Report

on

Post SACOSAN-V

6th Inter-country Working Group (ICWG) Meeting

11-13 February, 2014

Hotel Annpurna, Kathmandu, Nepal

1

Contents

Background ................................................................................................................................................... 2

Proceeding .................................................................................................................................................... 2

Day I ........................................................................................................................................................ 2

Day II ....................................................................................................................................................... 5

6th SACOSAN ICWG meeting –ACTION POINTS: .................................................................................. 6

Day III ..................................................................................................................................................... 7

Annexes .................................................................................................................................................... 9

2

Report on the 6th ICWG Meeting, Kathmandu, Nepal

Background

Inter-country Working Group (ICWG) has been established in the region as the unit to maintain

dialogue and trust on the commitment to implement SACOSAN Process. The ToR for the Group was

jointly agreed by the Country Focal Points, Support Agencies and Partners at the 4th ICWG held in

Colombo, Sri Lanka. Tasks of the ICWG includes uniform monitoring system, share experiences,

support SACOSANs, link SAARC and other SANs and recognize outstanding performances in sanitation

in the regions. The fifth ICWG meeting was organized in Nepal in November 27-29, 2013 and discussed

on SACOSAN-V Preparation and Regional Monitoring Framework. This is the report that describes the

proceedings and decision made in the sixth ICWG meeting held in Nepal with the aim to reviewing

SACOSAN process, actions of declarations of SACOSAN-V for better sanitation in the regions,

preparation for SACOSAN-VI and ICWG issues.

Proceeding

Day I

The Inter Country Working Group Meeting began with the informal opening session in the presence of

Honorable Minister Mr. Chhabi Raj Panta as the chief guest. Mr. Abadh Kishor Mishra, joint-secretary of

Ministry of Urban Development and the Focal person for

SACOSAN extended warm welcome and briefly highlighted

the objective of the Meeting. Mr. Bhim Upadhyaya, Director

General of Department of Local Infrastructure Development

and Agriculture Road (DoLIDAR) expressed the success of

the meeting and wished the foreign delegates the pleasant

stay in Nepal. Mr. Khairul Islam, Deputy Secretary of

Ministry of Local Governance, Rural Development and

Cooperatives (MoLGRDC), as the focal person of Bangladesh- the country that has taken the

responsibility of organizing Sixth SACOSAN, also briefly expressed his reflection on the SACOSAN.

The Honorable Minister delivered the opening remarks.

The next session – a technical session started after the tea break

and a group photo session. This session was chaired by Mr.

Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, Secretary of Ministry of Federal Affairs

and Local Development opened this session. Mr Shrestha, due

to other more important business, apologized for not being able

to listen to all presentations and handed over the session to co-

chair, Mr. A. K. Mishra.

3

There were four

presentations on the action

plans made by countries to

implement the SACOSAN-V

declaration (Kathmandu

Declaration) (See Annex 1).

The plans of Afghanistan,

Bangladesh, Bhutan and India were presented by Mr. Safi, Mr. Khairul Islam, Mr. Gyaltshen and Mr.

Balasubramaniam respectively.

Mr. Henk van Norden presented “SAARC Framework for

Sanitation” in the presence of Mr. Zuhuree, Director, Health and

Sanitation Division of SAARC secretariat. He talked about the

rationale of such framework including principles, methods and the

strategies adopted.

There were queries, comments on the presentations on action

plans and the framework. Shift from hardware to software in

India, advocacy of declaration in local language in Afghanistan,

separate WASH facilities considering gender and equity I

Bangladesh and WASH programs under Ministry of Health was

appreciated by the participants/delegates. Regarding SAARC

framework the timeline for completion of activities, its mechanism

to include efforts by regional Development Partners were sought to clarify from the floor. It was very

lively discussion.

The session after lunch was the continuation of the technical sessions. This was chaired by Mr. Kabindra

Bikram Karki, SDE of MoUD, as Mr. Mishra had to leave urgently the meeting for some hour. The action

plans of Maldives, Pakistan,

Sri Lanka and Nepal were

presented by Ms Shaheeda,

Mr. Zia Ul Islam, Mr.

Gunapala and Mr. Bal

Mukunda Shrestha

respectively.

