PHOTOS: AMCOW Member Counties Convene in Kigali to validate the 2017 water and sanitation data

 

Goup Photo taken by Ange de la Victoire D.

From Monday 21^st to 23^rd May 2018 Rwanda host the African member countries of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) who are in Kigali to validate the 2017 water and sanitation data.

This workshop which was organized by the AMCOW, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) gather around 70 participants including Country M&E Focal persons from 55 AMCOW Member States, Representatives of Regional Economic Committees (RECs) from 5 regions, AMCOW Secretariat, AUC Representative and Representative from AfDB/AWF among others.

The main objective of this validation workshop is to review and adjust where necessary data submitted by AMCOW Member States, and  share experiences, identify challenges faced in the process of collecting and compiling information at country level and recommend possible solutions. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to learn from monitoring and reporting processes at the global level.

Rwanda role model

Rwandan Officials chatting with Dr. Canisius Kanangire whose the Executive Secretary of AMCOW. Photo/Ange de la Victoire D.

Rwanda is a role model in the collection and monitoring of water and sanitation data among African member countries of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW).

This was revealed by Dr. Canisius Kanangire, the Executive Secretary of AMCOW who’s Headquarters located in Abuja, Nigeria. 

The AMCOW was formed in 2002, primarily to promote cooperation, security, social and economic development and poverty eradication among member states through the effective management of the continent’s water resources and provision of water supply services.

To effectively manage the continent’s water resources there is a need to ensure proper data collection and its analysis to help in formulating proper policies and planning which respond to Water and Sanitation challenges around the continent.

Speaking to participants from different AMCOW countries including development partners gathered in Kigali in a three days’ Workshop to validate the 2017 water and Sanitation Data on Monday, Dr. Kanangire said that the African Ministers’ Council on Water has the responsibility of coordinating the monitoring system across the continent to produce the monitoring report and submit it to the summit of the Heads of states and Governments annually.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Kanangire noted that member countries are still having the challenges including harmonizing collected data, the quality of collected data and lack of accurate data on Water and Sanitation particularly in developing countries.

In an interview at the sideline of the Workshop, Dr. Kanangire said “We are very happy about Rwanda's place in the Water and Sanitation sector. Among the recommendations made by the Heads of States, Rwanda is on the right move to implementation. Rwanda has institutionalized  this work, the will and good results shows that this country is really on track even if there are some problems that we meet not only here in Rwanda but also in other member countries.”

Dr. Kanangire added that the AMCOW member countries had had a study tour in Rwanda to learn how other countries can emulate Rwanda in the implementation of these recommendations and “We encourage the continuous of this good progress.”

Among the challenges AMCOW countries are facing include collection of data which is not well coordinated, lack of harmonization of data, lack of capacity to retrieve certain data on country level which resulted to questionable data and achieving Universal access to clean water and sanitation among others.

However, He said “Firstly, on the problem of the quality of the data collected, we will put efforts in training of focal persons who are in charge of collecting data and compiling them. We will give them equipments with reliable software so that they are able to deliver accurate data,

He further noted that “The other is to work with Ministers responsible for water and sanitation to request them to give importance to monitoring and this will encourage these people as they will be supported from the Ministerial level and we will continue sensitizing Member states to provide Water and Sanitation data.”

"Many of the member countries do not provide their data. In 2016, 42 countries provided their data among 55 countries. There is a Say which says "You cannot manage what you cannot measure." This is the main challenge we have, the monitoring challenge. At the end of this workshop we are coming up with clear solution to this challenge.” Dr. Kanangire said.

Francis Ofoe Konu, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist from the African Development Bank’s Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS) said that the AFDB support the collection and Monitoring of Water and Sanitation Data taking into consideration achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Water and Sanitation.

“As you know the AfDB is the continental Bank and we Work to support the monitoring in member countries. The Bank has different funds to support different initiative. We have the African Development Fund and other funding components also. Essentially we work with member countries. They approach us with their proposals and request, we dialogue with them, identify the problems …and that is where depending on the needs of the country, the bank intervene.”

He emphasized that the AfdB has the mandate of supporting WASH sector and that is why it has Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS).

Though he didn’t tell us exactly how much the bank put in this sector because time was not allowing him to check figures, Francis Ofoe Konu said “It is in billion dollars.”

 While officiating the opening of the Workshop, Prime Ngabonziza, the Director General of Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority said that “Achieving the sustainable management of Water resources and Sanitation remains a major challenges on the African continent and meeting them are crucial in health, education, and poverty eradication.”

Ngabonziza added that “There is a need to look for a shared solutions to those challenges.”

“It is necessary for African countries to have a consistent and standardized monitoring and reporting system on achievements and ongoing efforts in water and Sanitation

Strong national and regional monitoring system based on a common framework or indicators and methodologies will allow us to track the process on the implementation of high level political commitment on water and Sanitation such as the Sharm el-Sheikh commitment, African agenda 63 and global commitment on sustainable development on water and sanitation” Ngabonziza noted.   

He commended the participating countries for their efforts in responding to the challenges that the continent is facing in Water and Sanitation sector.

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