Zambia NGO WASH Forum Board Member Amanda Mallaghan has emphasized the importance of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector coordinating as one voice while maintaining individual identities.
Ms. Mallaghan highlighted that the Forum provides a platform for NGOs and CSOs to speak with one voice about their goals.
She stressed that better coordination is essential for achieving improved access to WASH services.
She said this in Lusaka at a Review Meeting focusing on Enhancing Sector Coordination among Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) involved in WASH, organized by the Zambia NGO WASH Forum.
Ms. Mallaghan expressed hope that the meeting would bring together various expertise and experiences to focus on coordination.
She urged the participants to think about what improvements are needed in coordination and how they can present these to the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation.
Ms. Mallaghan expressed her desire for the Forum to outline key needs in the document, ensuring that they can approach the Ministry with a united front.
She hoped that by the next review, significant improvements in coordination would be evident.
Meanwhile, a Senior Statistician from the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Winford Sikapula, said the Sector Coordination Framework was launched in 2020.
Mr. Sikapula explained that the Framework aimed to improve efficiency and effectiveness in service provision by quantifying efforts in the sector to achieve national and global goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and Vision 2030.
He highlighted that the Framework was designed to respond to emerging issues and commitments, particularly under SDG 17, which emphasizes global partnerships.
He said the Framework also aimed to create a mechanism for reporting successes to global platforms like the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM), and Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS).
Mr. Sikapula noted that the Framework provided a platform for cooperating partners and the private sector to align their work with the government’s development agenda, ensuring effective resource utilization and avoiding duplication of efforts.
He mentioned that the Framework was based on the principles of the Paris Declaration, emphasizing ownership and alignment with national plans.
Mr. Sikapula acknowledged that while some successes had been recorded, the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation often felt it was underreporting efforts in water supply, sanitation, and water security.
He said the Framework included a reporting structure with various meetings, such as the donor consultative meeting, Troika meeting, and technical working group meetings.
He, however, admitted that the sector had lagged in holding technical working group meetings as planned.
Mr. Sikapula outlined the coordination governance flow, emphasizing the role of the Permanent Secretary and the Department of Planning.
He mentioned that the Framework facilitated collaboration through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with various stakeholders and adherence to international commitments.
Mr. Sikapula also discussed implementation challenges, such as the rearrangement of portfolio functions and the need to align with the 8th National Development Plan.
He outlined the roadmap for Reviewing the Sector Coordination Framework, which included establishing a core team, conducting a situation analysis, and engaging stakeholders.
This is contained in a statement issued by Zambia NGO WASH Forum National Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe Mumba.