4

Concerns on protection of environments, particularly sewerage

treatment, funding for sanitation activities, challenges to improve

sanitations especially achieving open defecation status in Terai

region of Nepal were some

of the topics that raise

more queries and

comments after action plan

of Nepal, Pakistan and Maldives and Sri Lanka were presented.

The ToR of ICWG was also discussed in light with the experiences gained from organizing SACOSANS,

particularly the SACOSAN-V. There were some modifications on the presented ToR. The finalized ToR

is presented here in Annex 2. The ToR of ICWG secretariat was presented and discussed upon. It was

decided that Sri Lanka

would revise it but

referring it ToR not of

the SACOSAN

secretariat but only of

SACOSAN knowledge

and learning center. The discussion was facilitated by Mr. Henk.

The post 2015 agenda was presented by Mr. Rabin Lal Shrestha

and Ms Archana Patkar together. It was a very interesting

presentation that drew many queries and views for active

discussion.

5

Day II

The first half of the day was chaired and co-chaired by Mr. Ram

Lakhan Mandal, Deputy Director General of DWSS and Mr. Henk

van Norden, Regional Adviser Sanitation and Hygiene, UNICEF.

Mr. Terrence Thompson, Sr. Environmental Health Adviser,

WHO Nepal was the first speaker to present "Reflections and

Learning from SACOSAN-V" . He briefly described what went

well, what were new and recommended what to do in future

SACOSAN. Public opening of conference, Highest level of Government's participation, cost sharing of

donors and GoN, Leadership by countries on technical focus sessions was effective, Management of the

media were commendable. Virtual conference, online registration, Electronic I.D. cards and

participation of EASAN representative were new. Some of the major recommendations made by Mr

Thompson were follows: "Continue country leadership in TFS; Put more emphasis on innovations; Go

beyond ODF (eg, septage management, wastewater collection/treatment/disposal, wastes as a resource,

climate change, sanitation in health care facilities, etc.); No “last minute” side events." While discussing

on this topics, Afghanistan appreciated the wider participation of all stakeholders in SACOSAN-V and

added that the theme on urban sanitation in this conference was new ( See Annex 3). WSSCC was of

the view that the conference needs to include papers from the internationally renowned researchers on

the theme being discussed from the region. FANSA suggested continuing the work together with

Development Partners, Regional Partners and Government agencies. Similarly, Maldives opined that

climate changes, and environmental sanitation must be focused. A discussion took place if participation

of journalists was really fruitful. There were views that participation number should define and should

be authorized by the countries government.

Mr. Wali Ullah, Superintending Engineer , DPHE, Bangladesh presented " CONCEPTUAL

FRAMEWORK FOR SACOSAN-VI , 2015 " Informing about the first meeting of "National Sanitation

Task Force" the highest decision making body regarding sanitation in Bangladesh, held on 5 the

February 2014, Mr. Ullah presented the outline of the 4/5 day program. The main themes and sub

themes were listed out. And the tentative date (21-25 October 2015) and number of participants (total

450) allocated for each member countries were also presented. There were suggestions/comments to

include the themes/sub themes like ODF campaign, WASH in School, Sanitation in Emergencies,

Hygiene, particularly menstrual hygiene, sanitation for urban poor( slum, informal settlement dwellers ),

communication and advocacy, R & D in sanitation fields etc. It is suggested; to select the themes based

on the declaration of SACOSANs; to keep on giving space for grass root voices and to run the technical

focus sessions by regional partners. "A part-time for the beginning and later a full time person to take

the overall coordination and management of the conference (like Mr. Nam Raj Khatri for SACOSAN-V

and Annada Jayaweera for SACOSAN-IV) must be recruited" – was also a suggestion to Bangladesh. Mr.

Ullah said he would incorporate the valuable suggestions/comments.

6

Mr. Balasubramanium, on behalf of India, talked about "ENGAGEMENT OF SWATCHHATA DOOT

(SANITATION MOTIVATORS / SANITATION MESSENGERS) AT VILLAGE LEVEL" in the session for

innovative initiations for sanitation promotion. Similarly, on

behalf of Bangladesh, Mr. Mofizul Islam presented a short

presentation on "Sanitation Market Promotion in partnership

with micro finance institutes" and on behalf of Nepal, Mr.

