NGO Coordination in WASH By Jonathan Burton

1. NGO Coordination in WASHBy Jonathan Burton National Water & Sanitation Forum Abuja 29 August – 1 September 2006

2. Introduction • Providing access to safe water and improved sanitation for Nigeria’s population is a huge challenge. • National policy recognises the need to harness the capacity and resources of non-state actors including civil society organisations such as NGOs. • NGOs offer potential to unlock additional capacity, motivation and private resources as well as an opportunity to strengthen mediation between consumers and service providers for increased efficiency and sustainability of services.

3. Introduction (Cont’d) • This will require support and resources from government and external donors to build NGO capacity and promote self-managed networks, trust and mutual understanding. • Civil society participation must be institutionalized, through the creation of ‘invited spaces’ and the recognition of ‘claimed spaces’.

4. Why work with NGOs in WASH? • NGOs are close to consumers and can enhance relevance and efficiency of services • NGOs generate untapped resources and build social capital • NGOs can monitor standards of service provision by public and private providers

5. Why do NGOs need coordination? • There are inefficiencies arising from the small size of NGOs. • NGOs are diverse in interest and values. • NGOs are mostly weak

6. How can NGOs be coordinated? Framework for Sector Coordination (2006) NGO Coordination Mechanisms • Networks • Coalitions • Alliances • Federations • Social Movements

7. The stages of creating a new network or coalition • Having a common goal or interest: Identifying the ‘Network Advantage’ i.e. what is the joint value created by working together? • Choosing the right partners: Having the skills, capacities and connections that are required • Creating clear governance structures: Establishing trust and accountability processes. • Allowing open communication: Developing action plans with measurable long-term and short-term outcomes

8. Implications for the WASH Sector Agencies • NGO coordination is built out of trust and recognition of common aims. • Self-managed coordination is empowering, sustainable and easier for public sector agencies to engage. However these characteristics take time • The National Water & Sanitation Policy (2000) and the NEEDS (2004) call for government to ‘create an enabling environment for CSOs’. • This involves streamlined and inclusive registration processes, financial and technical support with capacity-building, the creation of ‘invited spaces’ and recognition of ‘claimed spaces’.

9. Implications for the WASH Sector Agencies • NGOs themselves must comply with legal and other official requirements and maintain the standards of transparency and accountability that they advocate for others. • By working with existing networks, building mutual understanding through openness and self-analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, by mapping their objectives and activities and by sharing data and best practices, they will gradually develop effective mechanisms to coordinate their respective endeavours.

10. Thank You