MOLE Conference Series
MOLE XXXVI CONFERENCE
BACKGROUND PAPER
THEME:
ADVANCING INNOVATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND EVIDENCE FOR A HARMONIZED AND REGULATED WASH SECTOR IN GHANA.
Date: November 2nd – 7th
Venue: Marlin Beach Resort, Gomoa Fetteh – Central Region
BACKGROUND
The MOLE conference series, first organised in 1989 by a group of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), has become the primary platform for discussing issues related to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). This feat has been attained due to the tenacity of purpose, commitment and dynamic leadership exhibited by the trailblazers and subsequently the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), the effective collaboration with other key players including central and local government institutions, development partners, academic and research institutions, and the private sector among others.
This year’s conference is happening with just five years to the 2030 timeline of Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs), with innovations, partnerships and evidence as critical enablers to accelerate Ghana’s quest to achieve the SDG 6 – Water and Sanitation for All by 2030! At the national level, discussions abound on evidence for a harmonized and regulated WASH sector to catalyze momentum into the future.
The Ghanaian Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector has recently experienced significant institutional shifts, notably the dissolution of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and the subsequent realignment of its functions across different ministries. This re-fragmentation of oversight responsibilities has introduced considerable uncertainty, risking the erosion of progress achieved over the past decade through concerted civil society engagement and strategic investments. The critical challenge now facing the CSO fraternity and key WASH stakeholders in Ghana is to collectively forge a path forward, ensuring the sustainability of gains and fostering essential collaboration with the government to drive continuous progress in WASH, irrespective of evolving institutional structures. This pressing question forms the impetus for the MOLE XXXVI Conference.
Consistent with the coalition’s mission of working in partnership with relevant stakeholders to influence policies, remove barriers and to promote access safe WASH for the poor and vulnerable, this year’s event will re-ignite the quest for a national dialogue aimed at promoting innovations, strengthening strategic partnerships and implementing the evidence in both service delivery and policy influencing to accelerate progress on sustainable, safe and equitable WASH services delivery. Discussions will focus on pathways to scale-up innovations, sector co-ordination, collaboration among relevant Government agencies, co-ordination among Government agencies and Civil Society Organizations/ Development Partners/Private Sector. The conference will also dive into the regulatory and accountability frameworks necessary for a well-functioning sector, while reviewing some partnerships within the context of rolling out revised national WASH policies.
CONTEXT
Innovation, Partnerships and Evidence for a harmonized Regulation are critical enablers to achieve the vision for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) captured in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which is to reach everyone everywhere by 2030. SDG 6 is an ambitious desire to ‘ensure availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All’ by 2030’. The Government of Ghana is making every effort to fully meet all its Sanitation and Water targets by 2030. The National vision for water and sanitation sector is “sustainable basic water for all by 2030, and basic sanitation for all by 2040” which in detailed terms means “all people living in Ghana have access to adequate, safe, affordable and reliable basic water service, practise safe sanitation and hygiene and that water resources are sustainably managed”[1].
Partnerships are critical in Ghana’s quest for sustainable and equitable WASH services for all by 2030, since the Government alone cannot do it. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) at all levels of service delivery and along the service delivery chain will propel Ghana’s efforts on the WASH for All agenda. Partnerships between the state and non-state actors (including NGOs, traditional authority, youth and women’s groups) are crucial. Sustainable partnership between Government and Development Partners, between Government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and even Public-Public Partnerships will smoothen challenges on coordination, enhance the enabling environment, including regulation for effective WASH service delivery.
Innovations are necessary for accelerated, cost-effective and promote equitable service delivery. Importantly, innovations thrive when conditions for effective partnership and evidence are laid out. Partnerships, evidence and regulations will enhance the actualization of the ongoing sector reforms[2] in the rural and small-town water delivery, with professionalization of staffing and service delivery at the core. Hopefully, this will deal with the hydra-headed regulation, sustainability, and equity challenges in WASH services delivery. Mole XXXVI will ignite renewed commitment in Ghana’s WASH sector to the SDGs, seeking to catalyze bold and collective actions for sustainable and equitable WASH services.
