Courtney Harrison is a Water Policy Associate at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. Her research focuses on water and sanitation, water and agriculture, and water resource management. She has a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she concentrated on land use and environmental management, with emphasis in water studies. She also holds a bachelor's degree in peace and conflict studies from the University of California, Berkeley.
Alongside the persistent challenges of poverty and rural subsistence, many low-income countries such as Ethiopia face new problems brought by climate change and surging global economic activities. This paper by Duke University researchers examines the combined impacts of global climate change and the changing nature of donor assistance in Africa on economic development broadly and food security through the example of Ethiopia.
Author(s):Christopher Paul, Erika Weinthal, Courtney Harrison
While billions still lack safe drinking water and sanitation, access can be enhanced through improved policy and strategic outreach, according to this report by Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and the Aspen Institute. A Silent Tsunami Revisited outlines the progress made on the expansion of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services since its companion report was released in 2005. It highlights these experts' recommendations for improving the efficacy of the WASH sector and achieving universal access to safe water and sanitation.
Access to safe water and sanitation has expanded significantly around the world in recent years, in part because of efforts by the United States, which has been increasingly active in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector through engagement by the government, foundations, NGOs, faith-based organizations, academia and the private sector. The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University has assessed the momentum, funding and effectiveness of this engagement since 2005, when the Nicholas Institute and the Aspen Institute held a forum on WASH challenges. This report references recommendations from that forum and presents the results of recent structured interviews with over 45 stakeholders active in the WASH sector. These stakeholders provided invaluable insights on what has been achieved, what has changed, and what requires attention. Particular consideration was given to the efforts of the U.S. government (USG).
Author(s):Cheryl Choge, Courtney Harrison, Peter McCornick, and Ryan Bartlett
