Integrating Advocacy in Water
Sanitation and Hygiene
Programmes
A Case Study from Afghanistan
(Kandahar, Kapisa and Jawzjan)
By Bilha Joy Keiru
Tearfund Definition of Advocacy
‘Seeking with, and on behalf of, the poor to address
underlying causes of poverty, bring justice and support
good development through influencing the policies
and practices of the powerful’. Source: Tearfund Advocacy Toolkit:
Understanding Advocacy
What is Advocacy in Emergencies?
Definition:
“Deliberate efforts based on
demonstrated evidence, to
persuade those in authority to
adopt certain policies or
actions in order to protect
people affected by disasters or
by conflicts”
Source: The Human Right to Water and Sanitation in Emergency
Situations: The Legal Framework and a Guide to Advocacy
(2009)
Source: From the Grass-Roots to the Security Council:
Oxfam’s Humanitarian Advocacy in Darfur, the DRC and
Uganda (2008)
In Practice, Advocacy in Emergencies
Draws in factual and up –to-date information, often gained by
organisations active on the ground
Is focused on specific aspects of the situation i.e. geographical
location, stakeholders and beneficiaries
Establishes a link between broad policy context and a particular
crisis situation
Sends out a clear and relevant message of change, assigning
responsibility to the appropriate stakeholders to take specific
action
Source: The Human Right to Water and Sanitation in Emergency Situations: The Legal Framework and a Guide to Advocacy
(2009)
A Case Study from Afghanistan: Using advocacy in
programmes & learning from the field to influence
the National WASH policy
The case study highlights areas where advocacy tools integrated in
a Biosand filter and Community led Total Sanitation (CLTS) project
led to success with good practice from the field being used to
advocate for the inclusion of better water and sanitation standards
and policies during the revision of the Afghan National WASH
Policy.
The Water and Sanitation Crisis: A Crisis of
Governance?
The Capability Accountability
and Responsiveness AnalysisHelps develop a much better
understanding of the policy and
political context in which an
organisation is working, either
programmatically or in
advocacy
Resource can be found on Tearfund Website at:
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Research/Water+and+Sanitation+reports/Understanding+the+WASH+sect
or+2010.htm
Networking: Being an active member of the UNICEF
WASH Cluster and building relationships with
Government ministries
Knowing who is who and letting others know who you are
creates legitimacy i.e. Building relationships with
Government ministries, Govt. technical staff, provincial
government functionaries e.t.c
 Kapisa visit to Tearfund field sites (CLTS and
Biosand filters)
Photo: Woman Training on Hygiene
promotion
Networking allows you to be able to share knowledge in
similar areas of work- know what's going on around you
i.e. Successes and challenges
 Tearfund Biosand Filter Training Workshop in
November 2008
 Workshop conducted in Kabul by
UNICEF/CAWST and Tearfund provided
support (November 2009)
Using a platform like the UNICEF cluster enhances
chances of impact, especially when spaces open that allow
you to input to national policies and strategies- Water,
Sanitation and gender taskforce
Photo: Tearfund Biosand filter
Workshop 2008
Lobbying: Local leaders, religious leaders, the
business communities, the media and the local and
national government
•Created awareness on the issue of
water and sanitation at local level
•Enhanced women’s participation
•Encouraged religious leaders to
incorporate WASH in their teaching
in the mosques-opened up spaces
for engaging with communities due
to legitimacy
Photo: Women participate in the CLTS
Project
•Business communities engagedenhanced sustainability
•Lobbying Radio to incorporate
Corporate Social Responsibility in
their Work
Photo: Religious leader officially launching the
Biosand Filters
Media: The Use of Local Radio Stations
•Using radio for hygiene
promotion activities on radio
programmes-Radio Clubs
•Using radio to advertise
products i.e. the biosand filters
•Using radio to create
awareness during international
day celebrations
•Using radio to pass on
information to communities e.g.
visits by govt. officials
Photos: Radio Presenter taking Man’s and Children’s views during World Water Day 2009
Knowledge Management: Documentation of lessons
learned and sharing this to a wider audience
•Presenting case studies to
government officials, local
authorities and donors to let
them know what is going on
both locally and nationally
during lobbying meetings
Photo: Tearfund lobbying local authorities
•CAWST BSF Training in
Nairobi 2010- Regional
Interagency Workshop- Shared
good practice from Afghanistan
Awareness Raising: International Day celebrations
Celebration of International
Days pertaining to Water
and Sanitation even at
local level :
1.
Photo: GHWD in Afghanistan
2.
Photo: 2010
WWD Brochure
Photo: Interview during World Water Day
3.
World Water Day- 22nd
March
Global Handwashing Day15th October
World Toilet Day-19th
November
Impact
Policy Change: National
Afghanistan WASH Policy
•The inclusion of Household Water
Treatment in the National PolicyBSF
•Inclusion of CLTS approaches in
the national sanitation policy
Impact:
•Increased donor funding in the
WASH Sector – BSF and CLTS in
other areas in Afghanistan- USAID
Funding 60 million 3 years
•Learning from the field on the
inclusion of methods used to
enhance women’s participation in
WASH projects
•A move to demand –led
approaches
Source: From the Grass-Roots to the Security Council: Oxfam’s
Humanitarian Advocacy in Darfur, the DRC and Uganda (2008)
Changed Lives
Interview -Mrs. Bobo Gol story focuses on
dignity
The Biosand Filter Story- Highlight the
improvement in livelihoods, Access &
Availability
Latrine
THE END
Stream: Water Source