SACOSAN VII ended successfully with the signature of the SACOSAN 7 Declaration by each of the high-level representatives of the 8 member countries, renewing the commitment of working together towards an open defecation free South Asia and the achievement of SDG 6.2 in the region. Thanks to the Government of Pakistan and the support of all of the partners participating in SACOSAN VII, it has been a very successful conference, with the participation of more than 500 persons from the WASH sector, including from governments and different partners (more than 250 coming from other South Asian countries and globally).
SWA had the opportunity to participate, learn and contribute to some very interesting technical and side sessions focused on several key WASH topics. Notably, SWA presented in a thematic session hosted by the Sri Lankan delegation, on financing of sanitation, where the audience learned about the benefits of using the costing tool in their efforts to identify and analyse the needed financing to achieve SDG targets 6. 1 and 6.2. SACOSAN VII also served as the platform to discuss the SWA’s updated Mutual Accountability Mechanism in South Asia, during the SWA-hosted side session. This session was attended by the Pakistani Minster of Information, the Honourable Ms. Marriyum AurangzebIn, who is also responsible for the SDG taskforce, was chaired by the Government of Afghanistan, and featured speakers from UNICEF, and WSSCC. In addition to the above mentioned activities, SWA had bilateral meetings with the countries present who are partners of SWA, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
