CONCEPT NOTE SECOND GHANA WATER FORUM (GWF-2)

Transcription

1 CONCEPT NOTE SECOND GHANA WATER FORUM (GWF-2) THEME: WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES DELIVERY IN GHANA: THE SUSTAINABILITY FACTOR 1 Background The Second Ghana Water Forum (GWF-2) is being organised as the major programme on the Ghana Water Calendar to deliberate on issues affecting the sub-sector and to chart a path for the water sector to pursue to achieve sustainable water and sanitation delivery in Ghana. The GWF-2 is being organised by stakeholders in the Water Sector in Ghana, under the auspices of the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing. The first Ghana Water Forum (GWF-1) was organised in October 2009, as recommended by the Joint GOG/Development Partners Conference held at Akosombo in September, The GWF is being organised as the key event on the Nations Water Calendar to bring together all stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting the sector. 2 Regional Context The African Union (AU), through the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW,) has institutionalised an Annual African Water Week to, among others, examine progress towards the achievement of the targets set forth in the Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation and the longer term African Water Vision The AU Heads of State and Government took a number of decisions at its summit in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt in Recognition was given to the importance of water in the socio-economic development of the continent. AMCOW was requested to report to the AU summits annually. The Sharm El Sheikh Commitments by the AU Heads of State and Government was passed in July, 2008 and is as follows: Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 1

2 2.1 Sharm El Sheikh Commitments on Water and Sanitation POLITICAL LEADERS COMMITMENT TO ACTION a. Increase our efforts to implement our past declarations related to water and sanitation; b. Strengthen AMCOW as a key regional mechanism, and other regional stakeholders, as relevant, for promoting cooperation on water and sanitation; AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT AND FOOD SECURITY c. Address issues pertaining to agricultural water use for food security as provided for in the Ministerial Declaration and outcomes of the first African Water Week. ACHIEVING MDGs d. Develop and/or update national water management policies, regulatory frameworks, and programmes, and prepare national strategies and action plans for achieving the MDG targets for water and sanitation over the next seven (7) years; e. Raise the profile of sanitation by addressing the gaps in the context of the 2008 ethekwini Ministerial Declaration on sanitation in Africa adopted by AMCOW. GOVERNANCE f. Create conducive environment to enhance the effective engagement of local authorities and the private sector; g. Promote effective engagement of African civil society and public participation in water and sanitation activities and programmes; WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT h. Ensure the equitable and sustainable use, as well as promote integrated management and development, of national and shared water resources in Africa; CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY i. Put in place adaptation measures to improve the resilience of our countries to the increasing threat of climate change and variability to our water resources and our capacity to meet the water and sanitation targets; FINANCING j. Significantly increase domestic financial resources allocated for implementing national and regional water and sanitation development activities and Call upon Ministers of water and finance to develop appropriate investment plans; Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 2

3 k. Develop local financial instruments and markets for investments in the water and sanitation sectors; l. Call on African Ministers in charge of water and finance in collaboration with the African Development Bank and development partners, to hold a meeting of Ministers of Water and Finance to develop appropriate financing policies; EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT m. Request AMCOW to annually report on progress made in the implementation of our commitment on water and sanitation with support from regional partners, and to submit these reports for our consideration; 2.2 Africa Water Week As part of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) decision to institutionalise the Africa Water Week, countries are expected to organise national conferences and fora to present the countries position vis-a-vis the commitments made by AMCOW. At the second Africa Water Week organised in South Africa in November, 2009, Ghana was the only country to have organised a national water forum and to present the outcomes at the Africa Water Week. This was highly commended by AMCOW and the organisers of the Africa Water Week. The third Africa Water Week is slated for November, 2010 to be held in Dakar, Senegal. Ghana, through the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing is organising the second Ghana Water Forum to enable the country presents its position. Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 3

