Watershed aims to build the capacity of civil society organisations in six countries: Kenya, Uganda, Mali, Ghana, Bangladesh, India and also at international level, for evidence-based lobbying and advocacy on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) issues. This five-year partnership (2016 - 2020) contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal for universal access to water and sanitation services and water security by making the voices of citizens heard and strengthening governance and accountability.
The partnership activities will specifically focus on the identification and inclusion of the marginalised in WASH and IWRM governance.
Initially the partnership was called WASH IT!, but changed its name to Watershed - empowering citizens.
A strategic partnership (2016-2020) between the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IRC, Simavi, Wetlands International and Akvo. Watershed improves the governance and management of WASH services as well as of the water resources on which they draw. It does this primarily at the international level and in Kenya and Uganda, and in four other countries (Mali, Ghana, Bangladesh and India) by strengthening the capacity of national civil society to lobby government and other WASH duty bearers.