Policies, plans, institutional arrangements and national targets.

 

National policies and plans play a central role in guiding sector development. WASH policies define a long-term vision for the sector and generally span a longer time frame, whereas WASH plans provide an operational strategy and roadmap for implementation, usually over a shorter time frame. WASH plans often include well-defined targets to enable systematic monitoring of progress, to guide allocation of resources to priority areas, and to foster political will and accountability. Additionally, institutional arrangements help determine the types of policies and plans in place. This section focuses on policies, plans, institutional arrangements and national targets.

 

Most countries participating in the GLAAS 2024/2025 country survey reported having an approved policy and plan in place for urban drinking-water (70%), rural drinking-water (67%), urban sanitation (70%) and rural sanitation (69%), but only a small minority (fewer than 13%) reported sufficient financial and human resources to implement plans (Fig. 2.1). This is in line with results from previous GLAAS cycles, and reflects a need to focus on sufficiency of financial and human resources to implement policies and plans. 

Results from the GLAAS 2024/2025 cycle show that institutional roles and responsibilities for government and national institutions in the WASH sector are often not clearly defined. Although governance systems and arrangements vary across countries, the absence of a lead agency or the presence of too many lead agencies create obstacles for institutional coordination, advocacy and communication, ultimately undermining effective implementation. These findings are consistent with a World Bank report, which states that “Low absorptive capacity also reflects systemic regulatory and institutional challenges that pervade the water sector.” Almost all responding countries reported having at least one lead agency in place for urban drinking-water (Fig. 2.2). Nine per cent of countries (9 of 102) indicated there is no lead agency for rural sanitation, and 12% (12 of 102) indicated the same for hand hygiene. Having a lead agency in place can support championing of issues specific to the sub-sector, including advocacy for funding and clear policy direction. 

Box 2.1 highlights how India has improved access to drinking-water in rural areas with the consolidation of water-related functions under a single ministry.

Eleven per cent of countries (11 of 102) indicated they have three or more lead agencies for WASH in health care facilities, and a quarter of countries indicated the same for urban drinking-water (25%, 26 of 102), rural drinking-water (26%, 27 of 102) and urban sanitation (24%, 24 of 102). Having multiple lead agencies for a sub-sector can work if roles are clearly defined and mandates are divided among different agencies with strong coordination mechanisms in place. However, it could lead to inefficiencies and working to cross-purposes in countries where roles are not clearly defined and mandates overlap. When asked about overlapping roles and responsibilities, just under two thirds of countries (64%, 65 of 102) reported fully or partially overlapping roles and responsibilities for WASH among government institutions.

Countries also reported gaps in institutional arrangements, indicating some ministries that should have a role in WASH are uninvolved. Over 20% of countries (21 of 103) reported there are ministries and institutions not involved in WASH that should be involved. For example, several countries noted their ministries of finance, agriculture and labour are not involved in WASH, but should be actively engaged.

National WASH targets are defined and set to align with national priorities while taking into account global and regional frameworks. They should be reviewed regularly to remain relevant and actionable. The 2030 Agenda states that “[SDG] Targets are defined as aspirational and global, with each Government setting its own national targets guided by the global level of ambition but taking into account national circumstances.”  Eighty-five per cent of countries reported having national drinking-water targets, and 87% reported having national sanitation targets. The percentage for national hand hygiene targets was lower, at 49% (Fig. 2.3).

The GLAAS 2024/2025 country survey asked countries to self-report the service level to which their targets most closely align, based on the JMP service ladder. 

Fifty-six per cent of countries reported their national sanitation target aligns with the safely managed service level, while 62% reported the same for their national drinking-water target (Table 2.2).