4 3 Local Context 3.1 Theme for Second Ghana Water Forum In Ghana, there has been an increase in the coverage of water supply, especially for rural communities and small towns since the launch of the National Community Water and Sanitation Project (NCWSP) in Over the last ten years the coverage has increased from 41% according to 2000 Population and Housing Census to 60% at the end of 2009, according to information available from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA). The coverage for urban water has remained quite stable over the period. In recent times, it has been observed that some of the water supply facilities that have been provided are not functioning as expected, while there are a few which are totally non-functional. There is therefore the need to ensure that facilities provided remain functional throughout their design life and beyond. Against this background and the recent emphasis made by the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing on sustainability, the theme for the second Ghana Water Forum (GWF-2) is Water and Sanitation Services Delivery in Ghana: The Sustainability Factor 3.2 Objectives of the Second Ghana Water Forum The main objectives of the second Ghana Water Forum (GWF-2) include: Creating a platform for all stakeholders in the water and sanitation sub-sectors in Ghana including the political leadership, sector institutions, decentralised structures, water sector professionals, NGOs and Development Partners to discuss and review strategies, opportunities and challenges to ensure the longterm sustainability of water facilities; Reviewing and analysing the National Water Policy (NWP) and the new Environmental Sanitation Policy, statements and directives on factors that will enhance the sustainability of installed water and sanitation facilities; Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 4

5 Taking stock of the status of the achievements of the MDGs in Ghana, reviewing key achievements and challenges and proposing strategies and actions for accelerating the achievement of the water and sanitation targets; Building consensus on measures that will ensure the sustainability of installed facilities, including the appropriate Operation and Maintenance (O&M) strategies, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mechanisms and providing recommendations for consideration at the highest political level; and Formulating concrete policies, strategies and actions to ensure sustainability of facilities at all levels and the provision of services taking into account the challenges and impact of climate change and variability. The forum will focus on the following key thematic areas: Existing monitoring and evaluation systems in place for water and sanitation systems and measures to ensure the systems work. Post-Construction Management and Sustainable Services at Scale. Measures to increase sanitation coverage including and key focus on behavioural change. Governance and Financing for Sanitation. Governance and Social Accountability in WASH Delivery. Groundwater monitoring and basin management to ensure the sustainable use of the nations water resources. The effects of climate change and other natural phenomena on the sustainability of water resources and installed facilities. The impact of multiple uses of water on water resources and Innovative funding mechanisms, delivery strategies and sustainability mechanisms for water and sanitation systems. 3.3 Major Features of the Forum Programme The second Ghana Water Forum will take place from October 19-21, A number of different activities will be undertaken as part of the forum to make it a grand success and an improvement over the first Ghana Water Forum held in October The forum will be open to a wide cross-section of the Ghanaian populace to have a maximum impact on the sector. This is to ensure that stakeholders and the public at Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 5

6 large have an understanding of the issues that enable installed facilities function during and beyond their design life. The activities will include the following: Opening Session: The opening session of the forum will be a high level plenary session. The Ministers for Finance and Economic Planning, Water Resources Works and Housing, Local Government and Rural Development and Women and Children s Affairs are expected to be present. Statements will be made by Development Partners, Business Community, Children and Youth of Ghana and Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS). The forum is expected to be opened by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana. Exhibition: Sector Institutions, Government Agencies, Business Community, Development Partners and NGOs will be expected to mount exhibitions. The exhibitions are expected to showcase achievements, innovations and business opportunities available in the water and sanitation sub-sector. The exhibition is expected to be opened by His Excellency the President or his representative. Thematic Process: This will involve presentations and discussions in Plenary and Parallel sessions and will serve as the main focal event to raise topical issues relating to the thematic areas and seek national consensus to address them. To achieve these objectives a number of sector professionals and institutions - both local and foreign will engage stakeholders in presentations and provide the evidence base to share lessons and proffer solutions. The output of this will be a summary of the outcomes (including recommendations) that will be sent to Government for consideration. Ministerial and Development Partners Roundtable (M&DPR): This session will be organised as a major side event of the forum. The M&DPR will be chaired by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning. Other Ministers present will be the Ministers for Water Resources Works and Housing and Local Government and Rural Development. Ambassadors and Country Representatives of Development Partners will hold high level discussions and make commitments on the way forward. There will be a series of meetings prior to the forum. These meetings will be used as preparation for a Statement which will be presented as one of the outcomes of the forum. Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 6