Namaste Lal Shrestha presented "Sanitation Social Movement

for ODF Innovative/Creative Actions " Mr. Joseliti Riego Dedios

from Philippines briefly presented the sanitation status of East

Asia and the East Asian Conferences on Sanitation. Similarly, Mr. Kitchinme Bawa Gotau from Nigeria

presented about the Africa SAN. Ms Archana Patkar briefly

describing about the Latino SAN said that the secretariat of Latino

SAN is in Panama, the third Latino SAN will be held in 2015. On

behalf of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council

(WSSCC), Ms Patkar expressed the interest to work on the

general area of knowledge management and advocacy, projecting

the voices of regional conferences into the international/global

forum/fora and sharing it among various regional conferences (EA SAN, Africa SAN, and Latino SAN).

6th SACOSAN ICWG meeting – ACTION POINTS:

Lastly but not least, Mr. Norden presented briefly the major topics discussed and decisions made.( See

box).

7

At the end of the second day session, mementos were presented to delegates of the 7 countries and

regional partners. Focal persons from 7 countries and representatives from Regional Partners expressed

shortly their reflections on the proceedings of the 2 day meeting.

Mr. Abadh Kishor Mishra, the focal person of Nepal for SACOSAN, with vote of thanks to all including

WSSCC for bringing here the representation from EA SAN and Africa SAN, and with warm wishes to

Delegates from Bangladesh for bearing the responsibility of SACOSAN-VI concluded the meeting

Day III

6th SACOSAN ICWG meeting –ACTION POINTS: Country presentations: • Nepal and India: meeting on sanitation action in border areas. ‘Trigger the politicians’ (Lead: Nepal and

India ICWG focal points, first meet in Delhi, May 2014). SAARC action framework for sanitation • Bring sanitation into WHO-SEARO hosted annual meeting of Health Ministers (action: WHO SEARO -

Payden) • WASH-in-health centres: greater priority to include in SACOSAN6(action: WHO SEARO and UNICEF

ROSA; 28 Febr) Lessons learned from SACOSAN5: • Revise summary of learnings and recommendations(action: UNICEF, Henk) Preparations for SACOSAN6 (action: Bangladesh ICWG focal point): • Must change the dates, to avoid Dusshera festival time • Must increase from 3 to 4 days • Guidance for composition of country delegations, incl.women and disabled • Global quota: maintain agency quota, add journalists (two from each of the larger countries?) • Summary of comments from the floor • Next draft of concept paper to ICWG members by 30 April ICWG ToRs: • Final feedback on revised ToRs by 20 Febr to HvN • Develop indicators for each of the 10 Commitments in the Declaration (action: WA, FANSA, Maldives, SL,

WSP, WSSCC) • A SA report on select GLAAS indicators (action: WHO – Terry?) Post -2015 sustainable development framework • Circulate format for statement and submit to A and C group (action: WSSCC) • A SACOSAN statement on sanitation in the framework, signed by the Ministers (action: WSSCC, 31

March) • In-country also have a common statement endorsed (if possible) the goal, target, indicator that has been

developed at global level. SACOSAN Secretariat ToRs: • Cannot be a ‘one-man’ show • Small group discussed after meeting SL • Circulate next draft by 28 Febr (action: Sri Lanka, Ananda) Learning across SANs (action: WSSCC) • SACOSAN6 to focus on low-scoring aspects of SACOSAN4 and 5 commitments (action: Bangladesh

ICWG focal point) • Sharing of planning SANs: dates, costs, fund-raising • Participation across SANs: Nepal and B’desh participate in AfricaSan5

o AfricaSan 5: Dakar, October 2014 o EASAN 4: Cambodia, 2015 o LatinoSan 4:? 2015

Next ICWG meeting: 24 Nov – 15 Dec 2014

8

Foreign delegates had

chance to visit Bhaktapur.

They had opportunity to

observe the meeting of D-

WASH-CC, where the

member-secretary and

chief of Water Supply and

Sanitation Division Office, Mr Ashish Ghimire gave a

presentation on how the district got success on being declared

Open defecation Free (ODF) district and how it is preparing for

activities to achieve status of Total Sanitation. Similarly, a

meeting of V-WASH-CC of Bageshwori VDC was also observed

by the delegates.

