Water and Sanitation sector networks appeal for more allocation in the proposed National Budget 2018-19 to reach SDG goals

WaterAid on 24 June 2018 held a joint press conference with UNICEF, PPRC, FANSA, WSSCC,B, FSM Network, Sanitation and Water for All, and WASH Alliance – where speakers appealed for more equitable budget allocation for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector in the proposed National Budget of 2018-19, further sharing how progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementation of the Government’s 7th Five Year Plan might be difficult to achieve without ensuring clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene for all.

Eminent economist Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, amongst his many findings shared at the event stated how WASH allocation and expenditure trends show consistent under-utilisation of allocation, indicating a need for improved capacity and monitoring of expenditure.

He also advised the government to increase allocation in national budget for meeting WASH needs in rural, hard-to-reach areas (char, haor, etc), and small and medium towns as well as to create a separate budget code for WASH - giving special attention to high priority components in the WASH budget in order to implement the 7th Five Year Plan and for attaining SDG goal 6.