Core contribution to Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) global partnership

Project completed

This core contribution to the global partnership Sanitation and Water for All hosted by UNICEF aims at strengthening the capacities of populations to enjoy their rights to water and sanitation. SWA supports countries that are off track in progressing towards the Sustainable Development Goal on water, including through a mutual accountability mechanism. The opening of an operational office of SWA in Geneva will enrich this growing community of global water actors, allowing SWA to work more closely also with key human rights and public health actors. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Water
Governance
Water sanitation
Water sector policy
Public finance management
01.05.2020 - 31.12.2022
CHF  1’525’000
Background

2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely-managed drinking water, 4.2 billion do not have safely managed sanitation services and two of every five people (40%) around the world do not have a basic handwashing facility with soap and water at home.

There is an alarming lack of political prioritization and attention in policies and strategies, as well as resource allocations, to promote and provide resilient water, sanitation and hygiene systems as a fundamental determinant of health for women, children, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations, including refugees, the homeless, and people living in remote and rural areas.

In this perspective, increased collaboration amongst the actors involved in water and sanitation issues are needed. Support to SWA will assist countries to adopt more effective and better-resourced national measures to bring about access to sanitation, hygiene and water for all and contribute to achieve targets 6.1 et 6.2 of the Goal n°6 on water of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Objectives

The overall goal is to provide water, sanitation and hygiene for all permanently by having decision makers bringing about change on the ground through increased political will, better use of funds and specific targeting of people left behind.

SWA brings governments and other partners together to commit to a common vision and to share experiences, identify gaps, and look for solutions that have been tested and backed by reliable data.

This contribution is a unique opportunity to promote resilient water, sanitation and hygiene systems as a fundamental determinant of health and to maintain a strong Swiss positioning in the WASH sector at global level by attracting more attention and resources in the international Geneva.

Target groups

This intervention targets more specifically:

·   The international actors concentrated in the Geneva International to promote the Human Rights to water and sanitation, and water as a determinant for health.

·   Countries and organisations engaging in the Mutual Accountability Mechanism.

·   Ministers responsible for finance and for water, sanitation and hygiene engaging in transformational changes in their countries needed to achieve their national and sustainable goal’s targets on water.

-    The hardest to reach and most vulnerable individuals, communities, countries and regions by putting also women and girls at the center.  

Medium-term outcomes

-      Increased political prioritization of equal access to sanitation, hygiene and water and promote the use of evidence in decision-making

-      Promoted multi-stakeholder, government-led platforms for national sector strengthening, planning and follow-up of the SDGs through peer-to-peer learning and sharing

-      Increased resources and advocacy for more coordinated and transparent financing of water and sanitation systems

        Strengthening the already existing “global water voice” of Geneva 

Results

Expected results:  

-      Technical guidance for finance ministers developed

-      Country Engagement Activities and Mutual Accountability Mechanisms are developed

-      Countries are supported to use their existing political processes for inter-country discussions;

-      Sector Ministers’ Meetings and Finance Ministers’ Meeting are organized through the SWA’s global High-level Political Dialogue where experienced are exchanged and challenges shared. 

-    Establishment of new SWA staff (5-6 persons) in Geneva


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Swiss Private Sector
  • United Nations Children’s Fund


Other partners
All SWA partners (around 59 countries, 22 support agencies, 83 civil societies,19 research centers, 17 private companies) .
Coordination with other projects and actors World Health Organization, World Bank (GWSP), Water Integrity Network, WSSCC, Global Water Partnership, UN-Water, World Meteorological Organization, African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), Africasan, Latinosan, Sacosan.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’525’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’425’000
Project phases

Phase 1 01.05.2020 - 31.12.2022   (Completed)