7 Business Roundtable: The Business Roundtable will bring together the business community in Ghana under the chairmanship of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to deliberate on the contribution corporate Ghana can make towards sustainable water delivery in Ghana. The roundtable will seek to bring out business opportunities for Ghanaian businesses in the water and sanitation sub-sector. Ghana Youth and Children s Forum GYCF): The GYCF will be organised by the youth and children of Ghana under the auspices of the United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF). The main purpose of the GYCF is to create an awareness of future leaders of the nation with respect to the importance of water for the overall socio-economic development of Ghana. The GYCF will come out with their position on water issues in general and on how to ensure facilities provided are operated and maintained in a sustainable manner. Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 7

8 4 Expected Outcomes of the Second Ghana Water Forum 4.1 Main Outcome The second Ghana Water Forum (GWF-2) is expected to bring about a renewed awareness of the importance of sustainability of existing water and sanitation facilities. The operation and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities will not be affected by the general lack of maintenance culture in the nation. Innovative measures for ensuring sustainability will be showcased. 4.2 Other Outcomes The forum is expected to achieve the following outcomes also: Policy makers will be made conscious of the key measures that should be instituted to ensure facilities are well maintained after project closure. The sector will have sustainability as a key focus and not just the provision and commissioning of new facilities. There will be clear cut funding mechanisms as well as a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system in place for the sector for post construction activities. There will be increased collaboration between Government, Civil Society, and the Private Sector (including the Business Community) for the implementation of robust, efficient and dependable support for operation and maintenance and other post construction support activities. Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 8

9 5 Implementation Arrangement for GWF Organisation of the Forum The second Ghana Water Forum (GWF-2) will be organised as a collaborative effort between all sector stakeholders. The organising committee for the forum shall consist of representation of the following: Water Directorate of MWRWH Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate of MLGRD Water Resources Commission Ghana Water Company Limited Community Water and Sanitation Agency Aqua Vitens Rand Limited Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) Ghana Watsan Journalists Network Water and Sanitation Monitoring Platform Association of Ghana Industries Private Sector Representatives of Development Partners (CIDA & UNICEF) Allied Sector Agencies/Collaborators providing support to the Organising Committee include: Ministry of Environment Ministry of Women and Children s Affairs Hydrological Services Department Water Research Institute Environmental Protection Agency International Water Management Institute Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) KNUST SWITCH WashCost IRC Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 9

10 All members of the LOC together with collaborating partners are expected to play significant roles in discussions during thematic and plenary presentations and discussions in their areas of expertise. They will also be expected to carry the outcomes of the forum to the various constituencies they represent across all spheres of the Ghanaian society. The forum is expected to be launched in the first week of October, 2010 by the Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing. 5.2 Key Milestones The following key milestones are expected to be achieved in order for a successful GWF-2 to be organised: The Organising Committee set up June, 2010 Key Stakeholder Identified July, 2010 Thematic Sessions Drawn Up July - August, 2010 Fund Mobilisation/Sponsorship July - October, 2010 Publicity July - October, 2010 Briefing of Sector Ministries August, 2010 Procurement of Event Manager August, 2010 Procurement of Venue August, 2010 Commission Keynote Presentation August, 2010 Thematic Presentations Coordination August - October, 2010 Select Conveners for Side Events August, 2010 Registration for Forum Opens September, 2010 Launch of Side Events September, 2010 Forum Launch October, 2010 Concept Note GWF-2 (Draft 1) 10