Sanitation and wastewater management A lack of adequate sanitation and systems for managing excreta remains a massive threat to the health of populations and the environment in low and middle income countries. The sector has evolved dramatically in the past ten years and many organizations – including local authorities, governmental agencies, NGOs and public and private service providers - are involved in promoting improved sanitation. But, the scale of the problem is still huge and progress towards the achievement of the MDGs is in many countries unimpressive. As a consequence, a lack of adequate sanitation and systems for managing excreta reamins a massive threat to the health of populations and the environment in low and middle income countries. Purpose of the programme IWA aims to provide strategic leadership and support to its partners in the development of sustainable urban solutions to overcome these problems. We aim to provide our members with state-of-the art resource materials and tools for planning, implementation and managing sanitation systems, with particular reference in towns and cities. We place a particular emphasis on promoting a wider range of technologies and management solutions than is often typically considered and we advocate the need for multi-disciplinary partnerships to help solve the complex problems related to excreta and wastewater disposal. In response to this situation, IWA is taking an increasingly prominent role in the following activities: Technology options: providing an objective reference point on the relative strengths and weaknesses of different sanitation and wastewater technologies. Sanitation programming: supporting municipal and local authorities in the preparation of rational and realistic citywide sanitation plans. Finance and economics: providing evidence on sanitation investments supported by robust financial and economic analysis, through tools focusing on cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit. Management and regulation: placing emphasis on alternative management arrangements - including standards and regulatory instruments - that help achieve wider service delivery goals Knowledge synthesis and dissemination: providing access to high quality information, tailored to the information needs of different target audiences. Linkages to IWA specialist groups and related programmes The sanitation and wastewater programme aims to support the initiatives of IWA specialist groups and other partners with specific interests in sanitation and wastewater management. These groups include ‘Sanitation and Water Management in Developing Countries’, ‘Resources Oriented Sanitation (EcoSan), ‘Small Water and Wastewater Systems’, and ‘Waste Stabilisation Ponds’. In addition, the team is working closely with the Operation and Maintenance Network,and other relevant programmes such as Water Operators Partnerships, Brokering Environmentally Sustainable Sanitation for Europe (BESSE) and Water Safety Plans.