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Rural Water Security in Asia and the Pacific: New Insights from AWDO 2025
The Asian Development Bank launched the fifth edition of its flagship report, the Asian Water and Development Outlook (AWDO) in December 2025. Speakers Professor Katrina Charles, Dr Sonia Hoque and Irina Gribanenkova led on the analysis of Key Dimension 1 (KD1) on Rural Household Water Security in the report.
Updating earlier AWDO methods to reflect a shift in global WASH thinking, this seminar will describe how their analysis extends beyond access to infrastructure to also incorporate quality, reliability and resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene services, interrogating health data to assess whether these services actually reduce disease burden.
The team will present their findings and highlight their implications for governments, donors and implementing organisations – what should be prioritised over the next decade to transform rural WASH services and fill the gaps that have been identified?
Speakers
- Katrina Charles is Professor of Environmental Health Risks Professor Charles’ research focuses on how to advance drinking water safety for all, particularly in low resource environments, and addressing the additional challenges faced by climate change.
- Dr Sonia Hoque is Senior Research Associate in Water Security and Society. As an environmental social scientist, Sonia’s research focuses on drivers and distribution of water risks and socio-spatial inequalities in Asia and Africa. Her recent book, The Water Diaries (2025), combines empirical fieldwork with methodological innovation to examine the lived experiences of the global water crisis in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh.
- Irina Gribanenkova has held consultancy and research roles with ADB, The World Bank, Global Water Partnership, and the Stockholm Environment Institute, with a focus on water governance, climate finance, integrated water resources management, and translating research into policy-relevant insights. She completed her MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management from the University of Oxford in 2023.
Date:
16 February 2026, 17:00
Venue:
Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details:
The Atmosphere Room, First Floor, School of Geography and the Environment. This building has a ramp at the entrance and a lift.
Speakers:
Professor Katrina Charles (University of Oxford),
Dr Sonia Hoque (University of Oxford),
Irina Gribanenkova
Organising department:
School of Geography and the Environment
Organiser:
Oxford Water Network
Host:
Oxford Water Network
Part of:
Oxford Water Network HT 2026
Booking required?:
Required
Booking url:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rural-water-security-in-asia-and-the-pacific-new-insights-from-awdo-2025-tickets-1981706003001?aff=oddtdtcreator
Cost:
Free
Audience:
Public
Editor:
Nancy Gladstone
