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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

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Government
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External Support Agencies
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Civil Society
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Research and Learning
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Private Sector
Country Constituency Body / Organizations Commitment Target year Progress
Togo Civil Society Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE) Togo Compile data and publish annual alternative country analysis reports on SDG 6. 2020
Reviewing progress
Togo Civil Society Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE) Togo Regularly share and disseminate the State’s SDG 6 MAM commitments among communities and other partners. 2019
Reviewing progress
Togo Civil Society JVE International Establish a culture of accountability at all levels by establishing local civil society organization (CSO) data platforms by 2021. 2021
Reviewing progress
Togo Government Direction de l"hygiène et de l'assainissement de base Directorate of Sanitation and Hygiene: Advocate for a Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene budget line to be allocated to the basic sanitation and hygiene subsector in the 2021 fiscal year. 2021
Reviewing progress
Togo Government Direction de l"hygiène et de l'assainissement de base By 2021, increase the number of people living in communities certified as open defecation free from 1,136,000 to 2,358,426 2021
Reviewing progress
Viet Nam Government Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA) Ensuring ethnic minority people have access to improved water and sanitation in remote areas. 2025
Reviewing progress
Viet Nam Government Administration of Infrastructure Technology – Ministry of Construction Increasing access to safe drinking water for urban population. 2025
Reviewing progress
Viet Nam Government Health Environment Management Agency – Ministry of Health (VIHEMA) National open defecation free action plan approved and implemented 2025
Reviewing progress

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