Visit of President RAVALOMANANA in Sweden, August 2008 by Nathalie Persson Andrianasitera www.ifs.se Stockholm, Sweden
The Millenium development goals (MDG) include a component on sanitation. Lack or access to inappropriate sanitation ( toilets) is regarded as a symptom of poverty, nevertheless investments in safe sanitation and hygiene have been overlooked by policy makers . We lag behind the MDGs. To date two and half billion people lack access to safe sanitation resulting in 5,000 children under age five die every day (Siwi, world water week final programme, August 17-23, 2008). To address the challenge, and push the sanitation agenda forward, collaborative efforts and synergy between policy makers, experts and stake holders are necessary. The world water week in Stockholm brings every year experts from the four corners of the world working in the field of water and environment. Scientific, business, policy, and civil communities exchange views, knowledge and experience at the annual conference. This year, the conference aimed at discussing progress and prospects on water for a clean and healthy world. It mainly focused on sanitation, however side events were organized to discuss issues on water and climate, water resources management, environment and ecosystems, transboundary water. About 2500 participants attended the world water week in Stockholm including dignitaries, high level authorities and international leaders. Let’s mention a few of the high level of attendees: Mr Anders Berntell, Executive Director of the International Water Institute, Hon Gunilla Carlsson, Minister for International Development Cooperation , Sweden, Hon Mamphono Khaketla, minister of Education and Training, Lesotho, Mr Anders Nordström, Director general, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency ( SIDA), Mr Sten Nordin, Mayor of Stockholm, H.R.H Prince Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, H.E Marc Ravalomanana, President of Madagascar, Prof John Anthony Allan ( The 2008 Stockholm Water Laureate), King’s college London and the School of Oriental and African studies. I attended the world water week conference in Stockholm in relation to my work at the International Foundation for Science, IFS. The IFS is based in Stockholm, Sweden see www.ifs.se. I have had thus the opportunity to listen to the President Ravalomanana’s speech on August 18, 2008. What struck me : the speech was realistic and humble at the same time. President Ravalomanana claimed that encouraging progress has been made in Madagascar but a lot more remains to be done, it is very challenging and cannot be achieved by Madagascar alone. The President made a point in highlighting the complexity of the Madagascar’s case, the differences between cities and rural areas, likewise between various cities, and areas. President Ravalomanana claimed that one of the challenges pertained to the Malagasy taboo’s ( fady) culture, and It requires a good deal of investment in education to get the population on board when it comes to sanitation issues. However the President has defined himself as a man of action and he said he was decided to tackle the sanitation’s issue in his country. He expects to make more progress, step by step, a latrine at a time at least. To start with, he has just created the ministry for water in Madagascar and the huge task to address sanitation, access to safe water is assigned to the new minister Hon Jean Donne Rasolofoniaina who also attended the conference. The participation of the President to the conference was appreciated as it is important that policy makers are aware of the role of sanitation and improved health which works as a poverty reduction driver. It should not be neglected any longer. At the high level panel session, the President explained why as a politician he was interested in sanitation, hygiene and safe drinking water. His main points include: it is a matter of saving life, lack of hygiene and sanitation causes diseases, diarrhoea and many Malagasy children die as a result. It has a negative impact on school attendance and learning by children, it creates a loss of productive days. To summarise, the president claimed that water, sanitation, health and economics were correlated. To my knowledge, contacts have been made between the Presidential delegation and Swedish leading companies in the field of water sanitation. These companies have also a broad experience in the developing world; Sweco is one of these companies. I am not aware though of the outputs of the meeting. August 20, 2008- Meeting with Leadership Institutions and Business Schools. Training and competence development for leadership in private and public sectors to promote development and business growth. I have not personally attended this meeting. However I am well aware of the objectives of the meeting. Purposes: • See universities can combine quality academic training and research with active contributions to regional private sector development, economic growth and employment creation. • Introduce and demonstrate some innovative longer-term leadership training programmes. • Explore concrete cooperation possibilities with Madagascar The Malagasy delegation who attended the meeting comprised of The Chief of staff, Dr Joelisoa Ratsirarison, The Minister for water, Dr Jean Donné Rasolofoniaina, Ambassador Ralison, Senator Lanto Rabenatoandro, Mr Olivier Andrianasolo, special adviser to the President, The special physician of the President, and Prof Charlotte Ralison. Their Swedish counteparts included, the top management and senior staff from Sipu International, in collaboration with key people from Jönköping International Business School, University of Jönköping i.e. the Rector and the Dean. Sipu International AB (The Swedish Institute for Public Administration) is internationally well known for its training on leadership. Through its International Business School, the University of Jönköping focuses on training entrepreneurs in an international network mentorship by business companies, and creation of new businesses. Another meeting with various research institutions, research councils and organisations supporting research was organised. The purposes of the meeting were to explore possibilities of strengthening research collaboration between Sweden and Madagascar, in the area of biological resources, biodiversity and environment. This meeting was hosted by the University of Stockholm at the Resilience center. The Rector Prof Kåre Bremer, senior representatives from the Resilience center, Stockholm Environment Institute, the Bergius foundation( which is a research institution), Uppsala University( department of archaeology), the Mistra foundation, the Swedish National Research council, SIDA, the ministry for foreign affairs, the International Foundation for Science (IFS) attended the meeting. 4 Malagasy citizen based in Sweden took part in the meeting, they were present in relation to their work. Dr Sylvain Razafimandimbison, senior scientist, well known as a Rubiaceae molecular systematist represented the Bergius fondation. The Bergius fondation has a good experience of working in Madagascar, with Malagasy counterparts ( visit http://www.bergianska.se/index_kontaktaoss.php?vidare=/kontakt_Sylvain.html). They carry out research on different Malagasy plants and its biodiversity. Mr Rivolala Andriamparany, carrying out his Ph.D work under the lead of Prof Thomas Elmqvist from the Resilience center attended the meeting. He is working on the relationship between pollinisation, agriculture and people’s health in the Androy region. Mrs Dina Rakotonirina Andersson, scientific programme coordinator for the social science research area and Mrs Nathalie Persson Andrianasitera, scientific programme coordinator, responsible for the green water research , took part in the meeting. They both work for the IFS and the director of the foundation Dr Michael Ståhl also attended the event. The foundation supports young scientists in developing countries and so far it has supported about 50 scientists in Madagascar. It remains for the Malagasy counterparts to go in depth through the suggestions for collaboration. The strength and experience of the diaspora based in Sweden can be invaluable if well utilized and consulted. All of us are keen in seeing Madagascar developing. After the meeting, a cocktail was given by the resilience center. Mrs Birgitta Kajler who is an animal care teacher at Spånga gymnasium ( Lycée) was present at the cocktail, with some of her students. She has been nominated by Microsofts and UNESCO as the most innovative teacher in Europe in 2007. Through a twin-school in Ambalavao, Madagascar, students in Sweden connect with Malagasy children in Ambalavao and share information on nature and biodiversity. Classes connect via the internet, shared lessons and regular group phone calls. She would like to extend her positive experience to more Malagasy high schools. Mrs Kajler is working with a team of good minded colleagues and friends. We saw some of these people at the cocktail, Mrs Anne-Marie Körling, Mr Mats Lundqvist, photographer helping t with the Madagascar project on a voluntary basis.
Nathalie Persson Andrianasitera www.ifs.se Stockholm, Sweden |
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