This report documents both the progress and barriers facing countries in their quest to achieve their sanitation MDG. Its purpose is to present an honest overview of the sanitation situation in the region based on 32 country assessments. The report identifies common challenges and issues across countries and discusses some possible solutions and options based on the innovations which are already taking place within the continent and elsewhere in the world. The lessons learned are important for replication and to help achieve scale and impact; these last two being crucial for MDG achievement in Africa. This report likely to be a valuable resource for anyone working in the sanitation sector. It provides up-to-date comparative data for the region as well as information on strategic areas such as the national policies and institutional frameworks for sanitation within each country; financing and resources; capacity and monitoring and evaluation. But this report has one other important function: to raise awareness of the state of sanitation within countries, and at regional and global levels. International and national pressure is needed to succeed; this document provides irrefutable evidence: the Africa region requires a mighty effort from all stakeholders to achieve the MDG on sanitation. Table of Contents: Foreword Introduction Executive Summary An Overall Worrying Situation What are we talking about Sanitation has many dimensions Sanitation is a complex chain of actors and operations Sanitation is a business The overwhelming weight of on-site sanitation in Africa The importance of external factors Considerable demographic growth Rapid urbanization Poverty Lack of political commitment Poor coordination Low level of education Lack of attractiveness of the sector Africa is not ‘one’ sanitation situation Fragmented institutions Policies and strategies – only paper tigers Local authorities and the limits of decentralization Access: do we have a clear picture of the situation Access: the global picture in Africa Low Access Slow or no progress Huge disparities How many countries are on track to reach the sanitation MDG Hygiene and behavior change – the poor cousin Financing What is to be financed Financing on-site sanitation How much will it cost Policy shift is even more important than ODA money Looking for sanitation professionals – the capacity issue Private sector involvement Monitoring and evaluation Challenges and Encouraging Perspectives 10 Challenges to meet the sanitation MDG target Challenge 1: Push sanitation higher up the political agenda Challenge 2: Develop sound policies and strategies Challenge 3: Prepare sustainable action and investment plans Challenge 4: Put local authorities in the driving seat Challenge 5: Build sector capacity with a focus on local players Challenge 6: Integrate hygiene and sanitation behavior change Challenge 7: Develop sustainable financing strategies Challenge 8: Initiate partnerships with the private sector Challenge 9: Encourage innovation, cooperation and R&D Challenge 10: Monitor progress and evaluate impact Encouraging perspectives – what can inspire us Raising political concern Sound policies and strategies New institutional set-ups Innovative approaches New financing tools How to Push Forward the S&H Sector A flexible tool, adapted to a large range of situations Priority area 1: Institutional Arrangements Priority area 2: Coordination Priority area 3: Policy/ Strategy Priority area 4: Financing Priority area 5: Demand-led and Supply-fed Sanitation and Hygiene Priority area 6: Capacity Building Priority area 7: Devolution of Functions/ Decentralisation Priority area 8: Measurement of Impact, Monitoring and Evaluation Selected bibliography Methodological note on the cost estimate
Post Date : 01 April 2009
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