How do you unite people and institutions in the belief that water and sanitation is a common good that needs to be sustainably managed? These are some of the daunting challenges addressed by the Governance, Advocacy and Leadership in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programme (GoAL WaSH).

During its ten years, the GoAL-WaSH programme – which in 2019 was succeeded by the GoAL-WaterS programme – was aimed at accelerating achievement of the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals, and later the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals. The programme was implemented through UNDP Country Offices and partners, and strategically managed by the UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility, hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute. The fundamental principle was that only by enhancing the performance of the drinking water and sanitation sectors in partner countries can effective, equitable, and sustainable service delivery be achieved.

To do this, GoAL WaSH was designed to support the entire process, from initial assessment to implementation, via the development of reform policies, laws, and coordination efforts. Over the years, GoAL-WaSH involved 15 countries from across the world. The focus was fragile or post-conflict countries, where governments showed a commitment to engage in water sector reform to establish effective and equitable service delivery in the long term.

GoAL WaSH global reach