Between 21 and 23 January, the Zambia NGO WASH Forum hosted representatives from six national civil society networks based in eastern and southern Africa for a regional exchange in Lusaka.
Numerous EWP members were in attendance, including Community Water Alliance – Zimbabwe, The Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network (KEWASNET), the National Association of Youth Organisations Zimbabwe (NAYO), the Tanzania Water and Sanitation Network (TaWaSaNet), and the Uganda Water & Sanitation Network (UWASNET). The WASH Platform of CSOs in Mozambique and Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (WESNET) from Malawi also joined proceedings.

Zambia NGO WASH Forum coordinator Bubala Muyovwe speaking at the exchange.
The exchange aimed to connect water advocates in the region, harness collective expertise, and collectively strategise to advance the human rights to water and sanitation. Zambia NGO WASH Forum coordinator Bubala Muyovwe opened proceedings by acknowledging the progress Africa has made in extending water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH services), while stressing the need to address critical issues – such as urban-rural inequalities, technical resource management, and water scarcity resulting from climate crisis. Muyovwe highlighted the importance of establishing stronger connections with regional counterparts with an emphasis on sharing best practices, learning from each other, and exploring how to collaborate more effectively at regional, continental, and international levels.

MacDonald Munyoro spoke about NAYO’s work on the AAAQ framework in Zimbabwe.
Country presentations followed. MacDonald Munyoro shared NAYO’s collaboration with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission as part of the Claim Your Water Rights campaign. Meanwhile EWP’s steering committee representative for Africa, Malesi Shivaji, shared KEWASNET’s experience of adopting a human rights-based approach, and highlighted the work of the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) in promoting dialogue and cooperation across Africa.

Malesi Shivaji presented on the work of ANEW at the exchange.
Representatives from Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe identified common challenges – including drought, cholera, and transboundary water management – and all networks identified potential areas for collaboration, including joint campaigns for increased funding, and advocacy for governments to recognise, implement and enforce the right to water.