Key insights from the session included:

• Utility-led and Private Service Delivery Models: The discussions revealed that models led by utilities and private entities are increasingly proving effective in expanding household water connections and enhancing service reliability. These models leverage existing infrastructure and management expertise to reach more households in urban and peri-urban areas.
• Challenges Faced by Community-managed Systems: Stakeholders highlighted several challenges inherent in community-managed water systems. These included infrastructure limitations, such as aging distribution networks and the lack of maintenance equipment, financial constraints that hinder operational sustainability, and governance gaps that often lead to poor accountability and ineffective management practices.
• Enhancements Needed for Sustainable Management: The group underscored the necessity for targeted subsidies aimed at low-income households to improve accessibility, the implementation of digital billing systems to streamline revenue collection and payment processes, and the creation of inclusive citizen engagement platforms that ensure community voices are heard in decision-making.
• Water Quality Monitoring and Planning Integration: A consensus emerged on the pressing need to incorporate standardized water quality monitoring protocols into regional district planning. Additionally, there was a call to strengthen the technical capacity at the local level to empower district water management teams.

Through engaging buzz group sessions, participants collaboratively developed practical recommendations aimed at accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1, which seeks to ensure universal access to safely managed drinking water. There was a shared commitment among participants to advocate for systemic changes that would establish safely managed water services as a standard for all, with a particular focus on underserved and rural communities in the Ahafo Region. This collective effort signifies a vital step towards improving public health and environmental sustainability across the region.

IRC Ghana remains committed to supporting districts in translating these insights into action and fostering sustainable partnerships for universal #WASH access by #2030.

Easy Water for Everyone, World Vision Ghana, Saha Global, Aquaya, Safe Water Network, Project Maji, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

#RLAP2025 #WASHGhana #SDG6 #WaterForAll #AhafoRegion #ANAMInitiative #SafelyManagedWater #PartnershipForChange #IRC #AhRCC

This learning event brings together stakeholders from across the #WASH sector to review and validate findings from our recent study on the drivers and barriers to safely managed #water services in rural #Ghana. The study, conducted under the Safe Water Strategy initiative, highlights both the progress and challenges in delivering sustainable water services to nearly 600,000 people in the Ahafo Region by #2030.

Why it matters:

– Only 44% of Ghanaians currently have #access to safely managed water services.

– Rural #communities face the greatest challenges – and the greatest opportunities for impact.

– #Inclusive dialogue and shared #learning are key to driving policy and implementation forward.

Join us as we:

– Review and validate study findings with regional and district stakeholders

– Share practical experiences and lessons

– Build consensus on actionable recommendations

Together, we can shape the future of water access in Ghana.

Resource Centre Network Ghana

#SafelyManagedWater #SDG6 #AhafoRegionalWASHProgramme #RLAP2025 #WaterForAll #ANAMInitiative #PartnershipForChange #IRC #WASHGhana

Opening Remarks by Regional Minister:
Hon. George Boakye’s inaugural address set a tone of urgency and purpose, emphasizing the critical role of WASH in public health and government expenditure optimization. The Regional Minister’s commitment to supporting all districts, regardless of their progress in WASH masterplans, highlighted a collective vision for equitable progress beyond the Ahafo Region.

Purpose of the RLLAP Meeting:
Jacob Ntiamoah’s presentation elucidated the shared responsibility inherent in WASH initiatives, emphasizing the need for collective engagement and continuous improvement. The commitment to personal interest, learning, and continuous improvement reflects a dedication to advancing the region’s WASH landscape.

Introduction to the Concept of Learning Alliance:
Abubakari M. S. Wumbei highlighted the vital role of Learning Alliance Platforms in fostering collaborative learning and knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders. In the context of the Ahafo region’s WASH sector, the establishment of a Regional Learning Alliance Platform was underscored as a means to collectively address challenges, share best practices, and generate innovative solutions.

State of WASH in the Region:
Jeremiah Atengdem’s data-driven presentation focused on the current state of WASH services in selected districts, offering valuable insights for informed decision-making and laying a foundation for targeted interventions to improve WASH services in the Ahafo region.

Key Q&A Discussion:
The interactive Q&A session deepened our understanding of specific challenges, highlighting the importance of community engagement, training, and strategic partnerships in addressing these issues effectively.

Next Steps/Call to Action: ‘The RCC Integrated WASH Programme’:
A comprehensive overview of ongoing and planned WASH interventions across the MMDAs showcased a multifaceted approach to achieving the region’s WASH goals.

District-Specific Initiatives:
Detailed updates from various MMDAs, including Asunafo North Municipal Assembly, Asunafo South District Assembly, Tano South Municipality, Tano North Municipal Assembly, and Asutifi South District Assembly, showcased ongoing efforts, achievements, and anticipated support from partners.

Conclusion:
The Ahafo Regional Learning Alliance Platform Meeting was not merely a one-time event but a call to action. As stakeholders pledged to work towards universal access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, the meeting served as a catalyst for progress. The momentum generated during this gathering is hoped to propel the region towards sustainable and inclusive WASH services, influencing positive change in neighboring areas and beyond.

The Regional Learning Alliance Platform is positioned to play a pivotal role in fostering sector learning and dialogue, contributing to a knowledge-driven WASH sector that delivers quality and sustainable services in Ghana. The commitment to regular meetings and open participation reflects a dedication to ongoing collaboration and improvement in the pursuit of enhanced WASH outcomes. More information about the platform and its discussions can be found on the RCN website at www.washghana.org.

The National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) was launched on October 29, 2009 at the Miklin Hotel in Accra. The NLLAP brings together multi stakeholder sector players to dialogue, learn and share knowledge/information on specific themes. This round table sector stakeholder learning and sharing platform aims at providing a sector wide platform for regular engagement, interaction and discussion of themes and topical issues that affect the sector. This is to build consensus, encourage and promote sector learning processes.

1NLLAP_Report

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.