AfW CONSORTIUM PARTICIPATES IN WASH CSO CROSS LEARNING EXERCISE IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
By Joan Kones
The Accountability for Water Consortium, which comprises PASGR, KEWASNET, Water Witness International, Water Witness Ethiopia and Shahidi wa Maji, had the honour of participating in the recently concluded regional cross-learning in Lusaka, Zambia, that focused on strengthening CSO collaboration for sustainable WASH in Eastern and Southern Africa. The forum brought together key players in the WASH sector from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and the host country, Zambia. The primary objective of the forum was to accelerate efforts to improve the lives of millions across Eastern and Southern Africa who still lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation. The cross-learning exercise served as a platform for sharing knowledge, exchanging best practices, and fostering partnerships to strengthen the region’s WASH initiatives.
The consortium, which was represented by KEWASNET, actively contributed to the discussions, with representatives making a detailed presentation on the approach to enhancing governance in the WASH sector. The presentation highlighted some of the core programs and activities, emphasising the commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and quality in service delivery. The presentation focused on the Accountability for Water (AFW) Program, elaborating on how action research can be applied to strengthening accountability within the water sector through making evidence-informed decisions.
The presentation underscored that the AfW Phase 1 program commissioned Professional Research Fellows (PRFs) to conduct a rigorous accountability assessment across multiple counties. Key findings from the study, are now directly informing targeted interventions in Phase 2. Additionally, the participants were introduced to the Voice Report, a critical tool designed to promote transparency by encouraging CSOs to openly share their budgets, projects, and impacts. The presentation highlighted that the report fosters integrity, compliance, and compliance within the sector, serving as a beacon for sustainable development.
The regional learning exchange underscored the need for stronger collaboration among WASH umbrella bodies, the urgency of addressing technical and institutional challenges, and the importance of sustainable funding. Moving forward, the Forum aims to strengthen regional advocacy, enhance knowledge-sharing, and support initiatives like Water Voices United to drive lasting WASH improvements.
The valuable insights gained from this benchmarking exercise will undoubtedly inform our strategies and strengthen our role as leaders in advocating for WASH governance and accountability.