A 2018 ‘Global Review of National Accountability Mechanisms for SDG 6’ in Guinea identified poor consultation with civil society organizations and a general lack of co-ordination as a significant barrier to effective, multi-stakeholder participation in the sector. Since then, SWA partners in the country have pressed for the creation and development of effective accountability platforms and meaningful participation by civil society in the water and sanitation sector.
Since the review, the Government of Guinea, UNICEF and civil society organizations have focused their efforts on strengthening sector co-ordination, and increasing civil society engagement across the country. In 2019, Guinea tabled a formal commitment under SWA’s Mutual Accountability Mechanism to bolster the country’s inter-sectoral co-ordination for water, sanitation and hygiene. SWA partner Carbone Guinée led a commitment for civil society organizations to establish a national civil society accountability platform. The result is the Coalition Nationale Action et Plaidoyer pour l’Eau (CNAPE). The new national platform is focused on implementation and monitoring of SDG 6 initiatives. It is designed to enable effective collaboration with the government, allowing civil society voices to be heard as part of national conversations on water and sanitation policies.
The Mutual Accountability Mechanism has given us the framework to put into practice the recommendations of the 2018 Global Study. It has allowed us to strengthen civil society engagement and coordination in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector in Guinea.
Guinea has also worked with civil society organizations and CNAPE to improve inter-sectoral co-ordination mechanisms on water, sanitation and hygiene. The Ministry of Health reactivated the country’s inter-sectoral Water and Sanitation Co-ordination Group’ during the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis. The group brought together all government actors, civil society, the private sector and technical and financial partners, creating the space for efficient multi-stakeholder dialogue and decision-making. Together, the co-ordination group and CNAPE created the space for a water, sanitation and hygiene plan rooted in sector expertise to be developed quickly, as part of the Government’s response to the crisis – and showed how multi-stakeholder action for the sector can benefit the country’s future.