Stef Smits is a senior programme officer and Co-director of IRC's Growth Hub. He has 20 years of professional experience in water supply and sanitation in over 25 countries in Europe, Latin America, Southern Africa, and South Asia. His main thematic expertise includes: institutional models for water supply, sustainability and enabling environment, monitoring, costing and financing of services and integrated water resources management.
Stef has led numerous projects on these topics, and published about them. In addition, he has ample management expertise: from consultancy assignments to multi-annual programmes, and units within an organisation. He has worked for a range of clients including bilateral donors, development banks, research funders and NGOs. Stef holds an MSc degree in Irrigation and Water Engineering from Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
This book analyses and explains the success factors of MUS, using a framework of accountability for public service delivery, and examines why there... Read more...
A study on whether water sources classified as "improved" are indeed safe triggered debate on the level of effort that needs to go into water quality monitoring and into measures to improve water quality Read more...
The most effective approach to adaptation is to strengthen governance of the WASH sector, for example by adopting principles of adaptive management... Read more...
We understand sustainability in terms of whether water continues to flow over time, and whether people maintain access to an adequate and convenient toilet. Read more...
Last week it was World Water Day 2014 , with the topic of "water and energy". I see obvious issues coming by on the water-energy nexus (which by the way is one of those development sector buzz words that I start disliking more every day. I hope the next buzz word is a bit more, uh, sparkling), such... Read more...
Next week, the Dutch parliament will discuss the multi-annual collaboration plans for its bilateral development cooperation with some 15 partner countries. This could be a pretty dull and technical affair, were it not for the fact that these plans give an interesting insight into what the end of... Read more...
Regulation is a key function for delivering sustainable water services, both in urban and rural environments. Read more...
Ensuring long-term services on a large scale. Read more...
Users want to know what they are entitled to receive: the quality, quantity, reliability and accessibility of their water supply. Read more...
Triple-S think piece examining the rates of change in coverage of different groups (rural and urban) and in different services (water and sanitation). Read more...