3 virtual Regional Finance Ministers' Meetings (FMMs)
Building on the previous SWA Finance Ministers’ Meetings, and adapting to these unexpected times, in 2020 SWA will organize three virtual Regional Finance Ministers’ Meetings (FMMs). These meetings will take place in November and December (dates to be confirmed) and will bring together ministers of Finance at the regional level with the objective of:
Developing and strengthening partnerships with finance ministers for smart investments in water, sanitation and hygiene.
These partnerships are especially important given the central role this sector can play in national economic and health recovery; delivering improved resilience, employment opportunities, health benefits, and access to innovative finance – allowing the country to build forward better.
This objective will be achieved by presenting evidence and practical experience of successful investments in the sector, and by fostering an active dialogue and partnership between ministers and leaders from development agencies, including development banks, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society, private sector, research and learning, and UN agencies.
The meetings will be co-convened with two SWA global partners - UNICEF and the World Bank Water Global Practice – as well as key regional partners for each of the three regions, including regional development banks and organizations.
Ministers will attend the meeting by invitation and it will be broadcast online to the global audience.
The FMMs will also draw on examples from the Finance Handbook: Water & Sanitation: How to Make Public Investment Work - A Handbook for Finance Ministers. The Handbook provides practical financing approaches to achieve the water, sanitation and hygiene targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The FMM lasting effect
The 2020 FMMs are part of, and contribute to, an ongoing cycle of activities jointly implemented by SWA partners. The discussions in each of the regions will be key for partners to build a closer and ongoing relationship with finance ministers at the national level.
They will also guide, and facilitate progress towards, the achievement of national and global commitments tabled under the Mutual Accountability Mechanism. The main conclusions and key messages of the Meetings will contribute to the ongoing SWA High-level Political Dialogue including the 2021 Sector Ministers’ Meeting.
The preparatory process
SWA partners will be engaged in a dedicated preparatory process to strengthen or catalyze in-country dialogue and action and prepare ministers of finance for their participation at the FMMs. The 2020 preparatory process will:
- Demonstrate and highlight the economic opportunities and benefits offered by the water, sanitation and hygiene sector in generating employment, contributing to a healthy workforce, strengthening social and economic development for all and GDP growth and protecting and preparing populations for climate change
- Mobilize political leaders to identify and agree on areas for SMART investments in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector during and after COVID-19,
- Develop and strengthen partnerships that support ministers responsible for finance, sanitation, water, hygiene and health to work together in achieving the necessary reforms, attracting additional resources and delivering at-scale services for all, especially for the marginalized and the vulnerable populations,
- Secure long-term engagement from participants and concrete results through the SWA Mutual Accountability Mechanism by tabling and reviewing SMART commitments made through government-led multi-stakeholder national planning processes to reach the desired water, sanitation, hygiene, health, and positive economic outcomes.
The primary output of the preparatory process will be a country summary document – the Country Overview - which synthesizes the economic opportunities in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector for economic; options for investments and economic and social development and commitments of government and partners to support national priorities.
The Country Overview will also be used as a briefing for the finance ministers who will attend the Meetings. Sector ministers will also use the Country Overview in inter-ministerial discussions with their counterparts responsible for finance, economic development and planning. The Country Overview should be an output of the national multi-stakeholder dialogue and can contribute to broader sector reviews such as joint sector reviews. Throughout the preparatory process, the Secretariat will organize a series of webinars to facilitate mobilization and sharing of experiences among partners.
For questions about the 2020 FMMs, please contact the SWA Secretariat.
Build Forward Better - economic opportunities offered by water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
Launch of the Handbook for Finance Ministers & kick-off of the 2020 Finance Ministers' Meetings Preparatory Process
Incentive based financing to end inequalities and accessing climate finance for sanitation and water
Creating a resilient and fit-for-investment WASH sector
Documents
View all Key documents| Key documents | Type |
|---|---|
| Launch of the Handbook for Finance Ministers and kick-off of the preparatory process for the Finance Ministers' Meeting | |
| Guidance Note: 2020 virtual Regional Finance Ministers' Meetings | |
| Presentation (Africa) - Incentive based financing to end inequalities and accessing climate finance for sanitation and water | |
| Presentation (Asia) - Incentive based financing to end inequalities and accessing climate finance for sanitation and water | |
| Presentation (Asia) - Creating a resilient and fit for investment WASH sector | |
| Presentation (Africa) - Creating a resilient and fit for investment WASH sector |
News
View all News & Stories
How Bangladesh is preparing for 2020 Finance Ministers' Meeting
Increasing allocations towards Water and Sanitation requires more than just increased fiscal space
Peru: Closing sanitation gaps with evidence-based investments in the sector
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