Enabling Environment for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

Summary

In 2015, the world united under the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on ensuring water and sanitation for all. UNICEF's WASH program contributes to this goal by creating enabling environments through five key components: policy and strategy, institutional coordination, financing, monitoring, and capacity building. Achieving SDG 6 requires strong governance, political leadership, and collaboration across sectors. By strengthening WASH systems with context-specific solutions, UNICEF ensures sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene services, improving the lives of children and communities across the East Asia and Pacific region.

Takeaways

• 😀 SDG 6 aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
• 😀 UNICEF's WASH program contributes significantly to achieving SDG 6 by focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene.
• 😀 Sustainable WASH services require not just supply, but also demand, good governance, strong institutions, and adequate sector capacity.
• 😀 An enabling environment for WASH is made up of five main components: policy and strategy, institutional arrangements, financing, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building.
• 😀 Policies and strategies should be backed by a legal framework and address equity, national norms, and future needs.
• 😀 Effective coordination and institutional arrangements ensure clear roles and responsibilities in delivering WASH services.
• 😀 Financing and budgeting for WASH services involve responsible allocation of funds from diverse sources to ensure broad access.
• 😀 Monitoring, evaluation, and learning enable improvements by collecting reliable, timely evidence and identifying strengths and weaknesses.
• 😀 Capacity building ensures institutions and individuals have the ability to sustain and improve WASH services over time.
• 😀 Political leadership is crucial in creating and supporting an enabling environment for WASH services, with UNICEF working across various sectors to strengthen these environments.
• 😀 The success of strengthening WASH systems relies on context-specific solutions, where medium and long-term planning, along with sector partnerships, play vital roles.

Q & A

What is Sustainable Development Goal 6 and what does it aim to achieve?

Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. It is a global initiative for improving access to clean water and sanitation.

How does UNICEF contribute to the achievement of SDG 6?

UNICEF contributes to SDG 6 through its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program, which works on improving access to sustainable water and sanitation services for all.

What are the key factors needed to ensure sustainable WASH services?

To ensure sustainable WASH services, key factors include not just the supply of services, but also demand for services, good governance, strong institutions, and adequate sector capacity.

What is meant by creating an 'enabling environment' for achieving SDG 6?

An enabling environment for achieving SDG 6 refers to the combination of governance, institutional reform, and system strengthening that allows countries to provide effective water and sanitation services.

What are the five main components of an enabling environment for WASH?

The five components are: 1) Policy and strategy, 2) Institutional arrangements and coordination, 3) Financing and budgeting, 4) Monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and 5) Capacity building.

Why is the policy and strategy component important for WASH?

Policy and strategy create the foundation for programs and services by allocating resources. It ensures that policies are backed by legal frameworks, promote equity, and meet future needs.

How does institutional coordination contribute to WASH services?

Institutional coordination defines roles and responsibilities and facilitates stakeholder collaboration. It brings together governments, NGOs, the private sector, and communities, creating a shared vision for WASH services.

What role does financing and budgeting play in WASH?

Financing and budgeting help track funding sources and ensure responsible allocation of resources to expand and sustain WASH services, making sure services reach everyone.

How does monitoring, evaluation, and learning improve WASH programs?

Monitoring, evaluation, and learning rely on collecting reliable evidence to assess the effectiveness of WASH programs. This allows adjustments and improvements based on strengths and weaknesses.

Why is capacity building important in the WASH sector?

Capacity building ensures that both human and institutional capacities are strong enough to provide and maintain WASH services. It allows institutions and stakeholders to adapt and renew their services continuously.

What challenges arise when strengthening WASH systems and how are they addressed?

Strengthening WASH systems presents challenges such as varying local contexts and the need for context-specific solutions. These are addressed through collaboration with governments, the private sector, and NGOs to tailor approaches for each situation.

What is the role of political leadership in achieving SDG 6?

Political leadership acts as both a catalyst and support for achieving SDG 6. It is crucial for driving the efforts and ensuring the sustainability of WASH services through collaboration and adequate funding.

How can strengthening enabling environments help expand WASH services?

Strengthening enabling environments supports the maintenance, expansion, and creation of new WASH services. It allows for better planning and implementation through coordinated efforts at national and sub-national levels.

How do case studies contribute to the success of WASH programs?

Case studies provide evidence of successful approaches to strengthening WASH systems. They show the impact of strategies implemented in one area, which can be replicated in others, expanding access to clean water and sanitation.

What is the future of WASH programming?

The future of WASH programming will depend on government leadership and increased capacity at all levels. A focus on communication about the benefits of strengthening WASH systems will also be essential to ensure public and governmental support.