A is for Africa and Accenture Development Partnership

The orb that bring the globe together the World Cup in South Africa is showcasing Africa's continental patriotism with representation from Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria.

Convergence seems to be the theme.

First, a trip to LA to meet with World Vision leadership and discuss scope of our task to create a strategy to expand the access of clean drinking water throughout Africa.

Then a trip to the new home of the Stanley Cup champions the Chicago Blackhawks for training on development, the developing world and cultural awareness. Two full days amidst the clouds encapsulated within a skyscraper in downtown Chicago I absorbed several key themes:

• Look at things to a broader lens, beyond your own lens and taking into account others perspective
• Always begin with the end in mind as to how the project will carry on and be sustainable when are gone...who and how will the work continue
• Patience

Finally off to Michigan a mitten submerged in 1/5 of the world's surface fresh water. Seemingly endless supplies of fresh drinking water so accessible it is used as much for pleasure and in many cases taken for granted.

This is in direct contrast to the millions in Africa with out regular access to clean drinking. Women and children may need to walk for days to find water.

Mail from Baltimore is being forwarded to my parents house in Michigan. In this mail is a subscription the Economist. As I sit on the latrine and grab for some reading material I find the May 22nd - May 28th 2010 weekly of the Economist. A banner bordering the top edge informs me that "INSIDE THIS WEEK: A 16-PAGE SPECIAL REPORT ON WATER". As I read the compilation of articles that make up this special report I am able to glean some great challenges, academic solutions and organizations trying to provide regular access to clean drinking water to the world.

• In Africa it is said that “even a jackal deserves to drink”
• Studies in Ghana and Pakistan the long-term impact of malnutrition associated with diarrheal infections costs each country 4 -5% of GDP (Enough is not enough)
• WHO thinks that half the consequences of malnutrition are cause by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene. In Ghana this cost the country 9% of GDP (Enough is not enough)
• Progress is slow, especially for sanitation, and particularly in Africa and increasingly policymakers are finding that heavily subsidized projects are failing (Enough is not enough
• Peepoo- sexy loos (Enough is not enough)
• Water Initiative – a water purifying company (Enough is not enough)
• 2030 Water Resource Group – formed by Coca-Cola among others (Business begins to stir)
• Institute of Public and Environment Affairs – an NGO that publishes government statistics and facts online (Business begins to stir
• Africa as a whole stands to benefit from more hydro projects (dams) large and small. (The ups and downs of dams)
• Africa contains 35 of the 45 most “water stressed” countries (The ups and downs of dams)

From the following articles.

• Sources and acknowledgments (this is especially good since it has all the references for the articles with a bunch of great reference material) http://www.economist.com/node/16136316?story_id=16136316
• The ups and downs of dams http://www.economist.com/node/16136280
• A glass half empty http://www.economist.com/node/16136334
• Enough is not enough http://www.economist.com/node/16136260
• Business begins to stir http://www.economist.com/node/16136270

Mckinsey Water report

http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/water/charting_our_water_future.aspx