Follow FANSA at SACOSAN V
The fifth South Asian Conference on Sanitation kicked off in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 22 October. Find out about FANSA's involvement and activities to raise the voice of the grassroots to influence decision makers at the conference.
SACOSAN V took place under the banner of 'Sanitation for All: All for Sanitation'. Heads of delegation from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka joined other delegates from government, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector to once again discuss the sanitation challenge facing the region.
Live updates as they happen will be posted throughout the conference on FANSA's Facebook page
News
Translating the spirit of SACOSAN V into action
FANSA Communications Officer Prakash Amatya interviews FANSA Convenor Ramisetty Murali on his reflections of SACOSAN V.
Press release: Spirit of Kathmandu declaration on track but it's time for action
Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA) welcomes the spirit of the Kathmandu Declaration but urges commitments made by South Asian governments are realised to ensure accelerated and sustainable progress on sanitation and hygiene.
SACOSAN V governments adopt Kathmandu declaration
South Asian governments release outcome document of the fifth South Asian ministerial Conference on sanitation, the Kathmandu declaration.
FANSA Convenor highlights CSO calls in opening SACOSAN session
FANSA Convenor Murali Ramisetty spoke in the opening session of SACOSAN V highlighting civil society calls on decision makers to take urgent action and address the sanitation crisis in the region.
Coming together is the beginning
FAN Nepal Convenor Lajana Manandhar raised grassroots voices at the SACOSAN V public launch in Bhaktapur on 21 October.
Grassroots activists call on South Asian governments to end the sanitation crisis, starting with those most in need
As the fifth South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN V, 22-24 October 2013) kicks off in Kathmandu, Nepal, leading civil society groups called on their governments to recognize the urgency of the South Asian sanitation crisis and set robust plans to achieve universal access to improved sanitation toilets and ending open defecation by 2020.
Activities
Here's a break down of how FANSA was involved in and around the conference:
FANSA coordinated a grassroots voices and community leaders session at this meeting designed to orientate civil society members around the conference.
SACOSAN V public launch, 21 October
FAN Nepal Convenor Lajana Manandhar raised grassroots voices at the SACOSAN V public launch in Bhaktapur.
22 October
- Conference opening - FANSA Convenor Murali Ramisetty represented grassroots voices in the official opening session of the conference.
- Traffic lights report presentation - FANSA presented its traffic lights paper monitoring progress against government commitments on sanitation in the region.
23 October
Thematic focus session: reaching the unreached
FANSA presented the recommendations of its equity and inclusion study (PPT 3.2Mb). The following film exploring factors inhibiting people's access to sanitation was screened:
24 October
- Thematic focus session: Urban sanitation
FANSA presented the recommendations of its urban sanitation study in this session exploring the condition of sanitation in urban areas in the context of increasing urbanization. - Side event: Is integrity an issue for better sanitation services?
FANSA, Helvetas and WIN coordinated this side event which attempted to understand whether a lack of integrity is a major obstacle for achieving sanitation goals in South Asia through from various South Asian perspectives. - Panel discussion with grassroots Community leaders
FAN South Asia was represented on the panel of this community leaders/grassroots voices session. Mamata Dash presented the South Asian sanitation campaign petition (PDF 134Kb) - Ministerial declaration drafting committee
Murali Ramisetty worked as a member of the ministerial declaration committee. - Ministers' meeting
Two FANSA representatives took part in the Ministers' meeting.
25/26 October
SACOSAN V follow up meeting of the South Asia Regional Campaign coordination team.
Throughout the week
FANSA also raised awareness of its work and the work of its members throughout the week at its exhibition stall with some great exposure at the stand thanks to an innovative art installation and video which was broadcast during the conference.
Resources
- Equity and inclusion in South Asia - Recommendations for targeting vulnerable groups in sanitation provision in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (1.6 Mb)
- Urban sanitation in South Asia - Solutions for tackling the challenges of urban sanitation in South Asia (1.7 Mb)
- Traffic lights paper (PDF 6.3Mb). See also Summary of the Evidence used for Assessment of the Progress made on SACOSAN IV commitments (PDF 345Kb)
- Brochure on women's group Maitree (PDF 1.5Mb)
Other
Kathmandu declaration (PDF)
FANSA member participation
Bangladesh
Mohammad Yakub Hossain, Convenor FANSA Bangladesh
Jahanara Begum Shapna, member FANSA Bangladesh
Joseph Halder, member, FANSA Bangladesh
India
Murali Ramisetty, Regional Convenor, FANSA
Dr Seetharam MR, FANSA India Convenor
Nafisa Barot, FANSA India member
Siddhartha Das, Regional Coordinator, FANSA
A Venkatesh, GTF Coordinator, FANSA
Philip Kumar, E&I Consultant, FANSA
Nepal
Lajana Manandhar, FAN Nepal Convenor
Dr Suman Shakya, Executive Director, ENPHO
Rajendra Aryal, President, FEDWASUN
Umesh Pandey, Director, NEWAH
Pakistan
Ikhtair Khaskhely, member, FANSA Pakistan
Baseerat Naz, Steering Committee KP province
Sri Lanka
Dilena Pathragoda, FANSA Sri Lanka
Nadira Gunathilake, Journalist
Also attending:
FAN Global
Marc Faux, FAN Consortium Coordinator
End Water Poverty
Esmee Russell, International Campaign Coordinator