Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 17TH - 23RD MAY 2019 | 19 Policy & Regulation success depends on a lot of building blocks including institutional alignment, leader- ship and sustainable sources of financing. "We also work a lot around the ideas of com- munity empowerment and a human rights- based approach to water," she adds. Funding shortfall Since 2011 funding from Dfid has ensured that 80 million people worldwide have access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), but the current political climate is a huge cause for concern because the amount of money earmarked by the department for WASH programmes has fallen in recent years. OECD analysis shows that UK aid com- mitments to WASH fell by as much as 67 per cent between 2016 and 2017. "The issue is of scale and ambition and the UK falls short of what is needed in the poorest countries if universal access is to be achieved," Newton-Lewis warns. "The fall in UK aid commitments is definitely a con- cern. It may not show itself in terms of UK aid disbursements in the following year or two years, but, other things being equal, it will lead ultimately to lower disbursements over time." WaterAid has raised its concerns with DFID directly, as well as making them pub- lic. "We have also sought clarification on whether this is a continuing trend or a one- off fall, reflecting volatility in planning and implementation. We do not yet have a clear- cut answer and will be continuing to push for increased levels of aid from the UK gov- ernment to the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, focused on the poorest countries." Against a backdrop of dwindling govern- ment funding and as competition among charities for supporters' hard-earned cash ramps up, Newton-Lewis applauds those responsible for the inspiring campaigns that help maintain WaterAid's profile and keep donations coming in. Its recent Water Effect campaign showed a series of portraits of new-born babies illus- trating different traditions observed by com- munities in 11 countries to protect mothers and welcome new babies – from postpartum porridge-making and paint masks to bap- tisms and beer brewing. "We're lucky that we have some really great people in our digital campaigns and fundraising teams who are able to innovate and keep our message fresh. We can do that because we're really connected to our country programmes and the stories we tell are real. The reality of the situation speaks for itself." Newton-Lewis admits some of those Anglian Water's Beacon Project in Nepal "It's much more than money, it's about shared value concepts" Anglian Water and its alliance partners are working with WaterAid offer- ing capacity building, training and partnering through a collaboration with the local water utility in Lahan, a fast-growing town in south- eastern Nepal. The project will enhance water supplies, extend piped services to those who do not have them and work with key stakeholders to bring appropriate sanitation and waste management to the town. Currently, less than half of Lahan's 98,000 people have access to piped water. Its water network consists of just one treatment works, five boreholes and around 59km of pipes, operated by 21 staff, only eight of whom work full time. There are no adequate waste management systems. A key aim is for the Anglian Water team to share knowledge on water resource planning, expansion plans, finance and tariffs, and business planning with stakeholders and staff from utility operators and service providers in Lahan. It's the first time WaterAid has developed a collabo- rative partnership with a water company, its supply chain and govern- ment bodies to deliver a municipality-wide approach to the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene. It's already making a vital difference to communities. For Anglian Water the project gives partners an emotional connec- tion to the project while also recognising the learning and development opportunities for staff, Newton-Lewis says. "There's a tremendous amount of optimism and positivity around the project because it's a new and useful application of their skills. In a totally non-cynical way, it's really meaningful and they're effecting change in a really efficient way." "It's about reaching the most marginalised groups who are left behind." VIRGINIA NEWTON- LEWIS, SENIOR POLICY ANALYST WATERAID continued overleaf

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