Finance Ministers from across Asia and the Pacific Region have held discussions on strengthening partnerships for smart investments in water, sanitation and hygiene.

The discussions were held during the during the Regional Finance Ministers Meeting (FMM) 2020, hosted virtually this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Organized by the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), the meeting saw discussions attended by 20 finance and sector ministers including Maldivian ministers, revolving around making better use of existing financing, and attract additional resources for the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector.

FMM was co-convened by UNICEF, World Bank Water Global Practice, and the Asian Development Bank.

Further, participants discussed enhancement and strengthening partnerships amongst countries in the region for smart investments in WASH.

Earlier on November 29, a meeting of civil society organizations and private consultancies was held in preparation for FMM, during which representatives from Watercare, Small Island Geographic Society and Save Maldives Campaign discussed the need for creating civil society networks and accountability platforms to discuss where challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were discussed, with a spotlight on WASH as well as protecting the environment.

During the meeting held on November, attendants reiterated that the discussions were timely as countries across the region are utilizing multi-stakeholder networks and collaboration in the identification of priorities in the WASH sector.

As such, similar practices in Maldives could support the development of CSO which asks for effective use of available financing in addition to the development of strategies and partnerships in order to obtain further resources to ensure the achievement of universal access to WASH services in the country by 2030.

Discussions revolved around topics such as improvement of governance; institutional development; capacity building; the development of specific action plans for the establishment of water and sanitation research facilities; assisting educational institutions to develop academic programs to support the development of the local water and sanitation industry in the context the developments in water and sanitation technology among academics and practitioners, as well as policies to optimize human capital and engagement of CSOs in all areas of the water and sanitation sector.

SWA is a global partnership of governments, donors, civil society organizations and other development partners, brought together with the common goal of achieving universal access to clean water and adequate sanitation.