Sanitation and Water for All - a UNICEF-hosted global partnership

We're #hiring ?? Finance, Systems and Accountability Coordinator. The new colleague at SWA will help our global partnership implement the Strategic Framework related to financing, systems strengthening and accountability. If you have experience in water and sanitation, coordination, research, and strategic planning, as well as financing & accountability, we'd like to meet you! ?? Deadline 2 November: https://lnkd.in/eYfxeBr7 #JobAlert #JobVacancy #WASHjobs #waterjobs #vacancy

The importance of hand hygiene has never been clearer: it reduces one in five respiratory infections and cuts episodes of diarrhea by nearly half. It is also one of the most effective tools in combating antimicrobial resistance, a growing global health threat. Yet despite these clear benefits, the world is falling short of its commitments. #GlobalHandwashingDay is yet another reminder that access to soap and water remains elusive for too many: 2 billion people, who already face the compounded challenges of poverty, exclusion, and discrimination. Together, we can create a world where no one is left behind, where everyone has the opportunity to wash their hands, stay healthy, and thrive.

We are thrilled to welcome?Jigmi Y. Thinley, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Bhutan (2008–2013), to SWA's Global Leadership Council. This high-level?group?helps to champion the need for universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene at regional and global levels. “Against the backdrop of our planet’s rapidly diminishing and disappearing fresh water sources, billions still have no access to the basic survival prerequisites of clean water and sanitation. With even the most prosperous cities and farmlands now faced with mounting inadequacy of this hitherto inexhaustible resource, water has already become humanity’s greatest existential threat. I have always emphasized the imperative of water and sanitation as deserving the highest priority in development policies and plans. I am, therefore, very pleased and honored to join the mission of the Sanitation and Water for All global partnership as a Global Leader.”

In 2008?Catarina de Albuquerque?became the first UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. SWA's (now) CEO became a fresh voice in a field that was in desperate need of greater ambition, action, and accountability. Two years later, water and sanitation were recognized as human rights by the UN General Assembly. ? Fast forward to 2024 and we have another "first": Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi has been appointed as the UN’s first Special Envoy on Water, a powerful signal that?water is becoming a?top priority at the global, regional and national levels. Catarina de Albuquerque shares her perspective here.

#ClimateChange and water are inextricably linked. Climate variability fuels droughts, floods, and extreme weather, disrupting water cycles and infrastructure. This not only threatens health but also exacerbates socio-economic vulnerabilities. In fact, inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services contribute significantly to global disease burdens, with climate change expected to worsen these impacts. Addressing water access isn't just about meeting basic needs; it's about building community resilience and ensuring sustainable development. As temperatures rise and water scarcity increases, the need for integrated water management becomes more pressing. Long-term solutions must address infrastructure challenges and support vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by water insecurity. Together, we can break the cycle of climate-induced water challenges. Let's prioritize resilient water access to safeguard health, promote equity, and secure a sustainable future. #WaterforClimate #SWAinAction

We are excited to launch a new campaign focused on #ClimateChange and its critical impact on water and sanitation. Over the next four weeks, we will delve into how the SWA partnership is supporting work on climate policy, showcase examples of countries that are working on making their water and sanitation systems more resilient to climate change, and breakdown some of that complicated climate jargon. Join us in highlighting the importance of climate adaptation and mitigation for a sustainable future. #WaterforClimate

Congratulations to H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and the Ministry Of Sanitation and Water Resources for signing a historic Presidential Compact on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene! Under the Compact, the government will allocate an estimated US$1.7 billion annually to water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives until 2030. These funds will ensure that services reach schools and healthcare facilities, as well as remote communities. The Compact is supported, under the Heads of State Initiatives, by the Government of the Netherlands, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UNICEF, the Sanitation and Water for All partnership and IRCWASH. https://lnkd.in/ggv-UFcM

Congratulations to H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and the Ministry Of Sanitation and Water Resources for signing a historic Presidential Compact on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene! Under the Compact, the government will allocate an estimated US$1.7 billion annually to water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives until 2030. These funds will ensure that services reach schools and healthcare facilities, as well as remote communities. The Compact is supported, under the Heads of State Initiatives, by the Government of the Netherlands, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UNICEF, the Sanitation and Water for All partnership and IRCWASH. https://lnkd.in/ggv-UFcM

Last April, together with UNICEF and hosted by the InterAmerican Development Bank, SWA convened a Finance Ministers’ Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean as well as a Sector Ministers’ Dialogue. Participants shared strategies for enhancing domestic resources and building partnerships in financing, among other needs. Please join us August 21 to further these discussions with leaders from Brazil, Argentina and Peru. Sign up here for Cause for Hope: Working Together to Achieve the SDGs: https://lnkd.in/gkpmbv7A... (Photo: Laura Chincilla, former president of Costa Rica and SWA Global Leadership Council Member, speaks at the April meeting)

Our 2023 Africa Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM) underscored the critical importance of mobilizing domestic resources, fostering partnerships, and enhancing the enabling environment for water and sanitation sectors across Africa. Funding needs to be at least three times higher in Africa to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal targets. However, this is far less than the $170 billion – nearly 5% of GDP – lost by sub-Saharan African each year due to inadequate water resources, contaminated water and poor sanitation. By mid-century, the economic toll from water-related climate impacts on African nations could reach $50 billion annually. Every dollar invested in climate-resilient water and sanitation in Africa yields a return of at least $7.　 Finance ministers discussed several approaches that can close the investment gap for water and sanitation: ? Increasing the national budget allocation for water and sanitation to 5% and 0.5%, respectively. ? Partnering with development banks to secure long-term finance that aligns with universal water and sanitation access goals. ? Ensuring that sufficient finance is available for universal access to safely managed sanitation – a key development indicator that significantly reduces the public health burden. ? Investing in climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure by tapping into climate finance. ? Reducing debt and ensuring African nations can access a fair share of Special Drawing Rights. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gUGkn73A