Meeting the sanitation and water challenge in South East Asia and the Pacific : synthesis report on the Sanitation and Water Conference 08

This report synthesises the main themes and issues discussed at the Sanitation Conference held in Melbourne from 27-29 October 2008. It provides guidance on important directions in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector in the Asia-Pacific region in the form of 10 key strategies identified in the Conference Statement. The strategies are elaborated in terms of why they are important and how they might be achieved, and the report concludes with a focus on stakeholder responsibilities to move into action. The main objective of the Sanitation Conference was to contribute to improved sanitation and water coverage in developing countries in the South-East Asia – Pacific region through sharing successful models and promising practices for adaptation and program expansion. A key outcome of the conference was a broader collective understanding of what is important, what different sector stakeholders are doing, what approaches are working, and where efforts need re-direction or change.