9

Annexes

Annex 1. Schedule of the 6th ICWG meeting, 11-13 February 2014, Kathmandu, Nepal

Annex 2. Terms of Reference for the Inter Country Working Group (ICWG) of South Asian

Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN)

Annex 3. SACOSAN5 – Post-conference assessment

Annex 4. List of participants

Annex 5. Country Presentations/others

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Annex. 1. Schedule of the 6th ICWG meeting, 11-13 February 2014, Kathmandu, Nepal

Post SACOSAN-V

Sixth Inter-country Working Group (ICWG) Meeting –schedule as run

Date : 11-13 February, 2014 Venue: Hotel Annapurna, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal

Day 1 11th February, 2014 Time Activities Speakers/Process

08.00-09.00 Breakfast and registration of participants 09.15-9.45

Opening Session Chaired by Hon’ble Minister Chhabi Raj Pant, Ministry of Urban Development, Nepal

Opening of the Meeting

Welcome and objective briefing Mr. Abadh Kishor Mishra, Joint Secretary/Focal Person, Ministry of Urban Development, Nepal

Address by DG of DoLIDAR Mr. Bhim Upadhyaya, NepalAddress by Focal person of Bangladesh

Mr. Md. Khairul Islam, Deputy Secretary, MoLG,RDC

Key Note Address by the Guest

Honorable Minister Chhabi Raj Pant, Minster for Urban Development, Nepal

9.45-10.15 Tea Break (Group Photo) 10.00-10.40

Chaired by Mr. Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, Secretary, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development; Co-chaired by Abadh Kishor Mishra, Joint Secretary/Focal Person, Ministry of Urban Development, Nepal

Country Action plan presentation in response to Kathmandu Declaration (presentation @ 10 min. for each country) Afghanistan Md. A. Safi Bangladesh Mr. Md. Khairul Islam, Deputy

Secretary, MoLG,RDC Bhutan Mr Sonam GyaltshenIndia Mr. G. Balasubramaniam, Dy.

Adviser, Sanitation 10.40-11.10 Discussion 11.10-11.50

Maldives Ms. Shaheeda Nepal Mr. Balmukunda Shrestha,SDE,

MoUD Pakistan Zia Ul Islam Sri Lanka Mr A.H. Gunapala

11.50-12.20 Discussion12.20-13.20 Lunch13.20-13.50 Review of ICWG ToR and

current status of performance and discussion on way forward

Mr. Henk van Norden, UNICEF RoSA

13.50-14.50 Sanitation in post 2015 WSSCC ( Ms Archana Patkar )& WaterAid( Mr Rabin Lal Shrestha)

14.50-15-20 Tea Break15.20-16.20 Briefing on the SAARC Regional

Action Framework for sanitation SAARC Secretariat, Mr Zuharee, Director( Social Division)/ Mr. Henk van Norden, UNICEF RoSA

Day 2 12th February, 2014 08.30-09.00 Breakfast09.00-09.45 Chaired by Mr.

Ram Lakhan Mandal,

Learning and reflection from the SACOSAN-V

Mr. Terrence Thompson, WHO

9.45-10.30 Presentation on conceptual Presentation by Mr Wali Ullah,

11

Deputy Director General, DWSS, Co-chaired by Mr Henk Von Norden, UNICEF, ROSA

framework for SACOSAN-VI (Bangladesh) and discussion

Superintending Engineer, DPHE and Member-Secretary, Sanitation Secretariat, Bangladesh

10.30-11.15 Discussion on innovative sanitation Facilitation by Mr. N. L. Shrestha

Time Activities Speakers/Process 11.15-11.30 Tea Break11.30-12.00 SACOSAN Secretariat, Resource

Center and Web Page Mr. Ananda Jayaweera, Sri Lanka

12.00-13.00 Lunch13.00-14.30 Chaired by Mr

Henk Von Norden, UNICEF, ROSA and Ms Archana Patkar, WSSCC

Experience Sharing between different SANs (EA SAN, Africa SAN)

