The session, organized by IRC Ghana in collaboration with Asutifi North District Assembly (ANDA), focused on fostering collaboration and capacity building to ensure the seamless replication of WASH strategies in Tano North. With a packed schedule that included presentations, discussions, and interactive Q&A sessions, participants explored effective approaches to enhancing WASH services in their respective communities.
Asutifi North’s WASH Achievements
A highlight of the event was the presentation on Asutifi North’s full WASH coverage initiative. The district has made remarkable progress in its mission to achieve universal WASH services by 2030, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key achievements include the construction of 226 boreholes, mechanized water systems, and sanitation facilities for schools and healthcare centers. The innovative Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) program has led to 56 rural communities being certified as Open Defecation Free (ODF), with further projects underway.
The district also showcased its WASHDESK initiative, which leverages tools like toll-free numbers, radio programs, and social media to engage communities and gather feedback. Despite challenges such as funding constraints and limited sanitation infrastructure, Asutifi North’s success has been driven by strong leadership, community involvement, and support from partners like IRC Ghana and the Hilton Foundation.
Tano North’s Vision for its WASH initiatives
Tano North Municipal Assembly presented its progress in advancing WASH services, emphasizing partnerships, innovation, and community engagement. Notable initiatives include solar-powered water systems, capacity-building programs, and targeted interventions for underserved schools and health facilities. The municipality’s strategic approach aligns closely with Asutifi North’s, reflecting a shared commitment to achieving universal WASH coverage.
Next steps
The session highlighted the importance of collaboration, with both districts emphasizing partnerships as a cornerstone of their success. Discussions covered a range of topics, including funding strategies, stakeholder engagement, and the use of innovative technologies such as solar-powered systems. A critical theme that emerged was the need for equity-focused interventions to address the requirements of vulnerable populations.
While celebrating significant milestones, stakeholders acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, particularly regarding reaching remote communities and securing sustainable funding. Both Asutifi North and Tano North remain committed to their shared vision of achieving universal WASH services by 2030. Plans are underway to scale successful models, enhance resource mobilization, and strengthen community involvement to realize this ambitious goal.
In his closing remarks, the planning officer of the Asutifi North District Assembly emphasized the importance of ongoing innovation and collaboration. “While challenges remain, we are proud of our progress. Together, through hard work and dedication, we can achieve our shared goals and improve the quality of life for all.”
]]>
In his keynote address to launch the event the DCE, Hon. Anthony Mensah called on the CSOs to take the opportunity to work together in responding to the call to enable them to actively participate in the district advocacy space. He stated that the Assembly alone could not do it all but needed both international and local partners including CSOs to achieve the ANAM objectives.
Call Overview
Abubakari Wumbei, the communication learning and advocacy coordinator of IRC gave an overview of the small grant call stating that within the WASH masterplan civil society organisations (CSOs) have been identified to support WASH through allied action, advocacy, and engagement with the people to build popular support and transparency within the initiative. He stated, “the intent of the call is to get selected CSOs in the Asutifi North District to develop advocacy initiatives in defined categories of equity and social inclusion. The grant will support CSOs to carry out public education and sensitization in the district to complement ongoing efforts by the ANAM partners to achieve the universal WASH coverage.”
Mr. Wumbei stated that the Grant Opportunity was opened to all registered NGOs operating in the Asutifi North district. And that to be considered in this grant, NGOs need to submit advocacy proposals on any of the defined areas using the proposal template provided to be implemented in 2021 in Asutifi North District.
On eligibility criteria, Mr Wumbei indicated that the civil society organization should be a body registered with the Government of Ghana and the Asutifi North District Assembly and operating in the district. On the grant information, he stated that funds for ethe grant is from the Hilton Foundation, through IRC Ghana as part of the district-based initiative in collaboration with the ANAM partners. According to the communication coordinator, the total grant sum is fifty thousand Ghana cedis (50,000GHS) and the maximum grant per applicant will be ten thousand Ghana cedis (10,000GHS).
The assessment, selection and award of grant has been scheduled for July 2021. According to Mr. Wumbei an independent panel of judges with expertise in WASH service delivery and behaviour change communications will be constituted for the assessment. He announced that the deadline for submission of entries will be May 15, 2021.
The CSOs were given brief orientation on equity and inclusion around the five categories of topics. The concept of inclusion and leaving no one behind was highlighted and explained.
Equity and inclusion highlights
A short presentation on social inclusion and advocacy was also facilitated by Abubakari Wumbei. He explained that inclusion means ensuring that all are able to participate fully regardless of their differences – ethnic background, financial status, education level, physical or mental ability, religious beliefs, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, and other socio-economic circumstances.
The factors that contribute to individual’s vulnerability or exclusion – identified to be either macro level or micro level, were also discussed. The participation ladder, inclusion and marginalisation framework were used to further illustrate the key concepts.
