The Potential of Renewable-Powered Water Treatment

Water security is a global problem with political, social, economic, and technological obstacles. Although there are significant challenges, new advances in the use of renewable power to support wastewater treatment open the door to affordable and flexible solutions that can help alleviate water scarcity. Wastewater treatment and reuse is not only critical to improving public…

Catherine Kannam

Catherine Kannam is Chemonics’ chief operating officer. Prior to this role, she was the senior vice president (SVP) for Chemonics’ Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan region as well as the SVP for Chemonics’ Gender, Equality, and Social Inclusion and Peace, Stability and Transition technical practices. She also oversaw our unit focused on Office of Transitions…

To Improve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Look Toward Waste Management

If you’ve ever seen a field covered in garbage in a developing country, you have some idea of the waste management challenges faced by various urban economies in sub-Saharan Africa. An explosion in urban migration and unplanned settlement, as well as a lack of urban planning to accommodate basic utility support infrastructure and services, has…

Water Utilities Need Good Data — Here’s Why and How

An estimated 2.6 billion people gained access to improved drinking water between 1990 and 2015, yet municipalities around the world still struggle to deliver safe and consistent water because of inefficiencies and cost recovery concerns. The World Bank estimates that only 15 percent of utilities in developing countries generate enough revenue to cover operating and maintenance (O&M)…

Mario Kerby

Mario Kerby has 41 years of experience in environmental management, integrated water resources management, agriculture and rural development, and public financial management. He is currently serving as a senior director in the Middle East and North Africa business unit where he oversees the implementation of the Iraq Durable Communities and Economic Opportunities (DCEO) program to…

Rhett Gurian

Rhett Gurian is Chemonics’ Senior Vice President, Global Health Division. He previously served as chief of party on a number of assignments, including the USAID/Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP) from 2018-2024, the USAID/Syria Essential Services (SES) project based out of Jordan from 2015-2016, and the USAID/OTI Haiti earthquake recovery initiative from 2010-2013. Since joining Chemonics…

Financing Watershed Protection

The Bago City government received technical support through the Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) Program, jointly developed and implemented by USAID and the Philippines’ Department for Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Through this program, Bago City was able to introduce the environmental protection fee on water, with proceeds from…

Final Report: Southern African Regional Environmental Program

Between June 26, 2010, and December 17, 2016, Chemonics International implemented the Southern African Regional Environmental Program (SAREP) and provided technical support to the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission to enable it to meet elements of the objectives in its strategic action plan (SAP), while responding to other related needs in areas adjacent to…

Final Report: Maldives Global Climate Change Project

USAID’s Maldives Global Climate Change (GCC) project worked to raise the public’s awareness about climate change, provide ways to adapt to its effects, and build the capacity and sustainability of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE), residents, the Island Council of Lhaviyani (Lh.) Hinnavaru, and the national utility company, FENAKA Corporation Limited.