Participants at the WASH Systems Watch Forum
Insights from the Agenda for Change (A4C) WASH Systems WATCH Forum
Published on: 11/11/2024
Agenda for Change (A4C) Ghana partners recently conducted a comprehensive national-level performance assessment of Ghana's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems during a two-day WASH Systems Watch Forum in Accra. This assessment aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of WASH services across the country, integrating insights from district-level assessments to identify gaps and opportunities for enhancing service delivery.
The outcome of the assessment offers strategic guide for advocating improvements in resource allocation, enforcement of regulatory and accountability frameworks, and enhancing overall system efficiency. The assessment revealed both strengths and critical weaknesses across several key areas.
Financial management for WASH services showed a disparity, with relatively strong funding for urban water but inconsistent and insufficient support for rural water, sanitation, and hygiene. There is a notable gap in financial management and accountability, compounded by under utilisation of innovative financing models and inconsistent funding, particularly for rural areas.
In terms of service delivery and infrastructure, while planning for infrastructure development is well-structured, challenges remain in construction quality, long-term maintenance, and service delivery disparities between urban and rural areas. Significant issues include inadequate faecal sludge management capacity and limited private sector involvement in service delivery.
Planning processes benefit from comprehensive frameworks and strategies yet lack integration of climate change considerations and face challenges in stakeholder engagement and budgeting. Monitoring practices are hindered by inconsistent data collection, limited real-time analysis, and fragmented efforts that do not adequately cover all communities.
Water resources management is constrained by poor water quality due to illegal mining activities, insufficient enforcement of regulations, and underfunding of the Water Resources Commission and related watershed management activities. Institutional arrangements and coordination show well-defined roles and capacity-building programmes, but face challenges related to fragmented responsibilities, inconsistent communication, and lack of alignment among stakeholders.
Regulatory and accountability frameworks are present but suffer from inadequate enforcement, limited monitoring capacity, and insufficient transparency. Additionally, learning and adaptation mechanisms are not fully utilised, with limited documentation and integration of lessons learned into new programming.
To address these issues, the assessment recommends several targeted interventions. Enhancing resource allocation and financial management, improving infrastructure quality and maintenance, integrating climate resilience into planning, standardising monitoring practices, strengthening water resources management, streamlining institutional coordination, and reinforcing regulatory enforcement and transparency are key steps. Expanding knowledge-sharing platforms and better use of lessons learned will also be vital in improving the effectiveness and sustainability of WASH services across the country.
The assessment exercise was preceded by a presentation on the WASH systems building blocks and its assessment, and the findings from the district level assessment by the A4C partners. Participants of the WASH systems watch forum were then grouped into four and assigned building blocks for evaluation and rating. The ratings were categorised into five levels: Very Weak, Weak, Intermediate, Strong, and Very Strong. The scoring process was collaborative, involving stakeholders from the WASH sector - government and development partners, NGOs, private sector actors, and media representatives.
Key findings from the national-level assessment reflect systemic issues experienced at the district level. Structures, policies, and frameworks for sustained and coordinated WASH service delivery are in place and performing well at the national level. However, their implementation at the district level often falls short, leading to suboptimal functioning or non-existence of these frameworks in practice. Financial constraints, inadequate coordination, and a general lack of effective application of WASH-related laws, policies, and guidance contribute to these gaps. Additionally, the concept of decentralisation in WASH service delivery and regulation appears limited, with many interventions remaining highly centralised, hindering effective local implementation.
The assessment highlights a landscape of strengths and weaknesses within Ghana's WASH systems. Tackling these systemic issues through targeted interventions and improved coordination can significantly enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of WASH services across the country. Recommendations for each building block include enhancing financial planning, diversifying funding sources, improving financial management, and increasing funding for rural areas. For service delivery and infrastructure, standardising construction quality, enhancing maintenance practices, boosting private sector engagement, and strengthening rural WASH services are essential.
In planning, integrating climate resilience, improving stakeholder engagement, and ensuring adequate budgeting are crucial. For monitoring, standardising practices, enhancing real-time data analysis, and strengthening continuous monitoring efforts are recommended. Water resources management requires improved water quality monitoring, enhanced regulatory enforcement, and securing adequate funding. Institutional arrangements and coordination can be improved by establishing clear coordination mechanisms, defining roles and accountability, and integrating WASH initiatives. Regulation and accountability need strengthened enforcement, increased transparency, and a focus on rural regulation. Finally, learning and adaptation should expand learning platforms, integrate insights into programming, and strengthen adaptation efforts.
By implementing these recommendations, Ghana can improve the effectiveness and sustainability of its WASH services, ensuring equitable access and improved service delivery for all communities.
