WASH Advocacy in Nepal

1
WASH Advocacy in Nepal

• World Water Week
• 17-23 August, Stockholm
• Umesh Pandey
• National Coordinator
• WSSCC Nepal Chapter
• 20 August 2008

2
Relation WSSCC chapter WASH Advocacy

• Formation of Nepal WASH Group, 2003 (Alliance of
  Sectoral Organisations - DWSS, Fund Board, NEWAH,
  UNICEF, WAN, WHO, NRCS) with objective of
• Prioritising sanitation in the development agenda
• Establishing mechanisms to disseminate policies
  and commitments to communities and feedback their
  voices to decision makers
• Gradual focus Moved on Strengthening Media
  Partnership

3
Gaps to be Addressed

• Lack of Awareness on Hygiene and Sanitation among
  General Public
• Sanitation Excluded in Development Agenda
• Sanitation and Hygiene Considered as a Small
  Component of Water Programme

4
WASH Advocacy Objectives

• Increase Awareness on Sanitation among the
  General Mass
• Receive Political Will Commitment for
  Sanitation
• Ensure Increased / Separate Budget Line for
  Sanitation

5
Who do we target?

• Key Government Decision Makers (Parliamentarians,
  National Planning Commission, Ministry of
  Finance, Concerned Line Ministries etc.)
• Beyond The Sector Players (Health, Education,
  Human Rights, Artists etc.)
• General Public
• Media

6
Who are our allies?

• Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH)
• WaterAid
• WHO
• UNICEF
• Media
• Federation of Water Sanitation Users of Nepal
  (FEDWASUN)
• Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS)

7
Our WASH Messages

• We are Proud to Have Toilets in our Homes
• Sanitation Contributes to Dignity
• Sanitation Generates Economic Benefits
• Sanitation helps the Environment

8
Main Activities

• Knowledge Sharing 1
• Publication and Dissemination
• Symposium
• Making Sanitation Everyones Concern
• Media Mobilisation 2
• Lobbying with Government and Politicians 3

9
Achievements

• Increased Media Focus on SANWAT as well as Other
  Associated Social Issues 4
• Water and Sanitation Reflected in Various Major
  Political Parties Manifesto During Constituent
  Assembly
• Sanitation Gradually Becoming Part of Development
  Agenda (eg. Realisation that Sanitation is
  Equally an Important Issue Linked with Education,
  Health and Poverty Reduction)
• Management Responsibility of WASH Sector
  Newsletter Publication Taken up by the
  Governments department

10
The Way Forward (1)

• Advocacy Communications
• Lobbying to Incorporate Sanitation Water as a
  Basic Human Right in the Constitution
• Lobbying with the Government (eg. Ministry of
  Finance, MPPW)
• Interaction among Parliamentarians
• Generating Awareness and Political Will at Higher
  Level
• Strengthening Media Collaboration for
• Sanitation Promotion
• Policy Advocacy

11
The Way Forward (2)

• Networking Knowledge Management
• Restructuring Building a Vibrant Network
• Making Sanitation Everyones Business
• Consultative Workshop at District Level
• Disseminating Knowledge through User Friendly
  Publications

Thank you