Mutual Accountability Mechanism
Mutual Accountability Mechanism
Accountability is central to the SWA partnership. It is the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions and account for them to others. It is a requirement for progress and a human rights principle.
Accountability is about how promises are translated into action and aspirations into reality. While States ultimately have an obligation to ensure the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation, all stakeholders have a role to play in moving our societies toward the vision laid out in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
In response to this need, the Sanitation and Water for All partnership has created the Mutual Accountability Mechanism: a tool for partners to commit and hold each other to account for progress in achieving the SDGs’ water and sanitation targets – as well as an opportunity to collaborate, learn and catalyze collective action.
Make a commitment Report progress
What is the Mutual Accountability Mechanism?
SWA’s Mutual Accountability Mechanism (MAM) is the only global accountability process in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector that is dedicated to all stakeholders working together towards achieving universal access to water and sanitation services. The mechanism helps to set priorities and a shared vision for the sector, as well as to identify roles and responsibilities for achieving them.
The MAM provides a process for all partners to make commitments and hold each other to account on the specific, measurable, time-bound actions they plan to take to achieve their targets set on the road to reaching the Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Commitments tabled under the MAM are based on national policies and enable monitoring. In just four years since the mechanism’s launch, over 400 commitments have been tabled, with half of them coming from 60 national governments.
COMMITMENTS
Government
External Support Agencies
Civil Society
Research and Learning
Private Sector
| Country | Constituency | Body / Organizations | Commitment | Target year | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global | Research and Learning | SIWI | Support advocacy for WASH mitigation opportunities as well as adaptation needs, through i) coordinating and convening high level events to advocate for and showcase, including in Regional Climate Week events, World Water Week, Regional Water Weeks, and UNFCCC annual Conference of Parties, ii) developing campaigns, policy briefs, reports or others as appropriate. | 2023 | |
| Global | Research and Learning | UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures | UTS-ISF commit to working together with in-country research institutions in Asia and the Pacific to bridge capacity, enable mutual exchange and facilitate strengthened engagement of researchers in multi-stakeholder processes in respective countries. | 2023 | |
| Global | Research and Learning | UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures | UTS-ISF will support analysis and synthesis of research on national level multi-stakeholder engagement and mutual accountability to provide usable insights and learning to SWA partners during 2021-2022. | 2022 | |
| Global | Research and Learning | Water Science Policy | Organize at least 5 art competition drawing attention to the pressing issues of water and creating relatable content accessible to all. | 2025 | |
| Global | Research and Learning | Water Science Policy | Publish a minimum of 150 science-based water-related articles available under the Creative Commons license in at least 5 world languages, with special attention given to local and marginalized languages. | 2025 | |
| Angola | External Support Agencies | UNICEF Angola Country Office (ACO) | National Strategy on Community-Led Total Sanitation for Angola approved as state public policy, to ending open defecation in the country by 2030. | 2020 | |
| Angola | External Support Agencies | UNICEF Angola Country Office (ACO) | National WASH Sector Coordination Platform (Foro Nacional das Aguas, FONAS) designed, validated among stakeholders, approved by the Government of Angola, and operational. | 2020 | |
| Bangladesh | Civil Society | Network of Networks | The CSOs along with Network of Networks will actively pursue with the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry and General Economic Division to ensure at least 70% of the poorest people including marginalized women, children, PWD, ethnic minority have access to safely managed WASH including proper menstrual hygiene management service by 2025. | 2025 |
Explore our Partner countries
Line of Control as promulgated in the 1972 SIMLA Agreement
Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not been agreed upon by the parties
The boundaries and names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations
Why should my government or organization participate?
The Mutual Accountability Mechanism provides a concrete entry point for dialogue, transparency, and coordination. It is an opportunity for stakeholders to sit around the table to plan, mutually commit to act in a coordinated way, and improve the Sustainable Development Goal 6 outcomes through collaborative efforts. The MAM provides a framework for tracking progress and increasing the visibility of water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives, nationally and globally.
Global Accountability Report 2024
COMMUNICATION TOOLKIT
Documents
View all Key documents| Key documents | Type |
|---|---|
| Indonesia Country brief: Strengthening mutual accountability and partnerships for WASH | |
| Burkina Faso Country brief: Strengthening mutual accountability and partnerships for WASH | |
| Bangladesh Country brief: Strengthening mutual accountability and partnerships for WASH | |
| Mutual Accountability Mechanism: Lisbon Meeting Report | |
| Mutual Accountability Mechanism Brochure |