2016 High-level Meeting

The SWA Meeting of Ministers of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (SMM) was a unique opportunity for countries to plan and prepare for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals related to sanitation, water and hygiene, and for external support agencies to understand how best they can support. It was convened by UNICEF, hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and chaired by HE Kevin Rudd, Chair of SWA.

It was the first step for countries and their partners to discuss national planning to meet the challenges of the water, sanitation and hygiene-related targets of the new SDGs. The meeting’s format allowed discussion of the implications on planning and resource requirements, as well as created opportunities for exchanging best practices and agree on the process for engaging finance and planning ministries.

Participants also included high-level representatives from civil society, external support agencies, research and learning institutions and the private sector and provided a forum to understand the needs of countries and how best to collectively support them. As an international community, it was an opportunity to agree on how to track progress and contribute to the UN Follow-up and Review process of the SDGs.

The objectives of the Ministerial Meeting were to:

• Examine the sanitation, water and hygiene components of SDG 6 and other related targets within the SDGs (including the sub-targets, indicators and definitions) and identify what their level of ambition means for the WASH sector.
• Take stock of the sector, share experiences and identify the major bottlenecks to achieving the sanitation, water and hygiene targets, including barriers to development effectiveness (the four SWA Collaborative Behaviours).
• Identify the respective roles and responsibilities of governments, development partners, civil society research and learning institutions and the private sector in achieving the sanitation, water and hygiene-related SDG targets.
• Lay groundwork for clear action plans, strategies and commitments for the water, sanitation and hygiene related targets of the SDGs.
• Develop an understanding of how the sanitation, water and hygiene sector needs to interact and work with other related sectors – nationally and internationally – to ensure the achievement of all the SDGs. Identify the key elements of a future SWA mutual accountability mechanism for the water, sanitation and hygiene related targets of the SDGs.

For more information please contact the SWA Secretariat or follow the meeting on twitter via #SW4ALL.

Technical meeting on 17 March

A technical meeting was held on 17 March, 2016 immediately following the SWA Meeting of Ministers of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. The technical meeting brought together sanitation and water professionals from government and other SWA partner organizations.

The purpose of the meeting was to:

1. Translate outcomes of the Ministers’ Meeting into actions that countries and partners can take in their design and implementation of SDG plans
2. Share tools and resources needed for preparations related to the SDGs
3. Plan and share ideas on incorporating SDGs into national WASH plans
4. Plan and share latest thinking on strengthening data collection, monitoring systems and national accountability mechanisms to improve WASH national evidence bases for decision-makers
5. Agree milestones in the run up to subsequent finance and sector ministers High-Level Meetings.

Download the agenda of the technical meeting on 17 March

Reports

Access the Summary Report

Other

The collaborative behaviours

Media

Access the SWA media release

Access SWA Chair the Hon. Mr. Kevin Rudd’s opening remarks

Access the photo albums of the three days

Key Note Speakers

His Excellency Dr. Mulatu Teshome President Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia	The Hon. Mr Kevin Rudd Chair, SWA 26th Prime Minister of Australia	Mr Anthony Lake Executive Director UNICEF
Ms Jyoti Shukla Senior Manager, Water and Sanitation Program World Bank Global Water Practice	Ms Catarina de Albuquerque Executive Chair, SWA First UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation	Mr Ted Chaiban Director of Programmes UNICEF

Videos