Conversations grounded in the SWA framework are moving the water, sanitation and hygiene sector forwards fast in Pakistan, one of the partnership’s founding members. Pakistan started using elements of the SWA framework in 2012, when a comprehensive multi-stakeholder approach was used to clarify sector responsibilities and commitments after water and sanitation mandates were devolved to the provinces.
Those early conversations enabled SWA partners to engage the national water and sanitation ministry, helping them understand the gaps that existed in coordination and service delivery for the provinces. It resulted in a new national body for water, sanitation and hygiene in Pakistan, with the responsibility to strengthen the capacities and improve the coordination, reporting and advocacy for the agenda at national and international forums.
It was clear that strong coordination between stakeholders was required. When everyone has clear roles and responsibilities, and once communities are provided with knowledge, much can be achieved.
Following the SWA High-level Meetings in 2017, Pakistan made extensive use of provincial Joint Sector Reviews to inform national sector conversations. Pakistan designed processes that reflect SWA’s Collaborative Behaviours, enabling the government to include local contributions in developing policies, outcomes and targets for the sector. It has succeeded, and has been welcomed by national sector stakeholders; it has opened up and expanded decision-making spaces to various stakeholder groups including the private sector, research and learning bodies, civil society organizations and external support agencies.
SWA partners in Pakistan have also worked extensively together using SWA’s SDG costing tool to improve national monitoring processes. By the time of the 2019 SWA Sector Ministers’ Meeting, the principles and processes for multi-stakeholder inputs to the sector dialogues were well established. Pakistan has used SWA’s Mutual Accountability Mechanism to develop constituency-specific commitments – clear accountabilities across the whole sector that listen to local voices, and align with national plans and targets, regional priorities, and international commitments.