Presentation by Mr Joselito Riego Dedios, Philippines and Kitchinme Gotau Bawa, Nigeria

14.30-15.15 Experience Sharing between different SANs (SACOSAN)

Mr. Abadh Kishor Mishra, Joint Secretary/Focal Person, Ministry of Urban Development, Nepal

15.15-15.45 Tea Break15.45-16.15 AOB16.15-16.45 Vote of Thanks Mr A.K. Mishra 19.00-21.00 Dinner

Day 3 13th February, 2014 (Optional)08.00-09.00 Hotel Annapurna to Bhaktapur for

field visit 09.00-10.00 Interaction with DWASHCC

Members (DDC Bhaktapur) 10.00-12.00 Interaction with V-WASH-CC

Members/Local groups 12.00-01-00 Lunch – Bhaktapur Durbar Square

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Annex 2

Terms of Reference for the Inter Country Working Group (ICWG) of

South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN)

1. Background

With the realization of the enormity of the sanitation challenge in the South Asia Region, a regional

conference was proposed to find ways to overcome obstacles and to accelerate progress. Bangladesh

hosted the first South Asia Conference on Sanitation conference in 2003. It helped mobilize efforts,

political will and commitment of all responsible to achieve the objectives. The conference also agreed to

hold government-led biennial conferences hosted in rotation by the eight countries in South Asia to

provide a platform to review progress, deal with issues encountered and progress towards the

Millennium Development Goal target for sanitation.

Biennial SACOSAN conferences have been held in Bangladesh (2003), Pakistan (2006), India (2008), Sri

Lanka (2011) and Nepal (2013) respectively.

The SACOSAN conferences have been a great platform for the governments, regional partners, support

agencies, practitioners and professional agencies to engage in constructive dialogue and in agreeing

commitments and collective efforts to foster regional collaboration in pursuit of meeting the sanitation

challenge in the region

The most significant outcomes of these conferences have been the recommendations emerging from

the deliberations, embodied in Ministerial Declarations to add the weight required for political

commitment and action for moving ahead.

2. Outcomes

The Kathmandu Declaration made at SACOSAN-5:

1. Reconfirm the principles of policy and good practice set out in the SACOSAN declarations of the

last decade in Dhaka, Islamabad, New Delhi, and Colombo;

2. Renew our joint commitment to the Human Right to Sanitation adopted by the United Nations and

endorsed by SAARC nations to work progressively to achieve an open defecation free and hygienic

South Asia, through accessible, affordable, appropriate, acceptable and environmentally safe

sanitation and hygiene services that all people can use and maintain with dignity, safety and comfort ;

3. Commit to further accelerate sanitation and hygiene behavior change in South Asia to meet the

Millennium Development targets and move towards implementing the United Nations Secretary

General’s Call to Action on Sanitation;

4. Recognize sanitation as a matter of justice and equity, with a powerful multiplier effect that

unlocks measurable benefits in health, nutrition, education, poverty eradication, economic growth

and tourism while also reducing discrimination and empowering communities, especially infants,

children, adolescent girls, women, the elderly and people with disabilities, in rural and urban areas;

5. Recognize that the time for sanitation is now and that we must capitalize on the strong political

will and local leadership and community ownership demonstrated throughout South Asia to boost

sanitation coverage and improve hygiene practices substantially by 2015.

13

Main features of previous SACOSAN Declarations:

Dhaka, Declaration- October 21-23, 2003:

• Implement a road map to mobilize collaborative efforts towards achieving the MDGs in sanitation,

through establishment of an Inter-Country Working Group, to facilitate SACOSANs

• Elimination of open defecation

• Subsidies only for the poorest of the poor

• Community subsidies for promotion, awareness, capacity building

• Rewards to local government and communities

• Focus on children’s faeces, hygienic practices, schools

• Gender sensitive programmes

Islamabad, Declaration - September 20-21, 2006:

• Strengthening inter-governmental cooperation in this region by activating the SACOSAN Inter-

Country Working Group comprising of senior level representatives from the member countries to

meet annually

Delhi, Declaration-November 16-21, 2008:

• An inter-country Working Group, led by country focal points, will meet periodically to promote

research and development, collaborations, exchanges of innovations, experiences and expertise;

networks among intra-country groups and agencies will be created for sharing of knowledge

Colombo, Declaration – April 4-7, 2011:

• Raised the profile of sanitation in schools with priority for the needs of girl children

• Highlighted the needs of the marginalized communities.

