THE SADC REGIONAL WATER COOPERATION FRAMEWORK THE SADC NATIONAL WATER WEEKS: MAURITIUS VOILA BAGATELLE 03 JUNE By Obonetse Alfred Masedi

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1 THE SADC REGIONAL WATER COOPERATION FRAMEWORK THE SADC NATIONAL WATER WEEKS: MAURITIUS VOILA BAGATELLE 03 JUNE 2015 By Obonetse Alfred Masedi Water Supply and Sanitation Programme Manager SADC Secretariat, Gaborone, Botswana

2 The African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) Policy and Strategy on Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector

3 Presentation Overview Progress Background Strategic objective Strategic Objectives and Key results Implementation Introducing the Strategy

4 The AMCOW Policy and Strategy on Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector in Africa Some Gaps in AMCOW Work A clear and harmonised strategy and action plan mainstreaming of youth engagement in water and sanitation in Africa Youth role in implementing High Level Commitments in Africa (Africa Water Vision 2025, Sharm el Sheikh, ethekwini ) Challenges Budgetary allocations to the water and sanitation sector are low Poor governance in sector limits the desired change Lack of an enabling environment Poorly resourced facilities for career guidance Youth often being perceived as a problem rather than a valuable resource Lack of platforms to share challenges

5 The Process - Approximately 6 years in the making 2007, Brazzaville Declaration stakeholders, Brazzaville, Congo 2008, AU Summit that culminated into the Sharm el Sheikh commitments for accelerating Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt 2011, Multi-stakeholder Forum on preparation for the 6 th World Water Forum, South Africa March 2012, 6th World Water Forum, Marseille, France April 2012, Core Group consultations, Nairobi, Kenya May 2012, 4 th Africa Water Week, Cairo, Egypt July 2012, Africa Youth Summit, Johannesburg, South Africa August 2012, Africa Focus Day, Stockholm, Sweden December 2012, Young Water Professionals Conference, Kigali, Rwanda March 2013, AMCOW TAC, Tunis, Tunisia June 2013, 11 th AMCOW Executive Committee General Assembly, Cairo, Egypt

6 11.1 EXCO/11/2013/CAIRO/14: EXCO approves the AMCOW Policy and Strategy for Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector in Africa and directs AMCOW Secretariat to implement the strategy by developing youth programmes as well as youth water prizes in collaboration with supporting partners, member countries and RECs EXCO/11/2013/CAIRO/15: EXCO recommends member countries Ministries responsible for Water and Sanitation to consider for domestication and implementation the AMCOW Policy and Strategy for Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector as is suitable within the national operating environment.

7 Launched on May 31, 2014 by the Governing Council of AMCOW at its 9 th Ordinary Session, Dakar, Senegal

8 Strategic objective To ensure youth engagement for the sustainable development and management of the water and sanitation sector towards social and economic prosperity for Africa. Guiding principles The right to water and sanitation Integrated Water Resources Management Inclusiveness Partnerships

9 Strategic focus areas 1. Enhance social and economic development by investing in youth 2. Ensure sustainability by empowering youth through knowledge 3. Promote innovation through recognizing and supporting the contribution of young people in the sector 4. Improve governance and leadership 5. Build cross-sectoral linkages and broadening the sector

10 Enhancing social and economic development by investing in the youth Entails mobilizing youth energy and enthusiasm for action Ensure national budgetary allocations to youth activities Establish an Africa-wide youth fund Create an enabling environment (laws and policies) at subregional (eg SADC) and country level to encourage entrepreneurship among youth Create a web-based platform of youth in water and sanitation initiatives in Africa, including a database of graduates Conduct scoping study to understand existing environment strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

11 Ensuring sustainability by empowering youth through knowledge Entails preparing young people to build careers and play a productive role in the water and sanitation sector Advocate for inclusion of water and sanitation issues in school curricula, formal education and technical training; setting up schools and community clubs Supporting career and professional development that includes encouraging and mentoring youth water and sanitation leaders)

12 Promoting innovation through recognising and supporting the contribution of young people in the sector Launch national, regional and continental awards to encourage innovative youth contributions in the sector Promote outstanding African youth innovation at global level Promote youth engagement in green economy initiatives Promote youth engagement in research in the sector

13 Improving governance and leadership Entails ensuring that youth, as a large, vulnerable and marginalized segment of the population, have a voice in decision-making Youth desks in all ministries responsible for water and sanitation Ministries report to AMCOW annually on implementation of AMCOW Youth Policy and Strategy Ministries convene youth forum to appoint youth focal person Ministries establish links with other existing youth structures African Ministers to develop and implement policies that will allow young professionals and other youth to participate in sector

14 Building cross-sectoral linkages and broadening the sector Entails utilizing the social networking skills and habits of modern young people Build on existing youth networks and platforms and mobilise youth at all levels into strong youth networks Mainstreaming youth and water and sanitation issues in development policies, programmes and budgets Continuous advocacy two-way engagement through sensitisation campaigns

15 Means of implementation Role of AMCOW, Regional Economic Communities, national governments, youth networks and youth stakeholders Develop and maintain functioning communication and advocacy mechanisms Put in place coordination mechanisms at continental, regional and national levels Resource requirements and resource mobilization Develop and put in place appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms

16 Thank You Merci شكرا Asante