Support robust Humanitarian WASH advocacy
Advocate to relevant level and actors for resolution of the observed gaps
The WASH coordination platform is in general not in a position to solve directly gap observe directly, having few staff or budget available. However, it should inform adequate decision making person of the problems, and follow up on their resolution.
Many issues on quality are caused by factors external to WASH partners: low availability of skilled national personnel or locally available quality material, security issues preventing field monitoring etc. While WASH partners can overcome some of them by adapting their implementation strategies, many others can be solved only by high level actors such as OCHA, or regional/national authority. The WASH coordination platform must report issues to them at both sub-national and national level and seek for solutions.
Also refer to Advocacy support chapter.
Identify concerns, and contribute to HC and HCT messaging and action
As many concerns can comes from the field, it is important to define an advocacy strategy endorsed by the SAG, in which priority advocacy themes are defined, based on local context and WASH strategic objective. Usually WCC is not in direct contact with the HC and the HCT, but can report pressing issues to the inter-cluster coordinator and/or the UNICEF representative, who can group concerns from various clusters.
Undertake advocacy actions
Some advocacy actions can be solved directly by the WCC, who must build strong partnership with WASH-relevant ministries and other public institution, and with donors. Other concerns can be addressed to the HC, who is in contact with higher level of governmental officials, military authorities, UN peacekeepers and donors.
It is important to avoid partners to feel that advocacy is the mere responsibility of the WASH Coordination Platform. Partners can also play an important role, and undertake advocacy action themselves at country, regional or global level, provided that they are agreed by other partner and the coordination platform.
Having no direct authority on the partners, advocacy is also the main tool of the WCC when it comes to address issues reported during monitoring. When noticing quality issues or lack of reporting friom one partners, WCC can report the issue first to the partner program staff, then at high level if no action are taken: partner main office, HQ, or donors.