WaterAid America's policy program

Having established an office in Washington, DC in March 2009, WaterAid America has become a strong voice in the US policymaking process related to international water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance.

Reforming the US foreign aid system

In recent months, the White House, the State Department, and Congress have all signaled their commitment to building a stronger US international development program by undertaking measures that will make serious improvements in our country’s foreign assistance. WaterAid will be at the forefront of these debates, advocating for water and sanitation to help those in need around the world. Find out more.

Water for the World Act

This spring, Senator Richard Durbin and Representative Earl Blumenauer introduced the Water for the World Act, with the aim of strengthening US Government support for programs promoting sustainable access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene education for the world's poor.

US-supported programs are to be based on local need and context but could include:

• working with communities and government to support the building, management, and maintenance of low-cost wells, latrines, or hand-washing stations
• supporting communities and government in promoting good hygiene practices like hand-washing and proper waste disposal
• supporting schools to implement hygiene education programs.

To make sure that interventions are sustained in the long term, the legislation also focuses on strengthening US Government support for local and national governments to build the capacity of the institutions and individuals responsible for these services.

The Water for the World Act builds on the Water for the Poor Act, passed in 2005, and strengthens the US Government’s capacity to implement provisions of the 2005 act such as:

• increasing country and local ownership of water and sanitation services
• the integration of water and sanitation with other important programs such as health, education, and food security
• stronger coordination by the US with other stakeholders such as national and local governments, civil society organizations, and other donors.
  

By strengthening the capacity of the US Government to implement the Water for the Poor Act, WaterAid America views this new legislation as a step in the right direction to increase the overall impact of US assistance for water and sanitation.

US Government Workshop on Pro-Poor Approaches in Water and Sanitation

In May 2009, WaterAid, along with representatives from various US Federal agencies, NGOs and other organizations, participated in an all day workshop convened by the US Government to identify innovative approaches for increasing access to drinking water and sanitation for the poor.

WaterAid conducted a presentation on our work with partners to monitor and advocate for equity in water and sanitation services in Tanzania. Other organizations also presented their work on approaches to reach the poor, and there was extensive discussion on ways the US Government can improve its work in this area.

The presentations and discussions from this workshop will be used to influence the US Government Framework for Action that lays out the guiding principles for a US foreign assistance strategy in the water and sanitation sector.

Meeting with US Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Administrator

In June 2009 WaterAid joined several other organizations in a meeting with Alonzo Fulgham, the acting head of USAID, the agency that oversees the majority of US international development programs.

This was a unique opportunity to discuss with the Administrator the critical roles that water and sanitation play in economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries, and to share ideas on how USAID can increase and improve its work in water and sanitation globally.

WaterAid emphasized the role that USAID can play in supporting the building of stronger capacity in national and local governments to provide water and sanitation services.

As the Acting Administrator and his staff work to scale up USAID’s drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene portfolio, WaterAid will continue to be a resource and partner in the development and implementation of strategies in these areas throughout the world.