• Established effective linkages to SAARC

• Recognized the potential of sanitation to empower communities and to be a powerful entry point for

development

3. Successes of SACOSAN Process

• Political will has been built

• All countries have a sanitation policy

• All countries have a target for Universal access

• Recognizing safe drinking water and sanitation as a basic right

• Raising sanitation profile at regional level and agreeing upon regional sanitation agenda

• Formulation of national policies, strategies and plans

• Sensitize political leadership, policy makers, CSOs and other sector actors

4. Terms of Reference of the Inter Country Working Group (ICWG) as agreed at the 6th ICWG meeting held in Kathmandu, February 11-12, 2014.

ICWG has been established in the region as the unit to maintain dialogue and thrust on the commitment

to implement the SACOSAN process. This ToRs for the Group was revised and agreed by the country

focal points, support agencies and partners at the 6th ICWG held in Kathmandu.

14

The ICWG shall consist of the Country Focal Points for Sanitation in the South Asian region,

representatives of regional sector development partners / civil society network.

The ICWG shall meet annually post-SACOSAN and pre-SACOSAN to review the status of actions and

prerequisites for the next SACOSAN. The ICWG may meet more often, as required to achieve the

tasks mentioned below and with the agreement of all ICWG Country Focal Point members.

The principal tasks of the ICWG will include the following:

1. Promote robust monitoring of sanitation in the region, keeping in mind the requirements of global

and regional sector reporting systems, the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, and the

opportunity to request WHO to produce special reports on sub-sets of the GLAAS data set.

2. Ensure robust monitoring of the 10 commitments contained in the SACOSAN-5 Kathmandu

Declaration, by developing SMART indicators for each of the commitments.

3. Promote research and development, collaborations, exchanges of innovations, experiences and

expertise and networks among intra-country groups and agencies, linked to the ToRs of the

permanent SACOSAN Secretariat.

4. Share experiences in hosting conferences, ensure continuity between conferences and facilitate and

support the next SACOSAN conference.

5. Assist the government of the country hosting the next SACOSAN conference to mobilize required

resources and support the hosting government in establishing the conference secretariat and in

setting up the conference website.

6. Ensure that the host country for the next SACOSAN conference is agreed at the time of the

Declaration. When selecting the government to host the next SACOSAN conference first

opportunity will be given to those countries that have not yet hosted the conference. If none of

these governments offers to host, the offer to host will go to the country that has not hosted for

the longest period of time.

7. Endorse the conference dates once finalized by the host country. Identify themes and focal areas for

the conference, discuss and agree on the conference programme.

8. Review the format for the country paper and country presentation proposed by host country

secretariat and give recommendations for a timeframe and in-country process for preparing the

country papers.

9. Ensure that the SACOSAN processes are linked to and contribute to global processes, i.e. SWA

HLM, post-2015 development agenda.

10. Explore the concept of identifying and recognizing outstanding services to sanitation (linked to the

work of the proposed SACOSAN Secretariat’s knowledge management function).

11. Share experiences with other regional sanitation conferences.

15

Annex 3.

SACOSAN-V – Post-conference assessment

What worked well

1. The Government of Nepal leadership in preparing and managing the conference, over a period of 18

months, was exemplary.

2. The Government of Nepal set up a conference Working Group, including Government, UN, and

NGOs. An Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee was also formed, to mobilize related

Ministries. The Working Group met monthly, more frequently in the final two months. Video

conferences among ICWG members were instrumental for monitoring collective preparations.

3. The early engagement of a few key persons (Nam Raj, Prem Nidhi for SACOSAN5, and Ananda and

Ranjith for SACOSAN4)) to work full-time on conference participation was crucial!

4. The conference had the highest levels of government participating: the President, the Vice President,

the Prime Minister and several Ministers. It is exceptional to see such participation in any event.

5. The Ministers from the eight countries were brought in several sessions: the Ministers-experts

session, the closing, and in some of the technical focus sessions.

