The forum ended with endorsement and approval of the Kampala Rural Water Commitments by the delegatesThe Kampala Rural Water Commitments
Background
The 6th Global Forum of the Rural Water Supply Network was held in Kampala, 29th November – 2nd December 2011.
The Forum was officially opened by Hon. Maria Mutagamba, Minister of Water and Environment, Republic of Uganda, and opening addresses were also delivered by His Excellency the State Minister for Water Resources, Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Under Secretary, Ministry of Water, Government of South Sudan.
The participants in the forum numbered around 500 from nearly 50 countries, and were drawn from national and local Governments, academia, NGOs and CBOs, the private sector and development partners.
The Commitments
The following statements summarise our mutual commitment to widening and accelerating progress in inclusive and sustainable rural water supplies wherever those services are absent or under-performing:
Focusing on water users and water resources:
1. We recognise the rights and the natural justice of all citizens to enjoy secure water services, regardless of location, lifestyle, gender, age, disability, ethnicity or poverty.
2. We will do everything possible to ensure that the services we deliver are equitable and sustainable, providing lasting service with no time limits.
3. We will take full account of all water users’ needs for close and unrestricted access, adequate quantity and acceptable quality of water, high levels of reliability, affordability, and a realistic burden of management responsibility.
4. We recognise the multiple uses of water, and the multiple sources from which users take their water for domestic and livelihood purposes.
Focusing on ourselves as rural water professionals:
5. We are committed to high quality of design, implementation (of both software activities and construction) and post-construction activities.
6. We will continue to develop, promote, and adhere to specific standards and codes of good practice in rural water supply, and build close links to other development sectors which affect, or are affected by, this sub-sector.
7. We will continue to enhance our own individual and organisational learning and professional development.
We will advocate for:
8. Increased and better-targeted finance for capital investments and for post-construction financing through local Governments to address the sustainability of rural water services.
9. Greater transparency and accountability in regard to progress in rural water provision and service performance.
10. Special efforts to raise the profile of rural water, including development of post-2015 targets and the possibility of an international year of rural water supply.
Endorsed and approved by the delegates to the 6th Global Forum of the Rural Water Supply Network, 1st December 2011.
Other sessions during the day
The day started with a video recap of key issues and learning from presentations of the day before. Thereafter the chairman of RWSN Richard Carter made a presentation on the vision for rural water supplies. The World Bank came in with a presentation examining the status of rural water supply in Sub Sahara Africa. After tea break, parallel sessions started categorised under the following themes: Water for All: solutions at scale, scaling up innovation in community- based management for rural water and how to accelerate self supply. Other sessions included; ground water resources and catchment management, multiple use and drinking water supply in arid environments.
Rural water supplies for Uganda: everybody playing their roles
During the plenary, Uganda shared her experience in rural water supply focusing on the roles of different stakeholders. It came out clear that despite the many actors in rural water supply, the central government must take the leadership role, putting in place conducive policies and lead harmonisation of efforts from all other actors. In Uganda coordination is through the Ministry of Water and Environment while NGO efforts are coordinated by Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network (UWASNET).
In regard to innovative technologies the Appropriate Technology Centre (ATC) in place to conduct research as well as breaking the notion that rural water is only hand pumps. By doing so people in rural areas will be able to have water 24 hours of the day while at the same time incorporating water resources in the all development programmes.
In a situation where everyone is playing his/her roles, it is paramount for development partner to always work with government and within the stipulated government guidelines because rural water supply is a development issue.
Water for all: Solutions at scale
The session discussed what remains to be done in order to reach the MDG targets for water. Focus was on moving forward from discussing issues and targets to identifying solutions that can be replicated. It was noted that although the challenges hindering rural people in accessing safe water supply are many, workable solutions do exist. In light of the above, the session therefore focused on sharing example of successful solutions providing access to safe, affordable, accessible and reliable water in rural areas, which can be taken to scale in other regions. Some of the cross cutting susses factors identified include; focusing on sustainability of services in order to attain the MDGS, availability of appropriate technologies that correspond to reality, having in place conducive policy environment, capacity building at different levels and institutional strengthening.
Despite the above, a number of challenges faced while delivering rural water supplies were highlighted and these include; low political and financial priority to rural water supply, rapid urbanisation due to rural urban migration a process that in some instance leads to under utilisation of big rural water supply investments.
To ensure water for all, one of the key recommendations from the session was that governments should have in place supportive rural water supply policy and guidelines to ensure sustainability.
Public –Private partnership
The session further discusses the role of Public – Private Partnership in Madagascar as a promising approach to increase sustainability of piped water supply systems in rural towns. It was noted that the private sector can greatly contribute in ensuring rural water supplies if they are organised into an association (private water operators) for easy coordination.
The success factors for the private water operators identified in Madagascar include; political will, availability of various technological options and support in up scaling them. All other stakeholders should work with the private sector to ensure rural water for all.