Despite progress made on WASH services delivery, especially from 2015 to 2025, there are still challenges with scaling-up innovation, strategic partnerships and gathering evidence to propel sector development, especially when viewed through the lens of promoting climate-resilient WASH service delivery and Institutional WASH (Health Care Facilities, Schools, Public Spaces). This year’s conference will shine a light on the necessary innovations, partnerships, and evidence needed to advance discussion on climate change and WASH in institutions, as well as sector financing.
Innovative financing options should respond to various appropriate technologies, which should address service delivery challenges in the last-mile communities. The role of the private sector is critical in providing and sustaining safe WASH services to the ‘last mile’ communities with appropriate technology and innovative financing strategies. The conference will discuss innovative solutions that will help in fashioning appropriate strategies, methods and plans for sustainable, equitable and safe WASH services in the ‘‘last mile and underserved communities and government’s critical role in providing the needed enabling environment.
MOLE XXXVI CONFERENCE
MOLE XXXVI Conference will focus on advancing innovations, partnerships and evidence for a harmonized and regulated sector. The MOLE XXXVI Conference is intended to create a common space where policymakers, practitioners and researchers can gather to give account on the state of WASH sector innovations, partnerships and evidence for a harmonized and regulated sector through the review of available evidence, interrogating the science and methods, exploring the latest learnings and existing experiences, towards reviewing progress, assessing challenges to address the WASH service delivery gaps. The conference will also explore how WASH delivery methods, sector coordination, and current service delivery models will impact Ghana’s pace towards achieving WASH for all by 2030.
Objectives
The conference aims to advance innovations, partnerships, and evidence to achieve universal access to sustainable WASH services in Ghana. It will focus on examining systems, approaches, methods, and models of WASH service delivery, while addressing challenges and identifying pathways to establish a harmonized, regulated sector that ensures safe, sustainable, and equitable WASH services. The specific objectives include the following:
Thematic Scope
The theme for the conference is advancing innovations, partnerships and evidence for harmonized and regulated WASH sector in Ghana. The four sub-themes to be discussed in detail are the following:
Sub-theme 1: Innovations in Approaches for WASH Service Delivery
Recent advancements in decentralized wastewater treatment systems have shown potential for cost-effective sanitation solutions in peri-urban and urban areas, while the deployment of smart water meters and remote monitoring technologies is improving efficiency and accountability in urban water supply. This theme will highlight and discuss such ongoing WASH innovations that hold significant promise for accelerating access rates, particularly when scaled up to reach underserved and ‘last mile’ communities in Ghana. This sub-theme will explore how such technological and methodological innovations, including those in data capture and management and the application of ICT in WASH service delivery, can be effectively promoted by government, NGOs, and the private sector. Discussions will also define pathways for replication and sustainability, while recommending appropriate regulations and institutional arrangements to foster an enabling environment for innovation. This sub-theme will also explore innovative approaches to Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) and hygiene promotion, recognizing their critical role in sustaining WASH outcomes and public health
Key Pathways:
Sub-theme 2: Multi-Sectoral & Multi-Level Partnerships for WASH Sector Transformation
Strategic partnerships are essential across all tiers of governance, from national policy-making bodies to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) at the local level. MMDAs, as the primary duty-bearers for service delivery and local planning, play a pivotal role in translating national WASH policies into tangible outcomes. Their capacity, resource allocation, and engagement with local communities and private sector actors are critical determinants of sustainable WASH service provision, particularly in rural and peri-urban settings. This theme will focus on how the recently launched WASH policies will be anchored in strategic partnerships and collaborations between the state and non-state actors at all levels of Government, Communities, Healthcare, and educational institutions for safe, sustainable, and equitable WASH service delivery. This sub-theme will stimulate discussions around good practices and models of partnerships and collaborations to advance innovations for accelerated WASH services delivery in communities, schools and health care facilities. Market-based models in WASH services and environmental sanitation, with special emphasis on waste management and the best way to sustain the current gains in handwashing practice, will be discussed.
