Planning and learning together

A long awaited planning meeting of End Water Poverty Campaign was organized on December 8-11, 2009 at beautiful location of Accra, Ghana. It was a long journey for me as I had to change three flights with long transit hours and took me nearly 2 days to reach the venue. All the tiredness disappeared when I got the opportunity to meet these campaigners from different parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. Some were people I met last year in the previous planning meeting and some were new faces who had joined to strengthen the campaign.

Learning of EWP campaign from Nepal, Bangladesh, Ghana, UK together with EVERY ONE campaign of Save the Children were shared. Success factors included clarity in focus, periodic planning & review, lobbying for increasing political commitment, private sector mobilization and networking. The strength and weakness of EWP campaign both at national and global level were discussed.

The gathering decided that the campaign should provide continuity in focusing on sanitation. Therefore, the proposed aim was "Universal access to safe sanitation and clean water for all". The participants also chalked out objectives, allies and path for influence. The campaign would focus on High Level Meeting, UN Summit on MDG +10, Global Framework for Action National process and Regional processes.

A field visit to rural part of Ghana was an incredible experience. I was comparing the rural communities of Nepal and Ghana. There were some similarities as there was a leader who coordinated the development process and activities of rural area, children playing freely and proud women sharing their toilet. Women seemed to be the one who were taking care of children as well as maintaining these facilities. It was slightly different in a way that there was very good road network that definitely something not common in rural areas of Nepal.

The planning meeting had provided an immense opportunity to broaden our linkage with other like minded organizations and individuals. It had helped participants to expand their horizon and contribute in the process of planning in more participatory manner. The big appreciation should be given to Steve and Serena who worked very hard in ensuring systematic flow of the event. Last but not the least Fleur was a great facilitator who added more energy to the process.