Three Key Initiatives to Enhance Alignment in WASH
Welcome to the latest edition of WASH Digest! We are thrilled to bring you updates and insights from the WASH sector that highlight recent achievements and innovations. In this issue, we will be exploring three ways that can help improve alignment in the WASH sector:
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Systems Leadership: Navigating Complexity in Ghana's WASH Sector In a recent post by Vida Duti, IRC Ghana Country Director, the complexity of Ghana's WASH sector is examined through the lens of systems leadership.
Ghana's WASH sector is marked by a complex interplay of diverse stakeholders including government agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and local communities. This diversity, while a strength, can also lead to misaligned goals and fragmented efforts. Vida Duti, IRC Ghana Country Director, highlighted in a recent workshop the critical need for systems leadership to streamline and synergize these efforts.
The dynamic nature of the WASH sector, with its constantly changing actors and evolving strategies, complicates sustained collaboration and strategic alignment. Systems leadership addresses these challenges by mapping all stakeholders and their interactions, alongside evaluating policies, plans, and regulatory frameworks. This approach helps identify conflicts and misalignments, enabling stakeholders to prioritize interventions that promise the greatest impact.
Highlighting the need for coordinated effort, Duti uses a compelling metaphor: "We need to behave like an orchestra," she states, emphasizing that understanding each player's role and timing is crucial for creating harmony and maximizing effectiveness. This metaphor underscores the importance of every stakeholder understanding their role and the collective vision. Systems leadership isn't just about managing complexities but also about co-creating a shared vision and objectives that all parties can endorse and pursue together.
Adopting this leadership style ensures that Ghana's WASH initiatives are coherent and integrated, recognizing and leveraging interdependencies across sectors like agriculture, education, and health for more effective and sustainable results. This comprehensive, holistic approach is vital for navigating the sector's complexities and achieving lasting improvements in public health and well-being.
Read the full post here.
Bridging Data and Action in WASH Financing The World Health Organization's insights from the WASH Financing Conclave, held in Bangkok from March 5-6, 2024, highlight the importance of prioritizing finance initiatives within the WASH sector. Organized by WaterAid with participants from South Asia and Africa, the event concentrated on embedding finance strategies into national WASH initiatives. Discussions focused on fiscal decentralization and sustainable financing models, which are essential for the long-term success of the sector.
A key highlight was the emphasis on WASH accounts and the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS), tools crucial for tracking finances and assessing system health. These tools have proven essential in enhancing financial strategies and improving service delivery. For example, Nepal incorporated WASH account findings into their Joint Sector Review, impacting their Sector Development Plan, while Bangladesh committed to regular WASH accounts updates as part of their national statistics strategy.
The conclave facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas and best practices, highlighting the importance of ongoing engagement with regional WHO offices and partners like WaterAid to sustain momentum toward global sustainable WASH infrastructure.
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On a related note, in our 2023 progress report, the "Make a Splash!" partnership between LIXIL and UNICEF highlights the critical role of enabling access to financial resources for advancing safely managed sanitation and hygiene. This collaboration opens doors to both public and private funding, helping households receive essential services while empowering local stakeholders to foster conditions conducive to market-specific sanitation and hygiene solutions.
The WHO's summary is invaluable for anyone involved in finance or policymaking in the WASH sector, demonstrating the significant impact of well-integrated, data-driven financial strategies on service quality and sustainability.
Read the WHO's WASH Financing Conclave Reflections here. New Guidelines: Inclusive WASH Infrastructure Development The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) released "Guidelines for Developing Inclusive WASH Infrastructure" on April 17, 2024. These guidelines offer a comprehensive framework for designing water and sanitation systems that are accessible to all community members, including marginalized groups. The report underscores the importance of integrating accessibility into the planning and construction phases to minimize retrofitting costs and advocates for applying Universal Design principles. It includes case studies that demonstrate how inclusive designs can enhance community engagement and lead to better health outcomes. This publication serves as an essential resource for WASH sector professionals, emphasizing inclusive practices and thorough planning to avoid perpetuating disparities.
Read the guidelines here.
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