademy.org
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Guiding principles when planning or implementing GESI initiatives
15/04/2025 Duration: 07minListen to this podcast with Ruchika Shiva on what these guiding principles mean in practise. Ruchika Shiva is the Director of IRC's South Asia Regional Programme. In this podcast, our podcast host Arabella Northey talks with Euphresia Luseka about how to implement human rights. This podcast was recorded for free the online course Gender equity and social inclusion: The basics on the WASH Systems Academy. Go to www.washsystemsacademy.org
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Realising the human right to water and sanitation
20/03/2025 Duration: 13minListen to this podcast with Euphresia Luseka of the Rural Water and Sanitation Network (RWSN). Euphresia Luseka is a Water Governance Specialist and Co-Lead of the RWSN Leave No-One Behind Theme. In this podcast, our podcast host Arabella Northey talks with Euphresia Luseka about how to implement human rights. This podcast was recorded for free the online course Gender equity and social inclusion: The basics on the WASH Systems Academy. Go to www.washsystemsacademy.org
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Incorporating Gender equity and social inclusion in strong WASH systems
20/03/2025 Duration: 14minIn this podcast, our podcast host Arabella Northey talks Timothy Ibeawuchi, a Senior WASH Policy and Governance and Advisor at Self Help Africa in Nigeria, shares his experiences. This podcast was recorded for free the online course Gender equity and social inclusion: The basics on the WASH Systems Academy. Go to www.washsystemsacademy.org
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Regulating wastewater in Manila
18/02/2025 Duration: 06minHow do you enforce regulation of wastewater? Listen to this podcast with Patrick Ty, Chief Regulator at Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System in the capital city of the Philippines, Manila. He talks about regulating wastewater in the Philippines and shares his experiences on ensuring that the urban poor don’t get left behind. This podcast was originally recorded for the online course 'WASH systems strengthening for urban Asia and the Pacific'. For more information see www.washsystemsacademy.org
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Building bridges
22/07/2024 Duration: 05minThis podcast is part of "Building WASH resilience, conflict sensitivity and peace" a free online course created by a partnership between the German WASH network and IRC. It aims to put the “Joint Operational Framework: WASH Resilience, Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding” into action. Learn more at washsystemsacademy.org
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Building climate resilient WASH projects
01/07/2024 Duration: 11minListen to this five-minute podcast with Lucien Damiba of WaterAid, where he shares experience designing a climate-resilient wash intervention. Lucien Damiba is a WaterAid Regional Wash and Climate Change Adviser for West Africa. He works with WaterAid teams, governments and partners to support the effective design and implementation of climate-resilient WASH projects throughout West Africa. This podcast is part of the free online course "Climate-resilient WASH services", designed to give you a better understanding on how we can collectively build more climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. The course is brought to you by WaterAid, IRC and Water For People. Find out more at WASH Systems Academy.org
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When disaster strikes
19/06/2024 Duration: 05minIn this interview (in Spanish) Henry Gudiel Banegas, Honduras Country Director for Water For People speaks about how WASH services were impacted by recent climate disasters and the way forward. This podcast is part of the free online course "Climate-resilient WASH services", designed to give you a better understanding on how we can collectively build more climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. The course is brought to you by WaterAid, IRC and Water For People. Find out more at WASH Systems Academy.org.
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Influencing the global scene
13/06/2024 Duration: 07minAdvocacy can be powerful tool to enhance climate-resilient WASH services, but how does that look in practice? Jose Gesti is a Climate Advisor at Sanitation and Water for All and a key contributor to the discussion on the water and sanitation indicators for the UAE Framework on Global Climate Resilience Framework. This podcast is part of the free online course "Climate-resilient WASH services", designed to give you a better understanding on how we can collectively build more climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. The course is brought to you by WaterAid, IRC and Water For People. Find out more at WASH Systems Academy.org.
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How tough is WASH
13/06/2024 Duration: 09minThis podcast is part of the free online course "Climate-resilient WASH services", designed to give you a better understanding on how we can collectively build more climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. The course is brought to you by WaterAid, IRC and Water For People. Find out more at WASH Systems Academy.org.
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Climate resilience—the only way forward
29/05/2024 Duration: 05minThis WASH Systems Academy Podcast with Kate Harawa forms part of the Climate resilient WASH services course. In each episode, experts share their valuable insights and experiences on developing and enhancing services in the face of climate volatility. Climate resilient WASH services is designed to give you a better understanding on how we can collectively build more climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. The course is brought to you by WaterAid, IRC and Water For People. Find out more at www.washsystemsacademy.org.
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Developing rapid transition mechanisms
21/05/2024 Duration: 08minThis podcast is part of "Building WASH resilience, conflict sensitivity and peace" a free online course created by a partnership between the German WASH network and IRC. It aims to put the “Joint Operational Framework: WASH Resilience, Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding” into action. Learn more at washsystemsacademy.org
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Joined-up action
13/05/2024 Duration: 06minThis podcast is part of "Building WASH resilience, conflict sensitivity and peace" a free online course created by a partnership between the German WASH network and IRC. It aims to put the “Joint Operational Framework: WASH Resilience, Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding” into action. Learn more at https://washsystemsacademy.org
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Approaches to strengthening finance
31/01/2024 Duration: 06minThere are many ways to strengthen the finance of WASH services. Listen to this short podcast with Alex Simalabwi on why the online course on 'Approaches to finance for sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene systems' matters. Alex is the Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Southern Africa, Head-Africa Coordination Unit and Global Head of Climate Resilience for GWP’s global headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Alex is an international development professional with extensive expertise in water resources management, climate change adaptation, economic development, finance, investment strategy design and public policy.
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Motivation pour le renforcement des systèmes WASH
30/01/2024 Duration: 06minDans ce podcast de six minutes Ruben Bayiha partage certaines motivations derrière le développement du renforcement des systèmes WASH. Ruben Bayiha est le chef du programme Eau, assainissement et hygiène (WASH) à l'UNICEF.
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Renforcez-vous les services d'assainissement et d'hygiène au Rwanda
30/01/2024 Duration: 05minComment renforcez-vous les services d'assainissement et d'hygiène au Rwanda ? Écoutez ce podcast (5 minutes) avec Bruce Uwonkunda de Water for People sur la façon dont ils renforcent l'assainissement et l'hygiène au Rwanda.
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Renforcement des services d'eau au Burkina Faso
30/01/2024 Duration: 05minÉcoutez ce podcast de cinq minutes avec Juste Nansi sur la façon dont ils renforcent le système d'approvisionnement en eau au Burkina Faso. Juste Nansi est le directeur national de l'IRC au Burkina Faso et le directeur du programme régional pour l'Afrique de l'IRC.