In Paraguay, the Mutual Accountability Mechanism has improved engagement between stakeholders, and provided for a shared understanding of the needs of the water and sanitation sector. For the Government, the mechanism has been a means to set out its key sector priorities and to form a basis for conversations with other sector actors. The Mutual Accountability Mechanism has also strengthened the structures within which to work, building momentum and raising visibility for Paraguay’s ambitions to achieve significant increases in levels of water and sanitation coverage. Both the Government and key civil society partners feel that the Mutual Accountability Mechanism provides an opportunity to talk and think at the sector level, rather than purely organizationally or institutionally.
Both the Government and key civil society partners in the sector feel that the Mutual Accountability Mechanism provides an opportunity to talk and think at the sector level, rather than purely organizationally or institutionally.
Since starting to engage partners through the Mutual Accountability Mechanism in 2018, the Government has been able to reach a broader and increasingly diverse range of stakeholders. An initial review of Mutual Accountability Mechanism commitments in 2019 saw the process bring in more actors and inputs, broadening the conversation to include perspectives and expertise from academia, the private sector, and civil society. Although COVID-19 has disrupted this process, there is a strong will to build the broadest possible collaboration to deliver the commitments. In turn, the Mutual Accountability Mechanism is increasingly being seen as a platform to develop, discuss and deliver Paraguay’s vision for the sector – even helping stakeholders to keep track of sector priorities when the pandemic hit. The Mutual Accountability Mechanism process has helped to create a common vision and voice for the sector. It has allowed for greater engagement between the government and civil society by enabling the Government’s Water and Sanitation Directorate (DAPSAN), the civil society organization Environment and Social Research Center (CEAMSO) and other stakeholders to build the broad alliances required to make this vision a reality. For Claudia Zapattini of CEAMSO, the Mutual Accountability Mechanism has helped civil society organizations get a ‘seat at the table’ for important sector discussions. The mechanism has also helped DAPSAN to engage the Ministry of Finance to embed a key idea: that the water, sanitation and hygiene sector is not simply an expenditure, but a critical investment that will pay socio-economic dividends in the future.
The revision of the National Drinking Water and Sanitation Plans is an example of how multistakeholder dialogues have delivered tangible improvements to the sector. “The Mutual Accountability Mechanism provided a clarity that has made it easier to involve and consult other actors as part of the process”, explained Mr Hugo of DAPSAN. Such consultations have strengthened the sector’s ability to develop increasingly multi-faceted national strategies; the updated national plan will tackle urgent, interconnected issues such as climate change and gender inequality, and aims to provide services to vulnerable groups and hard-to-reach communities.
Ultimately, Paraguay’s Mutual Accountability Mechanism commitments are perceived as a clear way to outline priorities to achieve SDG 6. The existence of shared goals has provided focus, a visible structure and increased political visibility for the sector. The clearer sense of priorities and strategy has helped DAPSAN, CEAMSO, UNICEF and other actors to build what Claudia Zapattini of CEAMSO describes as a “working synergy” to coalesce around. The experience of Paraguay shows how the Mutual Accountability Mechanism can provide a structure, increased visibility and most importantly, a sense of shared purpose, consistency, and clear responsibilities to the sector.
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