Local Initiatives in the Promotion of the Attainment of the Water and Sanitation Millennium Development Goals
2010/10/04

In October 2010, ICLEI Africa’s Water and Sanitation team joined representatives from the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) on the first of fifteen missions to countries around the continent involved in the Local Initiatives in the Promotion of the Attainment of the Water and Sanitation Millennium Development Goals project.

The team met with the national associations of local governments and key stakeholders in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Gaborone, Botswana.

The primary objectives of the country mission were to engage with the administrative and political leadership of the participating national associations, namely Zimbabwe Local Government Association (ZILGA) and Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA), on their respective roles within the project; to further promote the project amongst relevant in-country stakeholders and to support the finalisation of key project deliverables, such as the (National Associations) Country Action Plans, Policy briefs and baseline studies on the role of local government progress towards the attainment of the Water and Sanitation MDGs.

Upon discussion with the country focal points (the individuals appointed by the national associations to act as their representatives within the project Focal Point Network) and representatives of the national association of local governments, it became clear that national associations must play a strategic role in strengthening the voice of local governments in regard to the Water and Sanitation Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on both national and international levels.

This relevant and timely project provides a vehicle and a framework within which local governments can engage upon the water and sanitation MDGs, strengthen their capacity and ultimately provide a platform for the municipal fraternity to raise their collective voice with regard to the water and sanitation MDGs.