Key Pathways:
Sub-theme 3: Innovative Financing for WASH Services Delivery
Achieving Ghana’s WASH targets requires substantial and sustained financial investment. This theme will examine current sanitation financing models and mechanisms, alongside institutional arrangements, for delivering equitable and inclusive WASH services with improved sustainability. Ghana’s WASH sector faces a significant financing gap, estimated at millions of dollars annually, to achieve SDG 6 targets. Traditional public funding and donor aid are insufficient, necessitating innovative approaches. This sub-theme will explore successful examples of blended finance, results-based financing, revolving funds, and micro-financing schemes that have expanded access to WASH services in comparable contexts. It will also focus on best practices in the application of WASH subsidies, ensuring they effectively target the poor and vulnerable, and explore other private sector financing options, including impact investment and green bonds or climate financing, which can deliver cost-effective WASH solutions with increased private sector participation. This sub-theme will also delve into sustainable models for financing post-construction Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of WASH infrastructure, which is crucial for long-term functionality.
Key Pathways:
Sub-theme 4: Evidence for Harmonized Regulation for WASH Services Delivery
Despite notable progress in regulating urban water and sanitation in Ghana, significant challenges persist within certain aspects of the broader WASH regulatory environment. For instance, the regulatory landscape for rural WASH is often characterized by a multiplicity of conflicting rules and oversight bodies, leading to what some experts describe as a ‘chaotic’ operational environment. This fragmentation can hinder effective service delivery and sustainable management across the sector. A key concern is the limited oversight of informal water and sanitation service providers, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas, which often results in variable service quality and inconsistent pricing for consumers. Furthermore, Small Water Enterprises (SWEs) have actively engaged with various Ghanaian Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in efforts to establish a more effective licensing and comprehensive regulatory framework for their services, highlighting the ongoing need for clarity and formalization in this sub-sector. This theme will focus on leveraging evidence and experiences of regulation to propose actionable recommendations for accelerating the development and roll-out of harmonized regulations, thereby improving WASH service delivery nationwide.
Key Pathways:
Format
The conference will aim at balancing plenary and panel discussions with interactive parallel sections and opportunities for maximizing interaction among participants. Apart from the main conference venue, two virtual conference centres with an online link will also be established to enable participation from persons who will be unable to travel to the main conference venue. A conference reception, capacity-building workshops, learning field trips to WASH facilities and interesting tourist sites around the Effutu-Gomoa-Awutu corridor, and a special dinner and awards night at Marlin Beach Resort will also form part of the conference. The conference format, including interactive parallel sessions, is designed to foster in-depth discussions on specific innovations, partnership models, evidence gaps, and pathways towards a harmonized and regulated WASH sector. The following will constitute the various components of the conference:
Plenary and Expert Panel Discussions:
The plenary sessions will feature presentations delivered by carefully selected experts who possess extensive knowledge and experience in the relevant thematic areas. These presentations are designed to provide in-depth insights, highlight current trends, and set the stage for further exploration of the sub-themes and key topics within the sector. Following the presentations, expert panel discussions will be convened to facilitate the exchange of ideas and elicit diverse expert opinions and generate critical dialogue among participants. These sessions will deepen the understanding of the thematic issues and topics presented at the conference.
Group discussions:
Key issues emanating from presentations will be discussed in smaller, facilitated groups, each tasked with generating concrete outputs directly advancing a specific sub-theme. Outcomes will be captured and shared in plenary, forming critical inputs for the Conference Communiqué.
Verbal and Poster Presentations:
A variety of selected papers will be presented and discussed at parallel sessions. Papers may share successes and failures of approaches and field experiences. Poster presentations will focus on emerging research within the sector or as a front for the quick dissemination and display of relevant knowledge materials during the conference.
