Colombia’s water, sanitation and hygiene sector has made strides forward after increased attention to its importance at the highest levels of decision-making. This has been encouraged with strong backing and encouragement from the SWA global partnership, including a country visit from SWA’s CEO in 2019. The Government has re-prioritized water and sanitation services to address inequalities, reducing the urban rural divide and supporting vulnerable populations. This includes significant water and sanitation infrastructure investment, targeted incentives, and improvements to regulations.
SWA’s support has had a hugely positive impact, increasing the visibility of the sector and encouraging much-needed conversations at the highest levels.
Civil society organizations and donor agencies have spearheaded the push to increase political will in the sector. SWA has reinforced efforts through high-level advocacy for the sector, in particular reiterating the benefits of tackling inequalities, and reducing the urban rural divide in accessing water, sanitation and hygiene. SWA mechanisms have provided critical spaces for dialogue and advocacy on these issues. These have included the Sector Ministers’ Meeting in Costa Rica in April 2019, the SWA leadership visit to Colombia in December 2019, the World Leaders’ Call to Action in May 2020 (co-signed by the Colombian President), and the Ministerial Roundtable in July 2020.
Colombia has also seen innovations in regulation to support marginalized communities. This includes direct subsidies for informal neighbourhoods, and for technological solutions better suited to rural areas. Close liaison between the sector ministry and the Agencia de Renovación del Territorio (ART), which is predominantly focused in post-conflict areas has also helped reduce inequalities: significant infrastructure investment has been agreed, with links forged between the ART and the Rural Water and Sanitation programme.
Colombia has built on this increasing political will in the sector by developing ways to increase engagement and dialogue between sector actors during its time as an SWA partner. The creation of a national multi-sector platform has created a space for discussion between government, NGOs, external support agencies, academia and the private sector. This continued political will is essential as Colombia looks to build on its progress, particularly with sector budgets set at their highest level for a decade.