Local Governance
Local governance for improved WASH services requires transformation at local level with the active support of institutions and policy makers at regional / provincial and national level. This includes the establishment of an enabling and supportive framework with resources and responsibilities devolved to local government so that it has the authority and the capacity to provide sustainable services. With stakeholder participation at local level and support from the broader water and sanitation sector, decentralised WASH services stand a fighting chance of success.
Towards strategic WASH sector development planning in Southern Sudan
UNICEF Southern Sudan has signed an institutional contract with IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre to provide support to the Government of Southern Sudan and its WASH sector partners in developing a strategic approach to its sector development.
Northern Uganda: District committees take ownership of learning to improve sanitation performance
In February 2010, Caritas Gulu, NETWAS Uganda and IRC carried out introductory visits on the Learning for Performance Improvement in Sanitation (PILS) initiative in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, three districts in Northern Uganda. The major aim was to create ownership of this initiative among district politicians and technocrats, and NGOs and UN agencies active in sanitation.
Building IRC’s partnership with UCLGA
IRC' s Southern Africa Regional Programme is building a partnership with the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) Water and Sanitation Focal Point Network (FPN). Following consultations with UCLGA in the IRC offices in the Hague, the IRC Southern Africa Regional Programme participated in the inaugural working session of the UCLGA Water and Sanitation Focal Point Network in August 2010, which was attended by 14 associations from African countries
Ghana president makes water his priority, says Deputy Minister of Water
Hon. Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw, Deputy Minister of Water from Ghana explains to Dick de Jong how political will by her president has triggered action on the ground. She talked at the Cape Town Water Cube on 22 March 2011, World Water Day event.
Strengthening capacities to improve the local governance of water and sanitation services in the Atlantic coast region in Honduras
Local governance of water and sanitation services in the Atlantic coast region of Honduras is influenced both by the ongoing decentralization process as well as the new regulations regarding the provision of public services. The framework law on water and sanitation, which was approved in 2003 has caused that responsibilities for the provision of services have been transferred from national level to the municipalities. Progress in the decentralisation process, however, is slow. In some cases not all responsibilities have been transferred to the local level, and or the resources and expertise to assume the new responsibilities lack at this level. These and more issues were discussed in the workshop ‘Local Governance and Capacity Development for improved WASH services in the Atlantic coast region in Honduras’, organised by the RAS-HON branch office for this region, based in the city of La Ceiba, in October 2007. In this workshop, participants have come up with a series of recommendations for strengthening the capacities to improve local WASH governance. These recommendations have been included in a field note. The field note is in Spanish, and can be accessed by following this link, which will lead you to the IRC WASH Library.
The ‘Seventh video’ raises many important governance issues
“The video raises many important governance issues, like partnerships and not to leave everything to communities, transparency in funds management, gender and equity for disadvantaged groups. It helps us see these issues more clearly.” “I have used it in several trainings here, to send the message”. These are two of the 11 comments made on the Seventh Video on Community Water Supply Management by eight participants of the WASH Governance Testing Workshop held in Morogoro, Tanzania, 17th and 18th November 2011.
Guideline to develop local water and sanitation service policies
IRC developed a guideline to assist local government in its capacity as a water and sanitation authority to develop ‘local level’ policies that guide the provision of water and sanitation services within its area of jurisdiction.
The purpose of supporting policy development by the local authority is to ensure that the local authority fulfills all its duties and responsibilities as a "water service authority" in a coordinated and integrated manner. It also assists the local authority to give effect to national water and sanitation policy in their local area, in a similar way that local bylaws give effect to national legislation.
Author Jean de la Harpe
Guideline to develop local water and sanitation services Jean de la Harpe.pdf (373.7 kB)
Background paper WASH governance for improved services
It has been long recognised that good local governance is necessary for the achievement of sustainable water and sanitation services. It is also crucial for sustainable economic growth and development. The challenge is to understand what good governance means at the local level for improved water, sanitation, and health (WASH) services, and how to achieve it.
The purpose of this background paper is to:
- Introduce the topic of governance in relation to WASH services
- Introduce the different elements of a service
- Illustrate how the principles of good governance apply to WASH services
Author Jean de la Harpe
WASH local goverance (background paper J de la Harpe) 2010.pdf (960.1 kB)
Briefing note: Water and sanitation development planning for local government
This briefing note serves as a guide to support WASH development planning at the local government level. It is accompanied by a WASH development plan template. It is based on the guidelines for developing a water services development plan within the South African context: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (2001) Water Services Development Plan Guidelines, General Overview for Water Services Authorities, Pretoria, South Africa
WASH development planning.pdf (879.4 kB)