Side events:
Side Events are dedicated parallel sessions where innovators (start-ups, researchers, community groups, organizations) can present their working prototypes, successful pilot projects, or innovative solutions in a dynamic, interactive format. The Side events will be in the form of collaborative learning experiences focused on new and emerging practices, approaches or products. This session will facilitate direct engagement between innovators, researchers, potential collaborators, and implementing partners.
Media events & Exhibitions:
The Mole XXXVI conference will receive high-level media coverage and reportage as part of the planned objectives of the conference. Organizations, resource centres, service providers and manufacturers will have the opportunity to exhibit their products and engage participants during the conference.
Participants
The conference will attract the participation of diverse stakeholders and actors. This diverse representation is crucial to ensure a holistic dialogue that encompasses policy, technical, financial, and community-level perspectives, fostering inclusive and sustainable solutions for Ghana’s WASH sector. These may include:
BENEFITS OF THE MOLE XXXVI CONFERENCE
The participants of the Conference will be offered a rare opportunity to experience the following benefits:
OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES
A key output of the conference will be a presentation of the Conference Communiqué at a press conference, which will highlight the key decisions made during the conference proceedings. The communique will also serve as a strategic declaration capturing sector priorities, commitments, and recommendations to accelerate Ghana’s progress toward SDG 6.
A collection of case studies, innovative WASH service models, and highlights from expert panels and technical sessions will be compiled to support wider sharing, while actionable strategies from breakout discussions will help shape the next steps. Some of the outputs from the Conference will include:
Effective WASH service delivery hinges on shared ownership, unified action, and long-term commitments from diverse stakeholders. This includes government agencies, donors, civil society organizations (CSOs), traditional institutions, local communities, and the private sector. Key outputs from the conference concerning this will include:
CONTACT US
The Executive Secretary
Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS)
P.M. B. 24, KIA, Accra, Phone: +233 24459-5664 +233 24 498 9085
E-mail: coniwas@yahoo.com
Website: www.coniwas.org
Zonal Coordinators
Northern Zone
Freeman Kanton
Tel : +233 547840902
Email : caroghana@gmail.com
Middle Zone
Mr. Acheampong (Achie)
Executive Director, Beyond Hope Foundation
Tel: +233 244514860
Email: beyondhopefoundation@yahoo.com
Southern Zone
Naana Adams
Tel: +233 208175526
Email: naaadams@yahoo.com
[1] Government of Ghana (2012): Water and Sanitation Sector Development Plan (2012-2025).
[2] Led by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, responsible for rural and small-town water supply delivery
MOLE XXXV CONFERENCE
BACKGROUND PAPER
THEME
Looking Back on SDG 6 implementation in Ghana: Progress, Challenges and Way forward.
Background
The MOLE conference series which was first organized in 1989 by a group of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has become the main rallying platform for discussing issues on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). This feat has been attained due to the tenacity of purpose, commitment and dynamic leadership exhibited by the trailblazers and subsequently the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) the effective collaboration with other key players including central and local government institutions, development partners, academic and research institutions, and the private sector among others.
This year’s conference is happening against the backdrop of the international and national concerns and discussions on climate change and water resources management, institutional alignment for effective service delivery. At the national level, development and roll-of new WASH policies (GWASHSDP, Water Policy and Sanitation Policy) is an added impetus for policy discussions on looking back to catalyze momentum into the future. Securing Government and stakeholder commitments to WASH and assessing progress, reviewing challenges, and discussing way forward is a clear action to work towards national vision of WASH for all agenda by 2030.
Consistent with the coalition’s mission of working in partnership with relevant stakeholders to influence policies, remove barriers and to promote access safe WASH for the poor and vulnerable, this year’s event will set the agenda and commence a national dialogue aimed at reviewing Ghana’s progress on sustainable,safe and equitable WASH services delivery, and to accelerate discussions on institutional arrangement/alignment appropriate for enhanced co-ordination, collaboration among relevant Government agencies, co-ordination between Government agencies and Civil Society Organizations/ Development Partners/Private Sector. The conference will also dive into effective service delivery approaches and methods to sustain, while reviewing some approaches within the context of rolling out revised national WASH policies.