It was noted at the end of the session that inclusion is not just about improving access to services for those who are currently excluded but also empowering people to engage in wider processes of decision making to ensure that their rights and needs are recognized.
Conclusion
The District Coordinating Director, Mr. Samuel Badu Baiden who chaired the event together with the traditional authorities entreated the local CSOs to go all out in responding to the call and not let the district down. About 83 participants drawn from local CSOs, Assembly, CNHF partners, heads of departments and units, traditional authorities among others were recorded.
On this page you can find presentations, brochures and discussion of the platform. The platform is supposed to meet monthly.
]]>Ashaiman District Level Learning Alliance Platform was launched in May 2010. On this page you can find presentations, brochures and discussion of the platform. The platform is supposed to meet monthly.
]]>The Resource Centre Network (RCN) is an institutional partnership that seeks to promote Knowledge Management (KM) services within the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in Ghana.
The process of establishing RCN originally started back in October, 2002 with series of investigative studies which informed decisions on priority activities. The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in association with TREND Group, WaterAid (Ghana), the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre organized an Advocacy workshop on May 12/13, 2004 in Accra on knowledge management. Subsequently, four key sector organizations namely, Water Aid Ghana; Water Research Institute; KNUST- Department of Civil Engineering and TREND Group joined hands to form the nucleus of the Resource Centre Network (RCN) to spearhead knowledge management in the water and sanitation sector in Ghana. The outcome of the Knowledge Management Advocacy Workshop was the establishment of a Task Force which brings together about a dozen key organisations in May 2004. The activities of the Task Force were led by the CWSA and the Group met regularly until December 2006. Overall the Task force made positive gains in terms of advocacy aimed at raising awareness of knowledge management (KM). Key outputs of the group also included a Concept Paper for development of KM in the Sector.
However, the activities of the Task Force slowed down considerably in 2006 due to lack of funding. In 2008, the inception of new projects in the sector with a focus on knowledge generation and dissemination (UNICEF/WHO Water and Sanitation Monitoring Programme (WSMP), the Tripartite Partnership Project (TPP) led by TREND, the WASHCost and SWITCH Projects which are led by KNUST, and the West Africa Regional Programme of IRC, which supports RCN, etc.) provided a new impetus for the revival of the RCN. A Secretariat was set up and a new National knowledge management Coordinator, appointed since June 2008 to over see the activities of the Network and Secretariat.A core group of knowledge focused organizations was formed and have already revived and is intensifying knowledge management activities in the sector. The current Phase of the RCN is governed by a steering committee and is anchored in the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing.
The RCN secretariat provides the following products and services:
Learning platforms :The RCN organizes the monthly National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) and periodically Regional Level Learning Alliance platforms (RLLAPs) where ride range of stakeholders in the WASH sector meet to discuss topical issues in the sector for purposes of learning and policy influence.
Sector Newsletter : The RCN coordinates the production and editing of a national sector newsletter,WASHNEWS
Sector Website (www.washghana.net): The RCN coordinates the update of the WASHGhana website. We also offer free publishing (on the website) of sector articles, reports and information on upcoming and/or past events and activities. The website, established and hosted by IRC International is regularly updated by the secretariat. The site has information on RCN and partners, sector calendar, upcoming and past events; news and themes on community, rural and urban wash; etc. There are also links to several other resource centre websites from across the globe. For publishing on the site please send your articles, reports and information to rcn@washghana.org
Brochure, Fact Sheets, and Thematic Papers: RCN offers information materials like the The WASH Reflections,(a two pager report on the monthly NLLAPs) Brochures, Ghana Fact Sheets, etc. These short briefing notes in response to frequently asked questions provides information to key themes with reference to local situation. These papers are made available both in hard as well as soft copy format, accessible on the sector website.
Training and Capacity building: The RCN encourages the building of a minimum capacity for knowledge management like, information storage and usage within each sector organization at the national, regional and district levels.
Establishment of Media Platform –‘WASH Agenda’ : RCN works closely with the (GWJN) to establish an interactive programme on WASH issues. This platform will bring key sector actors involved with WASH governance to interact, share with sector and non-sector audience.
Questions and Answer Service: The RCN offers enquiry services. the secretariat directly provides answers in response to specific problems and queries.
Sector Walk-in Library: The RCN has developed a Resource Centre (library). Key sector publications are available to sector stakeholders, institutions and agencies. All publications are also made available for downloading from the website, (www.washghana.org).
Organization of Sector Learning Platforms: The RCN work closely with sector Ministries and agencies and umbrella groups like CONIWAS to organize annual sector leaning and sharing events like The Ghana Water Forum, NESCON, MOLE Conference series among others.
Documentation of Case Studies: The RCN work closely with sector agencies and projects to document, analyze and draw out the lessons from programmes and provide recommendations on the minimum conditions of success, helping to direct funding towards the most effective interventions.
]]>