Kicking off 2017 with the new Water Cartoon Calendar

The Water Cartoon Calendar is definitely one of the most unconventional World Bank products. You won’t find anything else like it.
 
If this is the first time you are hearing about it, the Water Cartoon Calendar is an illustrated calendar produced since the year 2000 by the Water and Sanitation Program. It features colorful cartoons depicting water related topics, combined with a mild touch of humor.

It was developed via a bottom-up approach. What was started as a local initiative at the World Bank’s country office in India, became a mainstream project in different regions including South Asia, Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America, just a few years later.

Over the years, the Cartoon Calendar has earned a spot in the water community , in great part because of the creative process involved. The contents are the result of the constant dialogue with water specialists, decision makers, donors, and of course, a pool of notable cartoonists from around the world, including India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Indonesia, and Peru.
 
Visual humor is a powerful channel to convey otherwise complex topics – more than 150 cartoons have been crafted over the years, covering a wide variety of issues such as private sector participation, behavior change, gender, technology, and water management.
 
The recently launched 2017 calendar depicts some of the most important challenges in providing water supply and sanitation services , as well as its links to other key issues such as urbanization, climate change, and education.
 
Every year, in its printed version, the Calendar is delivered to around 5000 stakeholders across the world, while in digital format, each cartoon can reach an average of 10,000 people. In both cases, the responses have been very positive. Below are a few examples of what we heard about the Calendar on social media:  

#WeLike: @WorldBank cartoon calender combining critical messages with creativity & passionhttps://t.co/K7jARdJV0p pic.twitter.com/vZEdjBva01

— UN-Water (@UN_Water) February 9, 2016

.@WorldBankWater cartoon calendar is brilliant way of illustrating need for water security https://t.co/Sh76YCRd5k pic.twitter.com/UYjdKzVWiP

— GlobalCitizenImpact (@GlblCtznImpact) January 7, 2016

@WorldBank 2016 cartoon calender: raising awareness through humor. https://t.co/mCimwyfbyS pic.twitter.com/1t8zVKjjGo

— Zulfiqar Kunbhar (@zulfiqarkunbhar) February 5, 2016

2015 must be here! Thanks for the cartoon calendar, WSP - great job! @WorldBankWater pic.twitter.com/0QELrpg5Mb

— Nat Paynter (@NatPaynter) January 13, 2015

Big day, I just received my 2014 Water and Sanitation Cartoon Calendar from @WorldBankWater! pic.twitter.com/GMy1dUtilT

— Elida Karaivanova (@elidda) January 25, 2014

One thing we’ve learned along the way is that there is no formula to produce a good cartoon; what some find boring may look hilarious to others.  However, what is actually unquestionable is the cartoons’ power to engage and inspire people.

As we enter 2017, we invite you to take a look at this year’s Water Cartoon Calendar  online and share the cartoons via social media. If you have a good idea for future cartoons themed on water and sanitation, please let us know by leaving a comment below. You may have a chance to contribute to the 2018 Calendar.