To support the monitoring of the implementation progress of SDG 6, which aims to "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” by 2030, a 2020 Data Drive was launched to close the data gap and ensure availability of sufficient country data establish a baseline. This involves countries collecting and reporting data on various SDG 6 indicators to multiple UN agencies to track progress and ensure accountability.
In line with this, GWP, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-DHI) and Capacity Building Network on Integrated Water Resources Management (UNDP-CAPNET) launched the SDG6 IWRM Support program, which aims to support countries in not only monitoring, but aso in advancing SDG 6 implementation. The priority of this initiative is to support monitoring and implementation of SDG indicator 6.5.1 which measure the “degree of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) implementation”.
The first reporting cycle was conducted between 2017 and 2018, with the Support Program assisting governments in designing and implementing country-led multistakeholder and participatory reporting processes for SDG 6.5.1. Within the context of the second reporting cycle, which had as deadline the 31st of July 2020, the SDG 6 IWRM support program is collaborating with and providing technical and financial support to some targeted countries based on demand.
To this effect, country consultations with mutiple stakeholders inorder to collect additional information, confirm or counteract the data included in the draft version of the questionnaire and to validate the national monitoring report on SDG 6.5.1 are underway in implementing countries.
It is within this framework that the Regional Water Partnership for Central Africa (GWP-CAf ) through CWP-CAR supported the Central African Republic Ministry of Energy, Development and Water resources in hosting a the workshop to validate the report on the 2nd data collection on SDG 6.5.1 in the country which began in January 2020. The workshop was attended by twenty multi-stakeholders whose activities are related to IWRM.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the workshop ,Mr. Alain Fidèle KOLONGATO NGBADOU, Director of Cabinet for the Ministry of Energy Development and Hydraulic Resources, thanked participants for their presence despite the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted the objectives of the workshop and urged the experts to contribute to the improvement of the report. Finally, he expressed the government's gratitude to GWP-CAffor its technical and financial support throughout the SDG 6.5.1 monitoring process in the country.
To facilitate the stakeholder consultation process, a committee was set up with members: Mr. Sylvain GUEBANDA, Water Resources Officer and Regional Chair, GWP-CAf (Chairman), Rodrigue Prosper YAKENDE, Chair GWP-CAR (Vice-President), Mr. Barnabé FALIBAI, Director General of Water Resources and SDG 6.5.1 Focal Point(Rapporteur) and Mr. Pierre Alfred LEBARAMO, Facilitator of the SDG 6.5.1 process (Deputy Rapporteur).
The first of three presentations made during the workshop was done by Mr. Pierre Alfred LEBARAMO, highlighting the adoption of the SDG Program in 2015 by the UN member states and the importance of SDG 6 on water and sanitation with a keen focus on indicator 6.5.1. The second presentation by Mr. Barnabé FALIBAI was on the 2017 national monitoring report on indicator 6.5.1 and specificities of the process of drafting the 2020 report. He emphasized that this year's process is more inclusive and participatory as it involves multi-stakeholders. Mr. Pierre Alfred LEBARAMO made the final presentation on the main sections of the report and scores obtained.
The participants were split up into four working groups for each section of the questionnaire (Enabling environment, institutions and participation, management instruments) to make substantive and formal amendments to the report. Two main items were highlighted in the plenary session which followed the group work: (i) the urgent need to validate the National Water Policy document and (ii) mobilizing funds for the development and implementation of the IWRM program in CAR
Overall, the SDG 6.5.1 indicator score of 37% obtained at the end of the consultation, shows an increase of 8% points as compared to the 2017 baseline report score (of 29%), with the “Enabling Environment” section having the highest score and Finance the lowest
ACTION PLAN
The participants made recommendations to the government to:
i) harmonize the semantics of all the perspective headings of the monitoring matrix,
ii) develop, elaborate and monitor actions to improve the indicators
iii) set up a sectoral working group to monitor SDG 6 in the country.
In unison, participants adopted with amendments the national monitoring report on SDG 6.5.1. In his closing address, Mr. Barnabé FALIBAI expressed his satisfaction with the execution of the workshop and thanked participants for their relevant contributions to improving the report. He also added that the report would be finalized on the basis of the contributions made during the workshop, before submission to UNEP.