Progress in Integrating Sanitation into a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) in Uganda 2 nd, African water week 9 th -13 th November 2009, South Africa

2 Outline 1.What is SWAp? 2.WSS Sector Background 3.Memorandum of Understanding for Improved Sanitation and Hygiene (ISH) 4.Post-reform challenges of mainstreaming ISH 5.Post reform opportunities / Enabling factors 6.Contribution of the MoU to mainstreaming ISH 7.Contribution of JSR undertakings to mainstreaming ISH 8.Contribution of NSWG to mainstreaming ISH 9.Key messages

3 What is SWAp Most significant funding for the sector supports a single sector policy & expenditure program under government leadership Common approaches are adopted across the sector, progress towards relying on government procedures to disburse and account for all public expenditure, however funded

4 WSS Sector Background Previously sector was largely made up of discreet projects defined by;  Piecemeal approach to planning.  Largely donor driven investments that lacked domestic ownership.  Low sustainability.  Parallel implementation with little capacity building of Government.  High transaction costs (missions, reviews, reports)  Varying donor procedures/requirements

5 Overall enabling factors for SWAp in WSS Sector Reform  Government started promoting coordination & alignment in the 1990s e.g. Inter Ministerial Steering Committee for RWSS projects  Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP/PRSP) 2000; WSS one of PEAP priorities;  PRSC process  Like minded donors in WSS (Nordic plus)  Partnership Principles Between Government & Dev. Partners (Ownership, Alignment, harmonization, managing for results and Mutual accountability)

6 WSS Sector Reform elements contributing to Mainstreaming  Institutional framework developed  Sub-Sector reforms for increased performance and cost effectiveness; consultative and participatory  Sector Investment Plans  Donor funding modalities more conducive to SWAp  Annual Joint GoU/Devt Partners Reviews since 2003  Donor Coordination Group  Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group  NGO Coordination thru UWASNET  Annual Sector Performance Report  Water SWAp adopted in 2002

7 Memorandum of understanding for ISH Before reform: Kampala Declaration for Sanitation 1997; Signed by All leaders based on 10 principles. After reform, the MoU was signed to ensure that ISH was not neglected & Roles were clear  Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE) : responsible for sewerage services and public facilities in towns & rural growth centers  Ministry of Health (MoH) : responsible for household hygiene & sanitation  Ministry of Education (MoE): responsible for school sanitation & hygiene

8 Post-reform Challenges of mainstreaming ISH  MoU not linked with clear financing mechanism, no discussion of rural or urban issues etc.  Key Ministries not included in the MOU at the district and sub-county levels (e.g. Local Government, Gender)  Continued expectation from sector ministries in MoU that MWE will pay for sanitation — based on its funding history in the 1990s through WSS projects  Low funding allocated to sanitation and hygiene - this is a major bottleneck (2005 study estimates: 4% of water sector grants to district, 2% of MoH PHC grants, 2% of the primary school grants to LGs)  Underlying causes: Competing social demands, bigger vote winning issues, sanitation is a private concern, benefits not obvious)

9 Post-reform Challenges of mainstreaming ISH  Multi-Ministerial Mandates and Drowning of ISH in ministerial biases - Curative health for MoH, Teacher: pupil ratio, pupil:classroom/text book ratio for MoES and Water supply for MoWE  Impact of the shift from a project driven approach to budget support + MoFPED Sector Budget ceilings MoES & MoH sector ceilings not increased with transfer of responsibilities in parallel with a decrease in the ceiling given to MoWE  Range of institution and governance issues including inadequate political support for sanitation at the national and LGs levels

10 Post-reform Challenges of mainstreaming ISH  No clear accountability to line ministries i.e. District level officers report to district leaders on national targets and not to national line ministries  Lack of prioritization of sanitation & hygiene at all levels in LGs development plans  Fiscal Decentralization : bringing Coherence  Poor Coordination at LG Level  District Frontline workers not used to competing for budgets

11 Post-reform Opportunities/Enabling factors  ”Good will” from MoFPED: Based on Infant and Marternal Mortality study findings of key role of ISH  Commitment to meeting MDGs  Requirement of ISH Before water provision in RWSS  Area Support Teams in MoH, Software group and Technical Support Unit in MoWE  Kampala Master Plan for Sanitation.  Active NGO Network/NGOs  Technical Assistance/Funding: DFID, WSP  Immense support from the current Ministers of MoWE

12 Contribution of the MoU to mainstreaming ISH  Helped in raising the profile of sanitation - E.g. Joint Sector Review Undertakings since 2003 in Health, & Water (Similar).  Defined the institutional arrangements for sanitation at the central level -Water Sector guidelines: MoH budget circulars to LGs, MoES SFG for new school buildings  Highlighted the need for coordination and collaboration - leading to the institutionalization of the National Sanitation Working Group (NSWG)

13 Contribution of JSR Undertakings to mainstreaming ISH (Trigger for Budget support/PRSC)  2003: National Coordination, Operationalize the MoU, Clear budget lines, Best practices  2004: District Water and Sanitation Coordination Committees/ Integrated work plans  2005: Use up to 10% of the sector grants on Sanitation/integrated work plans.  2006: Investigate the best way to establish a budget line for sanitation:  2007: BoPs and support enforcement  2008: Develop ordinances and bye laws and enforce.  2009: Finalise guidelines for sanitation fund and disburse funds.

14 Contribution of NSWG to mainstreaming ISH  Key achievements in mainstreaming ISH:  Lobbying. E.g. PRSC/PEAP/ HSSP II; Sector Investment Plan : Preparing Road map/ISH strategy  Similar annual undertakings since 2003 to date in Health and water; Help in dissemination/implementation  Annual Sanitation week celebrations  Golden indicators (toilets and hand washing )  Influenced sector guidelines and budget guidelines  Initiated National Hand washing Campaign.  Analytical work: Strengthened budget mechanism : Road map & Study of institutional & financing challenges.  International Year of Sanitation; Uganda Africasan + 5

15 Key messages in mainstreaming Improved Sanitation and Hygiene  Coordination mechanism involving Govt & LGs, DPs, CSOs and Pvt sector.  Transparency & openness in coordination mechanism  Political commitment at all levels is necessary: Speak out & take action  Sanitation is a priority issue in its own right. Need a dedicated budget line.  Need to Clarify roles & link with financing mechanism  Benefits of ISH not obvious; Disseminate  Mainstreaming ISH requires proactive engagement  Take advantage of the international declarations.

16 Key messages in mainstreaming Improved Sanitation and Hygiene  Champions are necessary - at key Sector meetings/processes- policy/strategy development  Road Map –Financing Strategy  Explicit/ring-fenced funding needed - for ISH and related capacity building & software activities  Need for improved M & E  Mainstreaming ISH is a process - with incremental progress  Capacity building at centre and Local Government level.  Flexible funding: Analytical work, capacity building

17 Thank you for listening! Q & A