Progress in Integrating Sanitation into a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) in Uganda

1. Progress in Integrating Sanitation into a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) in Uganda 2nd, African water week 9th-13th November 2009, South Africa

2. Outline • What is SWAp? • WSS Sector Background • Memorandum of Understanding for Improved Sanitation and Hygiene (ISH) • Post-reform challenges of mainstreaming ISH • Post reform opportunities / Enabling factors • Contribution of the MoU to mainstreaming ISH • Contribution of JSR undertakings to mainstreaming ISH • Contribution of NSWG to mainstreaming ISH • Key messages

3. What is SWAp Most significant funding for the sector supports • a single sector policy & expenditure program under government leadership • Common approaches are adopted across the sector, • progress towards relying on government procedures to disburse and account for all public expenditure, however funded

4. WSS Sector Background Previously sector was largely made up of discreet projects defined by; • Piecemeal approach to planning. • Largely donor driven investments that lacked domestic ownership. • Low sustainability. • Parallel implementation with little capacity building of Government. • High transaction costs (missions, reviews, reports) • Varying donor procedures/requirements

5. Overall enabling factors for SWAp in WSS Sector Reform • Government started promoting coordination & alignment in the 1990s e.g. Inter Ministerial Steering Committee for RWSS projects • Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP/PRSP) 2000; WSS one of PEAP priorities; • PRSC process • Like minded donors in WSS (Nordic plus) • Partnership Principles Between Government & Dev. Partners (Ownership, Alignment , harmonization, managing for results and Mutual accountability)

6. WSS Sector Reform elements contributing to Mainstreaming • Institutional framework developed • Sub-Sector reforms for increased performance and cost effectiveness; consultative and participatory • Sector Investment Plans • Donor funding modalities more conducive to SWAp • Annual Joint GoU/Devt Partners Reviews since 2003 • Donor Coordination Group • Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group • NGO Coordination thru UWASNET • Annual Sector Performance Report • Water SWAp adopted in 2002

7. Memorandum of understanding for ISH Before reform: Kampala Declaration for Sanitation 1997; Signed by All leaders based on 10 principles. After reform, the MoU was signed to ensure that ISH was not neglected & Roles were clear • Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE) : responsible for sewerage services and public facilities in towns & rural growth centers • Ministry of Health (MoH) : responsible for household hygiene & sanitation • Ministry of Education (MoE): responsible for school sanitation & hygiene

8. Post-reform Challenges of mainstreaming ISH • MoU not linked with clear financing mechanism, no discussion of rural or urban issues etc. • Key Ministries not included in the MOU at the district and sub-county levels (e.g. Local Government, Gender) • Continued expectation from sector ministries in MoU that MWE will pay for sanitation — based on its funding history in the 1990s through WSS projects • Low funding allocated to sanitation and hygiene - this is a major bottleneck (2005 study estimates: 4% of water sector grants to district, 2% of MoH PHC grants, 2% of the primary school grants to LGs) • Underlying causes: Competing social demands, bigger vote winning issues, sanitation is a private concern, benefits not obvious)

9. Post-reform Challenges of mainstreaming ISH • Multi-Ministerial Mandates and Drowning of ISH in ministerial biases - Curative health for MoH, Teacher: pupil ratio, pupil:classroom/text book ratio for MoES and Water supply for MoWE • Impact of the shift from a project driven approach to budget support + MoFPED Sector Budget ceilings MoES & MoH sector ceilings not increased with transfer of responsibilities in parallel with a decrease in the ceiling given to MoWE • Range of institution and governance issuesincluding inadequate political support for sanitation at the national and LGs levels

10. Post-reform Challenges of mainstreaming ISH • No clear accountability to line ministries i.e. District level officers report to district leaders on national targets and not to national line ministries • Lack of prioritizationof sanitation & hygiene at all levels in LGs development plans • Fiscal Decentralization : bringing Coherence • Poor Coordination at LG Level • District Frontline workers not used to competing for budgets

11. Post-reform Opportunities/Enabling factors • ”Good will” from MoFPED: Based on Infant and Marternal Mortality study findings of key role of ISH • Commitment to meeting MDGs • Requirement of ISH Before water connection in RWSS • Area Support Teams in MoH, Software group and Technical Support Unit in MoWE • Kampala Master Plan for Sanitation. • Active NGO Network/NGOs • Technical Assistance/Funding: DFID, WSP • Immense support from the current Ministers of MoWE

12. Contribution of the MoU to mainstreaming ISH • Helped in raising the profile of sanitation - E.g. Joint Sector Review Undertakings since 2003 in Health, & Water (Similar). • Defined the institutional arrangements for sanitation at the central level - Water Sector guidelines: MoH budget circulars to LGs, MoES SFG for new school buildings • Highlighted the need for coordination and collaboration - leading to the institutionalization of the National Sanitation Working Group (NSWG)

13. Contribution of JSR Undertakings to mainstreaming ISH • 2003: National Coordination, Operationalize the MoU, Clear budget lines, Best practices • 2004: District Water and Sanitation Coordination Committees/ Integrated work plans • 2005: Use up to 10% of the sector grants on Sanitation/integrated work plans. • 2006: Investigate the best way to establish a budget line for sanitation: • 2007: BoPs and support enforcement • 2008: Develop ordinances and bye laws and enforce. • 2009: Finalise guidelines for sanitation fund and disburse funds.

14. Contribution of NSWG to mainstreaming ISH • Key achievements in mainstreaming ISH: • Lobbying. E.g. PRSC/PEAP/ HSSP II; Sector Investment Plan : Preparing Road map/ISH strategy • Similar annual undertakings since 2003 to date in Health and water; Help in dissemination/implementation • Annual Sanitation week celebrations • Golden indicators (Access to toilets and hand washing facilities) • Influenced sector guidelines and budget guidelines • Initiated National Hand washing Campaign. • Strengthened budget mechanism thru: Road map & Study of institutional and financing challenges. • International Year of Sanitation; Uganda Africasan + 5

15. Key messages in mainstreaming Improved Sanitation and Hygiene • Coordination mechanism involving Govt & LGs, DPs, CSOs and Pvt sector. • Transparency & openness in coordination mechanism • Political commitment at all levels is necessary: Speak out & take action • Sanitation is a priority issue in its own right. • Need to Clarify roles & link with financing mechanism • Benefits of ISH not obvious • Mainstreaming ISH requires proactive engagement

16. Key messages in mainstreaming Improved Sanitation and Hygiene • Champions are necessary - at key Sector meetings/processes- policy/strategy development • Explicit/ring-fenced funding needed - for ISH and related capacity building & software activities • Need for improved M & E • Mainstreaming ISH is a process - with incremental progress • Capacity building at centre and Local Government level. • Flexible funding: Analytical work, capacity building

17. Thank you for listening! Q & A