Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) will soon launch a new initiative to help off-track countries meet their WASH goals. The National Planning for Results Initiative (NPRI) aims to pool donor support to develop in-country planning capacity. SWA announced the initiative during their session on National Sanitation Planning at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseilles. The official launch of the NPRI will take place at the upcoming SWA High Level Meeting in April this year.

Prince of Orange opens session
“The growth in sanitation coverage figures is unacceptably low”, said the Prince of Orange at the opening of the SWA session at the World Water Forum. Prince Willem-Alexander, who is chair of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), emphasised the importance of robust national plans for sanitation. Key elements for success are sector policies and strategies, a framework for monitoring clear sector targets, and sound financial planning.

AfricaSan
An important initiative to accelerate progress towards achievement of the MDG’s in Africa presented in the session  was the AfricaSan process and the five year drive for sanitation.  During the lead-up to the third AfricaSan conference last year in Kigali (Rwanda), African countries took stock of their progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for sanitation, drew- up country action plans and made renewed commitments to come to actions, including a re-confirmation of a budget allocation of 0.5% of the national GDP for sanitation (eThekwini Declaration-2008). Follow-up activities are foreseen including peer reviews of progress and sharing and learning among countries. Read More

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• 6th World Water Forum, Marseille, France