Advocacy

Due to the scale of the problem, WaterAid recognizes that we cannot meet the global water and sanitation needs simply through implementing water and sanitation projects ourselves or through partners.

In addition to direct implementation work, WaterAid uses our experience, research, and good practice to influence the policies and practice of those responsible for the delivery of safe water, improved hygiene, and sanitation.

We shall not finally defeat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, or any of the other infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking-water, sanitation and
basic healthcare.
Kofi Annan, Former General Secretary of the United Nations

Through the Millennium Development Goals, international governments have committed to halve the proportions of people without access to safe water and sanitation by 2015. To achieve this target, immense action is needed - from national governments, donor governments, and international agencies - to prioritize water and sanitation activities. This requires changes in both policy and practice.

Spreading the lessons from successful projects - good practice advocacy - is a major part of WaterAid's advocacy work to help other organizations develop sustainable projects. However, in response to the increasingly urgent need for a commitment to providing water and sanitation for all, WaterAid advocates for improvements in water and sanitation policies and in policies related to the root causes of the lack of access to safe, affordable, accessible water supply, sanitation and hygiene services.

The need for policy change is found at many different levels and in different arenas. The US Government, for example, plays a role in water and sanitation through the aid it gives to developing country governments, through its own trade and investment, and through the role it plays in international institutions such as the World Bank.

WaterAid therefore seeks policy change in these arena as well as with local and national governments in the countries where we work. This requires a tiered approach - working at national and international levels with a variety of partners, coordinating to achieve maximum impact. 

WaterAid's advocacy goal and guiding principles:

The goal of WaterAid's advocacy activities is to extend the organization's ability to influence national and international policies and practices so that the poor gain access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion services.

WaterAid's advocacy work is guided by the following principles:

• WaterAid recognizes that achieving policy change is a long-term process, requiring co-ordinated program, advocacy, communications and fundraising work over many years
  
• WaterAid's advocacy work includes building capacity of staff, partners and community groups to undertake advocacy work and participate in changing policy themselves. This is what is known as 'rooted advocacy'
  
• Advocacy work will be based on clear evidence and knowledge, supported by thorough research and analysis
  
• WaterAid will engage in constructive dialogue with advocacy audiences on priority issues identified within the organization
  
• WaterAid will work in collaboration with like-minded organizations to achieve its advocacy objectives
  
• WaterAid's advocacy work will contribute to building solidarity between our supporters and partner communities, to raise awareness about key issues and to increase supporters' involvement in advocacy activities