6. The public opening in Bhaktapur was a great success- truly participatory.

7. The Government of Nepal funded about half of the conference cost, with UNICEF-WA-WSSCC-

BMGF contributing the balance. The Government of Nepal took timely action to ensure that the

government contribution was ‘on budget’.

8. The countries leading on the technical focus sessions helped build their capacity, knowledge and

network across the region. The conference provided a platform for the countries to share their

approaches in sanitation programming.

9. The Declaration writing process was very participatory.

10. The exhibitions worked fine.

11. Virtual conferencing: worked: questions from virtual participants in TFS was excellent but not all

sessions were streamed successfully.

12. The MHM tent on the lawn was appreciated.

13. Participants: the processes for selecting participants were generally OK. However, guidelines for

the composition of country delegations would have ensured a more diverse representation.

14. The event manager performed well.

15. The ‘tokens of appreciation’ for those on the dais in the sessions was appreciated.

16. The media centre worked well: the media and publicity plan, the media room, the photo

competition was well done; the newsletters were excellent. Communications staff of partners

joined the media centre, which was good.

17. Electronic registration card: worked, after some problems.

16

18. Protocol officers assigned to Minister and country teams worked well.

19. Airport arrival facilitation and special visa desks were much appreciated.

20. Pre- and post-conference processes were very participatory.

21. Brought SWA and SACOSAN processes and commitments closer.

22. The session on innovations was new and much liked!

23. The SACOSAN5 web site was used interactively: people could make contributions, country papers

and TFS papers could be uploaded.

17

How to improve further?

1. SACOSAN6 needs to explore what will be new, as compared to SACOSAN5. Without significant

new elements in the conference, the need and utility of the event will be questioned.

2. Ministers: what other roles can be offered to the Ministers?

3. For the India Minister: must consult the India Embassy at least two months before the conference.

4. The public opening of the conference is very important to ensure broad-based participation. The

formal opening in the hotel or convention centre can be scaled down.

5. For SACOSAN6, organizers should attempt to give more participants an active role in the

conference. In principle, each participant should come with an active role and specific task in the

conference.

6. Virtual conferencing: build on the experiences from SACOSAN5.

7. Electronic registration cards: build on the experience from SACOSAN5.

8. Contract an experienced event management company to provide the conference with all necessary

logistics services. Thoroughly check the company’s track record!

9. The Master of Ceremonies needs thorough selection, three months before the conference date.

(S)he must understand protocol AND the sector AND be articulate.

10. The country presentations were (too) long, and did not leave time for q&a. For SACOSAN6, the

use of pre-recorded video presentations should be explored.

11. The list of global and regional experts was difficult to finalise, with proposed participants opting out

or not confirming. Against 50 places for regional/global experts, up to 60 candidates can be

considered initially.

12. The innovations session: identifying innovations should start earlier: each country team and external

partner should come with one or two such innovations.

13. The conference programme should be extended to five days: public opening prior to conference,

conference day 1 and 2, field visit one day, conference day 3.

14. External support agencies need to coordinate their support better, in terms of funding and

sponsoring participants.

15. Participants: need a better mix: male-female, government-NGOs, WASH-Health-Education;

differently–abled, adolescents, elderly, tribals, grassroots, etc. The ICWG needs to produce a

guidance note on the composition of the country delegations.

16. Find ways to include journalists in the conference, through the country delegations where possible,

otherwise as a separate category.

17. The opening plenary and panel discussions: needs better gender balance.

18. Improve youth participation: UNICEF must take this responsibility!

18

19. The conference must balance better the priorities of the countries: open defecation in India, Nepal,

Pakistan; improved toilets, sewerage waste disposal, for other countries.

20. The external support agencies and the country leaders of the TFSs need to work together better.

21. Need to ensure SAARC, World Bank and ADB bring more learning into the conference.

22. The timing of the conference, between Dusshara and Diwali, proved challenging for logistics,

including visas and travel. Better hold the conference before Dusshera.

23. The Declaration writing process needs time for participation, reflection, refining and complete buy

in. Editing in plenary needs to be done well before finalizing the document. Having a four-day

conference will help. The host country needs to design a clear process, with one lead-writer,

supported by two assistant writers. External agencies should be given a special role in the process

of drafting the Declaration.