Context
The vision for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 is to reach everyone everywhere by 2030. The SDG 6 is an ambitious desire to ‘ensure availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All’ by 2030. The Government of Ghana is making every effort to fully meet all its Sanitation and Water targets by 2030. The National vision for water and sanitation sector is “sustainable basic water and sanitation service for all by 2025” which in detailed terms means “all people living in Ghana have access to adequate, safe, affordable and reliable basic water service, practise safe sanitation and hygiene and that water resources are sustainably managed”[1].
SDG 6 targets 6.1 and 6.2 call for drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene call for the equitable access to safe and adequate services for all, as well as end open defecation. The Government of Ghana has aligned itself to the goal and targets and is taking appropriate steps to review national WASH policies to also reflect the Africa Agenda 2063, N’gor and other SWA commitments.
The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) in 2023 published the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme (GWASHSDP, 2023-2030), published the revised 2024 National Water Policy in July,2024 and finalizing the revised national Environmental Sanitation Policy and related strategies and plans to align with the SDG standards and national aspirations as well as taking decisive actions on proposed institutional and funding restructuring by the Government.
The actualization of Ghana’s WASH vision is further bolstered by on-going reforms[2] in the rural and small-town water delivery with professionalization of staffing and service delivery at the core. Hopefully, this will deal with hydra-headed, regulation, sustainability, and equity challenges in WASH services delivery. Mole XXXV will ignite renewed commitment in Ghana’s WASH sector to the SDGs, seeking to catalyze bold and collective actions for the sustainable and equitable WASH services delivery.
Despite progress made on WASH services delivery since from 2015 to 2024, there are still challenges with co-ordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) especially when viewed with the lens of promoting climate-resilient WASH service delivery. Institutional WASH (Health Care Facilities, Schools, Prisons etc) have witnessed some level of improved collaboration and co-ordination among MDAs, but vertical and horizontal coordination needs to be improved to sustain the gains made. Approaches, Strategies, Methods should be in sync with policies and enabling environment to sustain innovative WASH service delivery.
Innovative financing options should respond to various appropriate technologies which should address service delivery challenges in last mile communities. The role of the private is critical in providing and sustaining safe WASH services to the ‘last mile’ communities with appropriate technology and innovative financing strategies. Looking back, addressing pact and current challenges will help in fashioning appropriate strategies, methods and plans for sustainable, equitable and safe WASH services.
MOLE XXXV Conference
MOLE XXXV Conference will focus on looking back on Ghana’s Sustainable Development Goal Six (SDG6) implementation, and reviewing approaches, methods and discussing effective institutional alignment to achieve the 2030 SDG6 and national WASH targets. The MOLE XXXV Conference is intended to create a common space where policymakers, practitioners and researchers can gather to give account on the state of Ghana’s WASH delivery systems – through the review of available evidence, interrogating the science and methods, exploring the latest learnings and existing experiences, towards reviewing progress, assessing challenges to address the WASH service delivery gaps. Conference will also explore how WASH delivery methods; sector coordination and current service delivery models will impact on Ghana’s pace towards achieving WASH for all by 2030.
Objectives
The overall objective of the conference is to look back on Ghana’s SDG six implementation trajectory, assess progress, review changes, and discuss way forward towards universal access to sustainable WASH services in the country by discussing the systems, approaches method, and models of WASH service delivery, and discussing the challenges and way forward for climate resistant, safe, sustainable, and equitable WASH services delivery.
The specific objectives include the following:
Participants
The conference will attract the participation of the following stakeholders and actors:
Expected outcomes.
