The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has emphasized the importance of the Presidential Compact on Water and Sanitation, currently in development, in ensuring universal access to safe and reliable water and sanitation services in Malawi.
This was highlighted by Elias Chimulambe, Principle Secretary in the ministry, during the opening of the Agenda for Change Strategy Lab on Tuesday in Lilongwe.
The Agenda for Change initiative seeks to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene systems collectively. Chimulambe explained the context of the compact, stating, “Countries have developed compacts as one way of achieving the SDG 6 come 2030.
The compact is on water and sanitation and currently Malawi is working on that. As a country, the compact states on the development agenda the Malawi 2063 and outlines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in ensuring that everyone has access to clean water.”
Chimulambe also noted Malawi’s progress in resource mobilization for water and sanitation, saying, “We have very good examples of projects that are running now. This demonstrates that indeed development partners are partnering with government to provide enough resources. Apart from that, the Malawi government itself has put enough resources. We have seen improvements in the national budgets.”
Kate Harawa, Chairperson of the Agenda for Change and Director of Influence and Scale at Water for People, discussed the global aspect of the initiative, stating, “As Agenda for Change globally, we meet once a year in different countries.”
We have one agenda which is, the countries we represent are on track to achieve sustainable goal number 6 which is the goal that talks universal access to water.”
Bethlehem Mengistu, Agenda for Change Coordinator from Ethiopia, emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “The key message is to strengthen the collaboration at country level and across countries to advance WASH systems strengthening.”
The meeting has attracted delegates from over fifteen countries, underscoring its international significance.