Another interesting case study shared in the session was the integration of sanitation model in Peru highlighting the successful experience of coordination between public and private actors for the sustainable management of rural water and sanitation services. The key success factor was that of political will and good leadership. It was also observed that community participation in implementation and management of project is another core success factor.
The following statements summarise our mutual commitment to widening and accelerating progress in inclusive and sustainable rural water supplies wherever those services are absent or under-performing:
Focusing on water users and water resources:
1. We recognise the rights and the natural justice of all citizens to enjoy secure water services, regardless of location, lifestyle, gender, age, disability, ethnicity or poverty.
2. We will do everything possible to ensure that the services we deliver are equitable and sustainable, providing lasting service with no time limits.
3. We will take full account of all water users’ needs for close and unrestricted access, adequate quantity and acceptable quality of water, high levels of reliability, affordability, and a realistic burden of management responsibility.
4. We recognise the multiple uses of water, and the multiple sources from which users take their water for domestic and livelihood purposes.
Focusing on ourselves as rural water professionals:
5. We are committed to high quality of design, implementation (of both software activities and construction) and post-construction activities.
6. We will continue to develop, promote, and adhere to specific standards and codes of good practice in rural water supply, and build close links to other development sectors which affect, or are affected by, this sub-sector.
7. We will continue to enhance our own individual and organisational learning and professional development.
We will advocate for:
8. Increased and better-targeted finance for capital investments and for post-construction financing through local Governments to address the sustainability of rural water services.
9. Greater transparency and accountability in regard to progress in rural water provision and service performance.
10. Special efforts to raise the profile of rural water, including development of post-2015 targets and the possibility of an international year of rural water supply.
Endorsed and approved by the delegates to the 6th Global Forum of the Rural Water Supply Network, 1st December 2011.
Other sessions during the day
The day started with a video recap of key issues and learning from presentations of the day before. Thereafter the chairman of RWSN Richard Carter made a presentation on the vision for rural water supplies. The World Bank came in with a presentation examining the status of rural water supply in Sub Sahara Africa. After tea break, parallel sessions started categorised under the following themes: Water for All: solutions at scale, scaling up innovation in community- based management for rural water and how to accelerate self supply. Other sessions included; ground water resources and catchment management, multiple use and drinking water supply in arid environments.
Rural water supplies for Uganda: everybody playing their roles
During the plenary, Uganda shared her experience in rural water supply focusing on the roles of different stakeholders. It came out clear that despite the many actors in rural water supply, the central government must take the leadership role, putting in place conducive policies and lead harmonisation of efforts from all other actors. In Uganda coordination is through the Ministry of Water and Environment while NGO efforts are coordinated by Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network (UWASNET).
In regard to innovative technologies the Appropriate Technology Centre (ATC) in place to conduct research as well as breaking the notion that rural water is only hand pumps. By doing so people in rural areas will be able to have water 24 hours of the day while at the same time incorporating water resources in the all development programmes.
In a situation where everyone is playing his/her roles, it is paramount for development partner to always work with government and within the stipulated government guidelines because rural water supply is a development issue.
Water for all: Solutions at scale
The session discussed what remains to be done in order to reach the MDG targets for water. Focus was on moving forward from discussing issues and targets to identifying solutions that can be replicated. It was noted that although the challenges hindering rural people in accessing safe water supply are many, workable solutions do exist. In light of the above, the session therefore focused on sharing example of successful solutions providing access to safe, affordable, accessible and reliable water in rural areas, which can be taken to scale in other regions. Some of the cross cutting susses factors identified include; focusing on sustainability of services in order to attain the MDGS, availability of appropriate technologies that correspond to reality, having in place conducive policy environment, capacity building at different levels and institutional strengthening.
Despite the above, a number of challenges faced while delivering rural water supplies were highlighted and these include; low political and financial priority to rural water supply, rapid urbanisation due to rural urban migration a process that in some instance leads to under utilisation of big rural water supply investments.
To ensure water for all, one of the key recommendations from the session was that governments should have in place supportive rural water supply policy and guidelines to ensure sustainability.
Public –Private partnership
The session further discusses the role of Public – Private Partnership in Madagascar as a promising approach to increase sustainability of piped water supply systems in rural towns. It was noted that the private sector can greatly contribute in ensuring rural water supplies if they are organised into an association (private water operators) for easy coordination.
The success factors for the private water operators identified in Madagascar include; political will, availability of various technological options and support in up scaling them. All other stakeholders should work with the private sector to ensure rural water for all.
Another interesting case study shared in the session was the integration of sanitation model in Peru highlighting the successful experience of coordination between public and private actors for the sustainable management of rural water and sanitation services. The key success factor was that of political will and good leadership. It was also observed that community participation in implementation and management of project is another core success factor.
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