Benefits
The conference will offer a rare opportunity for participants to:
Thematic Scope
The theme for the conference is “ Looking Back on SDG six implementation in Ghana: Progress, Challenges and Way forward”. The five sub-themes to be discussed in detail are the following:
Sub-theme 1: Institutional Alignment: This theme will highlight and discuss current institutional arrangement with a view to recommending appropriate institutional arrangement that will help address threats of climate change, sustain WASH-Health linkages as well promote WASH in schools and prisons. This sub-theme will emphasize cross-sectoral collaboration and integration, particularly with health and education sectors.
Key Pathways:
Key Pathways:
Key Pathways:
Key Pathways:
Format
The conference will aim at balancing plenary and panel discussions with interactive parallel sections and opportunities for maximizing interaction among participants. Apart from the main conference venue, two virtual conference centers with an online link will also be established to enable participation from persons who will be unable to travel to the main conference venue. A conference reception, capacity-building workshops, field trips to WASH facility in Cape Coast or Elmina, tourist visits and a special dinner and awards night will also form part of the conference.
The following will constitute the various components of the conference:
Conference Communiqué:
A key output of the conference will be a presentation of the Conference Communiqué in a press conference which will capture key decisions from conference proceedings.
CONTACT US
The Executive Secretary
Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS)
P.M. B. 24, KIA, Accra, Phone: +233 244 595 664 +233 558 652 313
E-mail: info@coniwasghana.com / coniwas@yahoo.com
Website: https://coniwasghana.com/
Zonal Coordinators
Northern Zone
Freeman Kanton
CARO Ghana
+233 547 840 902
Email: caroghana@gmail.com
Middle Zone
Isaac Acheampong Fianko
Beyond Hope Foundation
Tel: +233 244 514 860
Email: beyondhopefoundation@yahoo.com
Southern Zone
Abigail Naana Ansah-Addo
RWDP
Tel: +233 208 175 526
Email: naaadams@yahoo.com
[1] Government of Ghana (2012): Water and Sanitation Sector Development Plan (2012-2025).
[2] Led by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, responsible for rural and small-town water supply delivery
MOLE XXXIV CONFERENCE
BACKGROUND PAPER
THEME
Building Inclusive and Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems to reach the unserved.
Background
The MOLE conference series which was first organized in 1989 by a group of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has become the main rallying platform for discussing issues on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). This feat has been attained due to the tenacity of purpose, commitment and dynamic leadership exhibited by the trailblazers and subsequently, the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) leads the effective collaboration with other key players including central and local government institutions, development partners, academic and research institutions, and the private sector among others.
This year’s conference is happening against the backdrop of the complexities and uncertainties of global economic challenges, supply chain bottlenecks (arising from COVID-19 pandemic), and ongoing climate change, which has been described as the ‘triple crises. Securing Government and stakeholder commitments to WASH and building inclusive and resilient WASH systems to reach the unserved populations is a clear action to turn the ‘triple crises’ into a ‘triple win’.
Consistent with the coalition’s mission of working in partnership with relevant stakeholders to influence policies, remove barriers and to promote access safe WASH for the poor and vulnerable, this year’s event will set the agenda and commence a national dialogue aimed at holding Government and other duty-bearers to account on their commitments to WASH, and to change the narrative regarding the approach to the delivery of sustainable WASH services in Ghana.
Context
With seven (7) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 agenda, the vision for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 is to reach everyone everywhere by 2030. The SDG 6 is an ambitious desire to ‘ensure availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All’ by 2030. The Government of Ghana is making every effort to fully meet all its Sanitation and Water targets by 2030. The National vision for water and sanitation sector is “sustainable basic water and sanitation service for all by 2030” which in detailed terms means “all people living in Ghana have access to adequate, safe, affordable and reliable basic water service, practise safe sanitation and hygiene and that water resources are sustainably managed”[1].
SDG 6 targets 6.1 and 6.2 calls for drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene call for the equitable access to safe and adequate services for all, as well as end open defecation. The Government of Ghana has aligned itself to the goal and targets and is taking appropriate steps to review national WASH policies to also reflect the Africa Agenda 2063, N’gor and other SWA commitments.
