By Asayire Kapira

 The Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (WES Network) is a membership based Civil Society network that coordinates the work of NGOs working in the water, sanitation and Hygiene subsector in Malawi. It recognizes the role of Water and Sanitation in economic development and poverty reduction.

 WES Network was established in 2005 and got registered with Malawi Government in WES Network’s head office is in Lilongwe with representation across the country by its member organizations. To date the WES Network has a membership of over 50 local and international NGO across Malawi. 

 WES Network envisions sustainable access to safe water and improved sanitation for all in Malawi. Its mission is enhanced coordination, advocacy and knowledge sharing among Network membership for provision of high quality standards and sustainable water and environmental sanitation services in Malawi guided by universal right to safe water and sanitation

. It is guided by such core values as Inclusiveness; Unity of purpose; Openness; Transparency and Accountability; Tolerance and Equity; Solidarity; Quality Standards; Efficiency and Effectiveness, Trust and Feedback.

 WASH NGOs Coordination  Facilitate linkage between NGOs (Local and International) and other sector players including government, donors, and other international organizations with similar objectives. This shall be achieved through Mapping of NGOs, Development of annual WASH NGO Performance report as well as holding of joint planning and review meeting

 Expertise and Knowledge Sharing/ Learning Alliances  Ensure cross cutting partnerships to enhance coordination, expertise and knowledge sharing with member organizations and stakeholders with similar objectives. The WES Network also Facilitates capacity building of NGOs in the WASH sector through: - Learning Forums, Workshops, training and Exchange visits 

 Provide evidenced based platform for its members to collectively advocate and lobby government and donors on pertinent planning, implementation, management, accountability, financing and policy related concerns affecting water and environmental sanitation in Malawi. This is achieved through, Research, budget tracking, advocacy, lobbying and Citizens actions.

 Build positive and collaborative relationship between WES NGOs and other Stakeholders (Government, Donors etal ). WES Network is a member of the WASH Sector working group, the M and E Thematic working group, the Sanitation Thematic Working group, the National Sanitation coordination Unit and the Donor coordination Group. Through participation in these forums, the WES Network seeks to influence the agenda and decisions made so that they are responsive to the issues affecting the poor

 Empowering communities for responsive Communal Water Governance in Lilongwe Peri Urban areas

 2 year project (October 1 st 2012 to September 30 th 2013)  Impact group – Water Users Associations, Community at large  Actual Target Areas- WUAs from Area 50,Mlodza,Tsabango,Kauma,Mtandire-Mtsiliza,Mgona and Chinsapo)  Mode of implementation through partnership with local CSOs  Mineral and Appropriate Technologies Applicable in Malawi (MATAMA)  Circle for Integrated Community Development (CICOD)  Center for Community Development (CCODE  Training Support for Partners (TSP)

 seeks to create an alternative mechanism for holding the WUAs, the politician, the Kiosk management unit and all other key stakeholders accountable

 Participatory planning monitoring and evaluation (PPME). A community based planning and monitoring tool that aims to strengthen community based institutions and structures to become more effective and inclusive in service delivery by building a common vision and mission; and a common understanding of roles, responsibilities and relationships; and creates a platform for communities to participate in planning and evaluation of community activities

 Community scorecard process. This is participatory methodology for improving community voice in development initiatives as well as transparency and accountability between service providers and client Impact Groups.

 District and national level knowledge management and learning, Data from community scorecards will be aggregated to give a perceived picture of the performance of the selected service areas. This will be shared and discussed at interface level meetings between community representatives, WUAs,Lilongwe Water Board other service providers

 Lilongwe WUA Network in place  Scorecard Committees in the seven WUAs in place and running  Successfully managed to amend the WUA constitution through AGMs that removed the politicians in the WUA management  WUAs have been empowered to hold the duty bearers accountable through the interface meetings  Local Power Institutions owning and being part of the WUAs

 Duty bearers are not responsive  Literacy levels very low in the WUAs hence they are not aggressive

 There is very little accountability in most Water Users Associations due to high levels of illiteracy among some members in leadership positions who fail to properly account for the services provided due to their education status Most office bearers i.e. Kiosk Management Unit, take advantage of this and abuse their authority against the most vulnerable.

 There is resistance from most duty bearers to account for their actions to the service users because they feel they are only accountable to their bosses and donors; to them being accountable to beneficiaries is a new phenomenon. Community scorecard is a tool or strategy being used in the project to ensure accountability, transparency and inclusiveness of service providers including the implementing NGOs in the area

 Local Power Institutions involvement is key to ensure that rural communities actively participate in and influence decisions that increase their life chances and empowerment.The project has observed that for it to achieve the intended goal of, it is equally very important to work with local power institutions. The project purpose cannot be achieved if the project only works with the impact group (Water Users Association) leaving out the group which hinders voice of other important stakeholders

 More space is created where the Water Users Associations members are literate as compared to areas where they are members who are illiterate as evidenced at area 50 WUA, Tsabango WUAs. Members form the two cited WUAs are able to stand up and challenge the duty bearers on the actions that they have taken on board

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