Africa Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW)

From TrustAfrica wiki - African Regional Organizations

Africa Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW)
ANEW Coordinator
c/o Maji na Ufanisi
Theta Lane, off Lenana Road, Hurlingham
P.O. Box 58684 – 00200 Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 20 2727107/8
Fax: +245 20 2726332

Email: anew@majinaufanisi.org
Website: http://www.freshwateraction.net/anew

Jamillah Mwanjisi, ANEW Coordinator, JamillahMwanjisi@majinaufanisi.org

Description

The Africa Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) is a regional networking body established to contribute to water resource management and sustainable provision of water and sanitation services in Africa. It was set up in 2003 at a meeting organized by the Freshwater Action Network (FAN). It was created to ensure that voices of African civil society were represented and heard at international and regional policy fora and political water debates. This was in appreciation of the critical role of civil society organizations (CSO) in the region’s successful realization of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation and the WSSD international targets on water resource management. ANEW works to achieve its aims by:

• Maintaining a communication and information system accessible to members in English and French, via website, e-groups, e-bulletin, newsletter and occasional meetings.
• Presenting the diverse views of ANEW members at important policy events in Africa and internationally.
• Promoting the experiences and good practices of the members to a wider audience and to key decision makers.
• Supporting or forming national CSO networks on water and sanitation and coordination across Africa.
• Training in advocacy, research and writing skills, networking and activities in thematic areas.
• Maintaining a functioning secretariat supported by the Executive Committee.
• Developing a tracking and alert mechanism which regularly informs CSOs on the status of policy formulation in key areas.
• Networking and exchange between members.
• Publishing directories of African CSOs and resource centers working on water issues.

The Network provides a forum for CSO coordination and involvement in debates and information exchange to enable the region influence policy decisions and strategies affecting Africa in the water sector. It seeks to initiate, develop and maintain collaborative mechanisms among CSOs working in Africa by enhancing communication on matters relating to water and sanitation. It also updates members on national and international water initiatives, policies and strategies and best practices relevant to the African scenario. ANEW membership is open to all civil society organizations working in Africa on sustainable water management, water supply and sanitation. It partners with Freshwater Action Network and is open to establishing collaboration with other networks, research institutions, consultancy firms and multilateral organizations.

The Secretariat is responsible for the day to day management of ANEW. It is run by a coordinator and hosted at the offices of a Kenyan water and sanitation NGO ‘Maji-na-Ufanisi’. A taskforce comprising members of ANEW from the Central, East Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa provides the conceptual guidance and leadership of the network’s strategic direction. ANEW’s main donor is Water Aid – UK.

Track Record

The network has been recognized by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) as a facilitator in coordinating African civil society. In addition, the hosting of the Secretariat by an international NGO, the Environmental Liaison Centre International (ELCI) that has strong links with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), has benefited the Network in terms of participation in related policy forum and activities.

ANEW has also represented the voices of civil society at different global fora such as the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in New York, Global WASH Forum in Dakar, the Make Poverty History Campaign Call for Action 2005 meeting in Johannesburg, World Water week in Stockholm and World Commission on Dams meeting in Nairobi.

ANEW organized side events at these meetings. At a regional level, ANEW interacts with the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) on water resource management, financing, trans-boundary issues among others and has contributed in developing criteria for fund allocation in the sector by establishing a special women’s working group and a mechanism for public participation in the policy development process to add value to the work of AMCOW and others.

In essence, ANEW has successfully initiated various policy discussions with key institutions in Africa and UN initiatives on water and sanitation besides ensuring that civil society voices remain important points of reference in key decision making processes.

Challenges

In spite of its positive work, the network faces challenges in implementing its mandate. The main challenge is inadequate funds to carry out planned activities on institutional strengthening, advocacy and training, networking, and participation in national, regional and international meetings with various stakeholders. The intention to fundraise 25 percent of program costs by the network by 2005 has failed due to conflicting fundraising strategies between the Network and her partners, particularly, the Freshwater Action Network FAN. There is also lack of clarity on ANEW’s role either as an advocacy group or as an implementer of programs and activities which casts doubts on the roles and terms of reference of national focal points of the network. A good working relationship needs to be established between the founder organizations (FAN and ELCI) and ANEW to delineate the roles and responsibilities.

A lack of commitment from members has also contributed to the Network’s inconspicuous performance in the region. While the Network is fundamental in consolidating the important role of African civil society in improving the water supply and sanitation situation in Africa, no progress can be made without the increased participation of CSOs. Even with the identification of national focal points to provide support to the sub-regional taskforce members, the recruitment of CSOs involved in the water and sanitation sector, research, information sharing and tracking policy changes have been primarily carried out by the Secretariat.

The employment of a part-time coordinator has been a factor that has continually interrupted the functioning of the secretariat while the taskforce is also constrained in devoting much time to the network’s activities. Developing the relevant capacity in terms of staffing is therefore an important priority to ithe implementation of its programmes.

Opportunities

ANEW is developing projects to support the network’s development to build the capacity of ANEW members so that they can effectively influence policies and practices affecting water supplies, rivers and lakes, wetlands and groundwater. This is a good opportunity for donor engagement.

ANEW is keen to sustain its presence and reputation of championing Africa’s position on water and sanitation needs in international policy setting fora. Strengthening the institutional capacity of the network, especially the secretariat, which is responsible for coordinating activities, will benefit the membership.

Developing the strategic direction of ANEW will clarify the overall organization’s role and facilitate regional and national focal points in developing regional priorities and action plans. Opportunity exists to support strategy development or time frame plan of the organization including guiding the development of the organization’s structure and grounding the network’s activities as it seeks to achieve its objectives. The overall opportunity is pegged to increased funding for existing ANEW activities as it engages in strengthening the network membership and developing its program priorities.