Summary of WASH Forum

The WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Forum, organised by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), also took place in Dakar from 29 November to 4 December, 2005. This global event was attended by Ministers, policy makers, donor agencies and representatives of civil society and was chaired by Anna Tibaijuka, who made the following main points in her keynote speech:

· The MDGs focus on poverty, but water provides an entry point to achieve each of these.

· Shelter and human settlements provide a concrete context for action –cities, towns and villages are where water will be consumed and waste generated. It is at this local level that action is needed…

· …Urban sanitation is critical, especially in slum areas. It is critical to “localise the MDGs” for example through the development of community or town level poverty reduction strategies.

· The need to upscale community-led initiatives in partnerships with local governments and find ways to ensure increased ODA reaches the most vulnerable.

The Commission for Africa Secretariat also provided a poster display and distributed written information on the Commission's work.

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