WASH sector allocation still falling short in “leaving no one behind”

Posted by
Clement Serao
on
26 June 2019
In
Bangladesh
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At a joint press conference held on 26 June 2019 by WaterAid, UNICEF, PPRC, FANSA, WSSCC,B, FSM Network, Sanitation and Water for All, and WASH Alliance, speakers applauded the government for proposing an increased budget for WASH. However, they noted discrepancies between rural and urban areas, and expressed concern that skewed allocations go against the SDG pledge to “leave no one behind”. They stressed on the need for more equitable budget allocation for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector in the proposed national budget for 2019-20 to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6.

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Eminent economist Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, sharing his analysis by Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) supported by WaterAid and UNICEF, stated that the Government of Bangladesh has shown firm commitment to WASH, as evident in the long-term trend in WASH allocation; however, the WASH expenditure trends do show under-utilisation of allocation. He advised human resources and capacity of local government, DPHE and Pauroshovas to be enhanced for proper utilisation of funds, and for the government to increase allocation in national budget for meeting WASH needs in rural, hard-to-reach areas, and priortise WASH in the upcoming 8th Five Year Plan in order to meet the SDG targets of safely managed water and sanitation for all.

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Concluding the press conference, the WASH sector networks jointly put forward the following recommendations:

  1. Increasing allocation to hard-to-reach areas, hills, chars, haors and coastal islands, to ensure no one is left behind, including women, children, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups. Special attention should be paid to the lowest two income quintiles, with provision for subsidies to support access to safe water and sanitation where possible.

  2. LGD's Sector Development Plan 2011-2025 needs to be reviewed and implemented in order to reduce gaps between rural and urban areas.

  3. Monitoring unit in Ministry of Finance under Public Money and Budget Management Act 2009 should be established for implementing the commitments of 7th Five Year Plan and SDG 6.

  4. Human resource capacity for local government, DPHE and Pauroshovas needs to be enhanced for proper utilisation of funds.

Download the policy brief published during the event: http://bit.ly/PolicyBriefJune2019-ProposedBudget