24. Specific attention must be given to meeting Declaration commitments – to ensure visibility and

future accountability. The indicators for determining traffic light ratings need to be decided soon

after the conference.

25. SACOSAN5 did not follow up on the use of the indicators agreed by the ICWG at its Nov 2012

meeting.

26. Make the SACOSAN6 web site even more a tool for use in conference preparations.

27. Recognizing outstanding performance in sanitation needs to be explored.

28. Include at least one presentation by NGOs in each of the TFSs.

19

Annex 4

Post SACOSAN-V

6th Inter-country Working Group (ICWG) Meeting

11-13 February, 2014

Hotel Annapurna, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu

List of Participants

S.N. Name Office Country1 Eng. Mohammad Afzal Safi Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and

Development Afghanistan

2 Eng Fazl Haq Fazli Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development

Afghanistan

3 Abdul Samay Saquib UNICEF Country Office Afghanistan4 Engineer Md. Waliullah DPHE, Government of Bangladesh Bangladesh5 Md. Khairul Islam LGD, MoLGRDC, Government of

Bangladesh Bangladesh

6 Md. Mofizul Islam LGD, MoLGRDC , Government of Bangladesh

Bangladesh

7 Tshering Tashi PHED/ Ministry of Health Bhutan8 Sonam Gyaltshen PHED/ Ministry of Health Bhutan9 Jamba Dorji PHED/ Ministry of Health Bhutan10 Balasubramaniam Govindasamy Ministry of MDWS, Govt. of India India11 Shaheeda Adam Ibrahim Ministry of Environment and Energy,

Maldives Maldives

12 Abadh Kishore Mishra Ministry of Urban Development, Nepal Nepal13 Ram Lakhan Mandal Department of Water Supply and

Sewerage, Nepal Nepal

14 Ram Chandra Sah Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Nepal

Nepal

15 Mr. Ziaul Islam Climate Change Division, Pakistan Pakistan16 Ms. Sana Hussain Climate Change Division, Pakistan Pakistan17 Mr. Ananda Jayaweera Engineering Consultant Ltd. Sri Lanka18 Mr. A. H. Gunapala National Water Supply & Drainage Board Sri Lanka19 Archana Patkar WSSCC Switzerland20 BAWA, Kitchinme Gotau African Ministers' Council on Water

(AMCOW) Nigeria

21 Joselito Riego Dedios Environmental and Occupational Health Office, National Center for Disease Prevention & Control

Philippines

22 Henk van Norden UNICEF ROSA The Netherlands

23 Ms Payden WHO/SEARO India24 Mr Terrence Thompson WHO/Con Nepal25 Ms Rokeya Ahmed WSP/SA, World Bank Office, Dhaka Dhaka26 Jane Bevan WSP/SA, World Bank Office, New Delhi,

India India/SA

27 Ramisetty Murali Fresh Water Action Network, South Asia (FANSA)

India

28 Rabin Lal Shrestha WaterAid Nepal Nepal29 Bal Mukunda Shrestha MoUD, Nepal Nepal30 Lok Nath Regmi DoLIDAR, Nepal Nepal31 Govind Shrestha WaterAid Nepal Nepal

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S.N. Name Office Country32 Namaste Lal Shrestha UNICEF Nepal Nepal33 Madhab Pahari UNICEF Nepal Nepal34 Lajana Manandhar Lumanti Nepal35 Nam Raj Khatri Nepal36 Ibrahim Zuhuree SAARC Secretariat Nepal37 Kiran Darnal DWSS Nepal38 Antti Rautavaara UNICEF Nepal Nepal39 Kabindra B. Karki MoUD, Nepal Nepal40 Maheshwori Khadka DoLIDAR Nepal41 Bhim Upadhyay DoLIDAR Nepal42 Prem Nidhi K. C. DWSS Nepal43 Nirisha Adhikari Nepal44 Ashutosh Tiwari Water Aid Nepal Nepal

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Annex 5. Country Presentations/others

Due to large volume of the file size please find the separate folder for country presentations and other

SANs experience sharing.

Look for folders "Day1" and "Day2".