Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Africa water, Sanitation May-June2015 Vol. 10 No.3 | Page 32

People

Jane has been with IRC since December 2009, first as
Country Coordinator of the Triple-S initiative in Uganda
and later as Country Director from July 2013.
Bringing clean water to millions

Mr Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of the Republic of Madagascar,

The inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize laureate Dr
Andrew Benedek’s ground-breaking work in membrane
technologies has helped millions of people – from rich
countries to developing ones – gain access to clean
drinking water. His next big idea? Turning waste into
resources and energy.

signs a pledge to end open defecation in Madagascar.

his or her own country, as well as saw a visit by a high-level
international group of sanitation experts.
The President was also given the title of “WASH sector
champion”. This special distinction is awarded by WSSCC
to Government leaders for their commitment to the
WASH sector. He once again showed his commitment to
the issues by signing a pledge to end open defecation in
Madagascar by 2019.
The visit also coincided with heightened global awareness
of sanitation in 2015. The United Nations Secretary
General and Deputy-Secretary General have launched
a Call to Action on Sanitation, encouraging global
institutions, governments, households, the private sector,
NGOs, and Parliamentarians, to eradicate the practice of
open defecation.
The Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network
(UWASNET) honours IRC Uganda’s Country
Director
On 20 March 2015, the
Uganda Water and Sanitation
NGO Network (UWASNET)
nationally recognized Jane
Nabunnya Mulumba the
Country Director of IRC
Uganda as one of the women
influencing change in Uganda.

The late Mr Lee Kuan Yew (left) presents the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize to
inaugural winner Dr Andrew Benedek (right), who won for his ground-breaking
work in membrane technology. The use of membranes in wastewater treatment has
brought clean, safe drinking water to millions around the world. Image: PUB

From a prize to the next big idea
Established by Singapore to be the ‘crown jewel’ of the
Singapore International Water Week, the Lee Kuan Yew
Water Prize is named after Singapore’s first Prime Minister
whose contributions helped put the country on the path of
water sustainability.
Its nominating committee, in their citation, said Dr
Benedek’s revolutionary water treatment stood out in a
field of 39 international nominations entered in the first
year.

Jane Nabunnya Mulumba

Jane was recognized at a
congratulatory breakfast get-together event at the
UWASNET Secretariat. In her speech, Jane acknowledged
the work of member organizations as critical to the
visibility and strength of the network and called for more
commitment and hard work towards contributing to
UWASNET mandate.
In 2014, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative
Council (WSSCC) appointed Jane as National
Coordinator for Uganda.

The committee comprised leading figures in the corporate,
utility, research, policy and government sectors. They
looked at