Sanitation innovation needs EU support: Deva
Posted, April 05, 2011 @ 00:00
Strasbourg, 5th April 2011 -- After an exchange of views with Microsoft chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates in the European Parliament's development committee, Nirj Deva MEP, committee Vice-President called on the EU to do more to support innovation in sanitation systems.
Following a question from Mr Deva regarding diarrhoeal diseases and possible solutions, Mr Gates told the committee that one of the greatest problems with clean water is contamination because traditional flushing toilet systems are expensive and unachievable.
Mr Gates pointed out that his foundation had funded projects to find innovative solutions to areas that are challenged either by water shortages or by flooding.
Fellow ECR member of the committee Emma McClarkin MEP asked Mr Gates about how we can continue to provide more transparent aid to poorer countries whilst also encouraging more open trade. Mr Gates highlighted the need for transparency and simplification of procedures as well as explanations of how aid was spent. He emphasised the work that 'Living Proof' was carrying out to highlight the tangible results that are being provided by development money.
Nirj Deva said:
"Bill and Melinda Gates have been an outstanding example to philanthropists around the world. Private philanthropy is often far better targeted at innovation and solving specific problems than day-to-day aid. Governments and the EU can learn from the philanthropists that sometimes we need to think outside the box by using our massive aid budgets to find innovative solutions to everyday problems, rather than just tackling the consequences.
"The old proverb of 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime' is still extremely relevant to our aid policy. Mr Gates has inspired us to look again at how we spend money in poorer countries, so that it is focused on tangible outcomes.
"One of the specific areas discussed was the high costs of sanitation and particularly flushing toilet facilities. It's not a sexy subject but it is important that we invest in finding an innovative alternative. This is one area where the EU should improve its funding of innovation and I will seek to make this a priority for development funding in the future."
ENDS
Notes: More information on Living Proof is available here: http://www.one.org/livingproof/en/
Pictures of Nirj Deva with Bill Gates will shortly be available at: http://www.ecrgroup.eu/photo-gallery.asp