dws-irc-aguaconsult-lockwood-moriarty2-770px-1Dutch-based water and sanitation centre IRC and UK-based consultancy Aguaconsult announced the launch of their new consultancy venture: IRCconsult.

Both directors, Harold Lockwood (left) and Patrick Moriarty (right), signed an agreement for the new partnership on 9 April.

Based in the UK and reaching globally through IRC’s network of offices, IRCconsult will combine expertise from both organisations to bring high quality professional advice and technical assistance on the WASH sector to clients around the world.

dws-irc-aguaconsult-nepal-350pxCombining extensive networks
The two water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) organisations plan to use this partnership to combine their extensive networks and cutting edge sector knowledge.

IRCconsult will function as a standalone service provider for clients to engage expertise for short-term consultancy contracts in a range of specialist areas.

It will provide WASH research and analysis, training and capacity building, evaluation and monitoring, programme design services, as well as advocacy and technical advisory services.

Bring out the best
Speaking about the new partnership, Aguaconsult director Harold Lockwood commented: " I have collaborated with IRC in varying capacities for over twenty years and watched it evolve and grow into the confident, pro-active and modern organisation that it has become today. So it is a great pleasure to announce that we are forming this special joint venture, which will bring out the best from both our organisations and ensure our continued professional cooperation far into the future."

A shared agenda on WASH
Dr Patrick Moriarty, CEO of IRC, stated: "Aguaconsult and Harold Lockwood have been a constant partner and companion to IRC as we have pushed a shared agenda on sustainability in the WASH sector: helping us to develop the concepts, skills and tools which form the basis of IRCconsult. It is because of this long and deep partnership based on a shared vision and sense of what is required in the WASH sector that I’m excited to be starting this new joint venture."

IRCconsult is being managed in partnership between Aguaconsult and IRC with joint representation at director and management levels, and reflects the shared values and close working relationship of both organisations.

About Aguaconsult
Aguaconsult is a UK-based consulting company providing a range of technical assistance and consulting inputs principally in the field of water supply, sanitation and hygiene and related aspects including decentralised service delivery, public administration reform and community organisation. The company has experience in a wide range of countries in Latin America, South and South East Asia, Africa and the Central Asian states.

About IRC
IRC is an international think-and-do tank that works with governments, NGOs, businesses and people around the world to find long-term solutions to the global crisis in water, sanitation and hygiene services. With over 40 years of experience, IRC runs projects in more than 25 countries and large-scale programmes in seven focus countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is supported by a team of over 100 staff across the world.

This news item was originally published on the websites of IRC and Aguaconsult.

More information
IRC
The Hague, the Netherlands
+31 70 304 4000
www.ircwash.org

Aguaconsult
London, UK
+44 1206 823329
www.aguaconsult.co.uk