The Key Meeting

In the run up to 2015, progress towards meeting the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals (MDG) is frustratingly slow. The world is not on track to meet the MDG sanitation target by 2015 and, if current rates of progress continue, it will be missed in Sub-Saharan Africa by 200 years. It is more important than ever to maintain pressure on leaders at all levels to make sure they keep their promises.

On 20 April 2012, world leaders from the Global North and South will meet at the second High-Level Meeting on Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) to act upon the water and sanitation crisis.

It is really important that Development or Finance Ministers from as many countries as possible attend this meeting. Commitments made here can reverse the political and financial neglect of the water and sanitation crisis by ensuring that enough resources are available to be spent where they are most needed and in the way that is the most effective.

You can take the opportunity of your Walk for Water and Sanitation to invite your Development of Finance Minister to attend and demand that real progress and firm actions are delivered upon.

By acting together, in our thousands, all over the world, we can make the most of this opportunity for real change.

What is the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership?

The SWA was created in 2010 and is an alliance of national governments, donors, civil society organizations and other development partners. They are beginning to work together to increase political will and improve aid-effectiveness by mobilizing and better targeting resources for water supply and sanitation.

The SWA is a way in which we can ensure water and sanitation reaches the poorest in the world.

More information on the SWA can be found here.