Sanitation and Water for All: Annual High Level Meeting

Washington, D.C., USA : 23 April 2010

Background

The High Level Meeting of Sanitation and Water for All is an annual ministerial dialogue at which Ministers of Finance from developing countries and Ministers of Development Cooperation from donor countries take stock of progress on sanitation and water, decide how to address challenges and monitor progress against concrete commitments.

Sanitation and Water for All is a global partnership between developing countries, donors, multi-lateral agencies, civil society and other development partners working together to achieve universal and sustainable access to sanitation and drinking water, with an immediate focus on achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the most off-track countries.

The focus of the 2010 High Level Meeting is "Getting on-track for the sanitation and water MDG targets." Robert Shoellhammer, Deputy Resident Director of the ADB North America Resident Office, will present on behalf of ADB.

Objectives

  • To build an appreciation among Ministers of Finance of the economic impacts of water and sanitation, both negative (from lack of access) and positive (when access is achieved)
  • To demonstrate political and financial commitment to the sanitation and water sector on the part of Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Development Cooperation
  • To demonstrate the commitment of donors to increase and improve targeting of aid to basic water and sanitation services to countries that are off-track to achieve the MDGs and to improve donor harmonization and alignment
  • To demonstrate the commitment of developing countries to support the creation and resourcing of actionable plans, including better targeting of resources; improved accountability and more responsive governance; and strengthened capacity in the public, private and NGO sectors
  • To demonstrate how creating the right enabling environment can mobilize political support and achieve meaningful results
  • To bring political leaders of donors and developing countries together to be held mutually accountable for the commitments they have made

Expected outputs

  • Greater understanding of the linkages between sanitation and drinking water on the one hand, and economic growth and human development on the other
  • Identification of specific steps to improve the use of existing funds and mobilize new resources
  • Agreement to develop a structured way of coordinating support for off-track countries to develop national sanitation and drinking water planning frameworks, and ways of assessing progress in developing and implementing these plans
  • Endorsement and continued support for the Sanitation and Water for All partnership and a commitment to its processes of mutual accountability, including future annual High Level Meetings

Organizer

The meeting is being organized by UNICEF.

Participants

Ministers of Finance from developing countries will attend. From donor countries, Ministers of Development Cooperation will attend. Other key development partners such as multi-lateral agencies, development banks and civil society representatives will also attend.