SWA partners report significant progress on 56% of the 383 commitments tabled by 43 developing countries and 12 donors at the 2014 High Level Meeting. Most of the commitments are meant to be achieved by April 2016 and aim at removing barriers to progress, eliminating inequalities and ensuring sustainability of water and sanitation services.
Countries report significant progress on half of their commitments, including a tenth which are nearly or already achieved. In particular, they report progress on commitments to improve the visibility of the sector, develop and implement national monitoring systems, and increase institutional and human capacity.
Countries also report slow progress on almost 40% of their commitments, including 7% facing major barriers. Although there are some specific good examples of increased budget allocations for the sector, overall, country commitments related to financing are lagging behind.
Donors achieved significant progress on 81% of their commitments, including more than a quarter which are either already or almost completed. Most of this progress is concentrated on commitments around financing, improving visibility of the sector and decentralization. Donors also report slow progress on 19%, mostly on the few commitments related to increasing evidence and improving coordination and alignment.
The Mid-Term Review of Progress is the consolidation of SWA partners’ self-monitoring. The commitments are set and monitored by partners, together with the main in-country stakeholders.
“We are encouraged by the results of the Mid-term Review and partners’ participation in it: 40 of the 43 countries and all 12 donors that made commitments reported back a year later,” said Catarina de Albuquerque, Executive Chair of SWA. “The spirit of the reporting is about learning from experience. We look at where we are making progress, and where we are still facing challenges, and this strengthens our resolve to do better.”
Press conference launching the Review (video below). Speakers:
- Catarina de Albuquerque, SWA Executive Chair
- Hon. Ms. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation & Water Resources, South Sudan
- Hon. Mr. Tanveer Aslam Malik, Minister of Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering, Punjab, Pakistan
More photos on SWA's flickr.