Collaborative effort to address the global sanitation and hygiene challenge

WSSCC is the only organisation that adresses specifically the sanitation and hygiene challenges of vulnerable populations in the most needy countries. Its Global Sanitation Fund is the only global financing mechanism for sanitation. Itis therefore well positioned to implement the SDG number 6.2 about sanitation and hygiene. Its secretariat is hosted by UNOPS in Geneva.

Switzerland, SDC and its Global Programme Water Initiatives are strongly engaged on WASH – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. The WSSCC Council focuses on countries with the largest gap on reaching international targets (using the SDGs) as well as its strategy to work with the most in need and most vulnerable within these is a further match with the Swiss focus.

In the period from 2012 to mid-2015 the WSSCC has contributed to achieving the following aggregated results from thirteen intervention countries:

• 8.21 million people with improved toilets,
• 9.92 million people living in open defecation free environments,
• 13.46 million people with handwashing facilities.

In previous support phases Switzerland contributed to: 

• Establishment of a result-based management system of the WSSCC and Global Sanitation Fund (GSF)
• Collaboration with the WSSCC for a specific water goal in the 2030 Agenda.

Access and Use: Tens of millions of previously unserved people in 10-25 sanitation-needy countries gain access to and sustainably use improved sanitation and adopt good hygiene practices,

Equality and non-discrimination: Among those who gain access, poor and marginalised groups are identified and preferentially supported.

Contribute to the WSSCC’s excellent work on menstrual hygiene management and bring it to the attention of the Health and Education sector in the SDC and internationally,

Further, the WSSCC is reaching out to the private sector at local level (e.g to small and medium sized enterprises as service providers for people that want improved toilets), and in particularly at global level (e.g. by establishing contacts through the Global Compact).

Second rank (after the Netherlands)

The Netherlands (DGIS), Sweden (SIDA), Norway (NORAD), Finland, Australia (AusAid). Other donors are in discussion.

In addition to the “traditional” donors the Council's secretariat of WSSCC is in close contact with private foundations and social impact investors.

All donors are invited to the biannual Steering Committee Meetings (May and November). In the May SC-Meeting a Donor Accountability Meeting is organised where donors exchange among themselves and with the secretariat. Additionally, most other donor representatives participate in the same conferences and meetings as SDC, e.g. the World Water Week in Stockholm and the Partnership Meetings of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA).

Phase 1 01.01.2016 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)