The actualization of Ghana’s WASH vision is further bolstered by recently launched Ghana WASH Sector Development Plan (GWASHSDP, 2021-2030)[2], and the on-going sector reforms[3] in the rural and small-town water delivery with professionalization of staffing and service delivery at the core. Hopefully, this will deal with hydra-headed sustainability and equity challenges in WASH services delivery.
Building the resilience of water and sanitation infrastructure to climate shocks is critical to ensure equitable and sustainable WASH service delivery.
For Ghana to meet the above-stated vision, an improved understanding of equity issues is imperative. Equity-focused programming and effective targeting of the poor and marginalized beyond the current geographic targeting is urgently needed. More funding and technical guidance for post- construction operation and maintenance support by the Government and partners are crucial to sustain WASH services. The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) is in the final stages of revising the 2007 National Water Policy. The GWASHSDP, the draft Water National Policy 2021, and other policies and strategies under development all align with the SDG standards and national aspirations. The call is for Government to take bold and decisive actions on ongoing sector reforms to take sector regulation seriously, with clear institutional re-organization backed adequate and predictable funding to build inclusive and resilient WASH Systems to reach the unserved.
MOLE XXXIV Conference
MOLE XXXIV Conference will focus on building inclusive and resilient WASH systems to reach the unserved. This is important step as Ghana accelerate efforts to achieve the 2030 SDG6 WASH targets. The MOLE XXXIV Conference is intended to create a common space where policymakers, practitioners and researchers can gather to give account on the state of Ghana’s WASH delivery systems – through the review of available evidence, interrogating the science and methods, exploring the latest learnings and existing experiences, towards bridging the WASH service delivery gaps. Conference will also discuss how the implementation of resilient WASH systems will address access and equity, and how current service delivery models will impact on Ghana’s pace towards achieving WASH for all.
Objectives
The overall objective of the conference is to review equity and inclusive approaches toward building resilient WASH services in the country. The focus of discussions will include systems, approaches, and models of resilient WASH service delivery. The specific objectives include the following:
Participants
The conference will attract the participation of the following stakeholders and actors:
Expected outcomes
Benefits
The conference will offer a rare opportunity for participants to:
Thematic Scope
The theme for the conference is ‘‘Building Inclusive and Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems to reach the unserved. The five sub-themes to be discussed in detail are the following:
Sub-theme 1: WASH System Strengthening: This theme will highlight the systems approach to equitable service delivery methods. The key WASH system building blocks and innovations that promote universal access to WASH services as well as promising solutions for improving access to safe drinking water, paying attention to equity issues, water safety and sustainable management of Ghana’s WASH resources. Building resilient WASH systems in a collaborative and coordinated manner is critical to ensure sustainability.
Key Pathways:
Sustainable financing.
Key Pathways:
Key Pathways:
Key Pathways:
Format
The conference will aim at balancing plenary and panel discussions with interactive parallel sections and opportunities for maximizing interaction among participants. Apart from the main conference venue, two virtual conference centers with an online link will also be established to enable participation from persons who will be unable to travel to the main conference venue. A conference reception, capacity-building workshops, field trips to WASH facility Jirapa, tourist visits and a special dinner and awards night will also form part of the conference.
The following will constitute the various components of the conference:
Conference Communiqué:
A key output of the conference will be a presentation of the Conference Communiqué in a press conference which will capture key decisions from conference proceedings.
CONTACT US
The Executive Secretary
Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS)
P.M. B. 24, KIA, Accra, Phone: +233 24459-5664 +233 24 498 9085
E-mail: coniwas@yahoo.com
Website: www.coniwas.org
[1] Government of Ghana (2012): Water and Sanitation Sector Development Plan (2012-2025).
[2] Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, January,2023.
[3] Led by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, responsible for rural and small-town water supply delivery
