By Asayire Kapira
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The Water and Environmental Sanitation
Network (WES Network) is a membership
based Civil Society network that coordinates
the work of NGOs working in the water,
sanitation and Hygiene subsector in Malawi. It
recognizes the role of Water and Sanitation in
economic development and poverty reduction.
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WES Network was established in 2005 and got
registered with Malawi Government in 2011.
WES Network’s head office is in Lilongwe with
representation across the country by its
member organizations. To date the WES
Network has a membership of over 50 local
and international NGO across Malawi.
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WES Network envisions sustainable access to
safe water and improved sanitation for all in
Malawi. Its mission is enhanced coordination,
advocacy and knowledge sharing among
Network membership for provision of high
quality standards and sustainable water and
environmental sanitation services in Malawi
guided by universal right to safe water and
sanitation
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. It is guided by such core values as
Inclusiveness; Unity of purpose; Openness;
Transparency and Accountability; Tolerance
and Equity; Solidarity; Quality Standards;
Efficiency and Effectiveness, Trust and
Feedback.
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WASH NGOs Coordination
Facilitate linkage between NGOs (Local and
International) and other sector players
including government, donors, and other
international organizations with similar
objectives. This shall be achieved through
Mapping of NGOs, Development of annual
WASH NGO Performance report as well as
holding of joint planning and review meeting
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Expertise and Knowledge Sharing/ Learning
Alliances
Ensure cross cutting partnerships to enhance
coordination, expertise and knowledge sharing
with member organizations and stakeholders
with similar objectives. The WES Network also
Facilitates capacity building of NGOs in the
WASH sector through: - Learning Forums,
Workshops, training and Exchange visits
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Provide evidenced based platform for its
members to collectively advocate and lobby
government and donors on pertinent planning,
implementation, management, accountability,
financing and policy related concerns affecting
water and environmental sanitation in Malawi.
This is achieved through, Research, budget
tracking, advocacy, lobbying and Citizens
actions.
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Build positive and collaborative relationship
between WES NGOs and other Stakeholders
(Government, Donors etal). WES Network is a
member of the WASH Sector working group,
the M and E Thematic working group, the
Sanitation Thematic Working group, the
National Sanitation coordination Unit and the
Donor coordination Group. Through
participation in these forums, the WES
Network seeks to influence the agenda and
decisions made so that they are responsive to
the issues affecting the poor
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Empowering communities for responsive
Communal Water Governance in Lilongwe
Peri Urban areas
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2 year project (October 1st 2012 to September 30th 2013)
Impact group – Water Users Associations, Community
at large
Actual Target Areas- WUAs from Area
50,Mlodza,Tsabango,Kauma,Mtandire-Mtsiliza,Mgona
and Chinsapo)
Mode of implementation through partnership with
local CSOs
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Mineral and Appropriate Technologies Applicable in Malawi
(MATAMA)
Circle for Integrated Community Development (CICOD)
Center for Community Development (CCODE
Training Support for Partners (TSP)
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seeks to create an alternative mechanism for
holding the WUAs, the politician, the Kiosk
management unit and all other key
stakeholders accountable
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Participatory planning monitoring and evaluation
(PPME). A community based planning and
monitoring tool that aims to strengthen
community based institutions and structures to
become more effective and inclusive in service
delivery by building a common vision and
mission; and a common understanding of roles,
responsibilities and relationships; and creates a
platform for communities to participate in
planning and evaluation of community
activities
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Community scorecard process. This is
participatory methodology for improving
community voice in development initiatives as
well as transparency and accountability
between service providers and client Impact
Groups.
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District and national level knowledge
management and learning, Data from
community scorecards will be aggregated to
give a perceived picture of the performance of
the selected service areas. This will be shared
and discussed at interface level meetings
between community representatives,
WUAs,Lilongwe Water Board other service
providers
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Lilongwe WUA Network in place
Scorecard Committees in the seven WUAs in
place and running
Successfully managed to amend the WUA
constitution through AGMs that removed the
politicians in the WUA management
WUAs have been empowered to hold the duty
bearers accountable through the interface
meetings
Local Power Institutions owning and being
part of the WUAs
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Duty bearers are not responsive
Literacy levels very low in the WUAs hence
they are not aggressive
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There is very little accountability in most Water
Users Associations due to high levels of
illiteracy among some members in leadership
positions who fail to properly account for the
services provided due to their education status
Most office bearers i.e. Kiosk Management
Unit, take advantage of this and abuse their
authority against the most vulnerable.
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There is resistance from most duty bearers to
account for their actions to the service users
because they feel they are only accountable to
their bosses and donors; to them being
accountable to beneficiaries is a new
phenomenon. Community scorecard is a tool or
strategy being used in the project to ensure
accountability, transparency and inclusiveness
of service providers including the
implementing NGOs in the area
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Local Power Institutions involvement is key to
ensure that rural communities actively
participate in and influence decisions that
increase their life chances and
empowerment.The project has observed that
for it to achieve the intended goal of, it is
equally very important to work with local
power institutions. The project purpose cannot
be achieved if the project only works with the
impact group (Water Users Association)
leaving out the group which hinders voice of
other important stakeholders
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More space is created where the Water Users
Associations members are literate as compared
to areas where they are members who are
illiterate as evidenced at area 50 WUA,
Tsabango WUAs. Members form the two cited
WUAs are able to stand up and challenge the
duty bearers on the actions that they have
taken on board
Thanks for Listening