Policies and strategies
- Stakeholders in water, sanitation and hygiene are guided by national development policies and strategies and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The most significant policy document for example, the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS 2006-2011), recognizes the importance of safe drinking water and sanitation for economic development. The medium-term expected outcome listed in the strategy is to increase access to water within 500 metres for all people by 2011.
- The National Water Policy was drafted and launched in 1994, revised and re-launched in 2005. The overall objective of the policy is to achieve sustainable management and utilization of water resources.
- While water supply is well legislated, there was no legislation on sanitation until the Cabinet passed a new National Sanitation Policy (NSP) in 2008. The overall objective of the policy is to achieve universal access to improved sanitation, improved health and safe hygiene behaviour by 2020.
- Strategic sanitation planning has not yet been done in Malawi but is planned as part of the preparations to operationalize the new Sanitation Policy. There is increased attention to on-site sanitation and hygiene promotion rather than piped sewerage.
- In 2008, the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development (MoIWD) embarked on a Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Development in Malawi.
Institutions
- The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development (MoIWD) is the lead government agency responsible for water and sanitation, developing policies, coordinating finance and implementation activities.
- The Ministry of Health has an active role in sanitation and hygiene to support policy development.
- Five public sector Water Boards (WB) supply water to the cities and towns: Blantyre and Lilongwe, and in the northern, central, and southern regions of Malawi.
- Sanitation and sewerage remain the duty of municipal authorities. Through the National Sanitation Policy, all responsibility on sewer collection comes under Water Boards in the urban areas.
- Sector coordination: Under the SWAp for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Development, a Sanitation and Hygiene Thematic Working Group has been established. The WES Donor Group, which is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the MoIWD and represented by the various line ministries, donor partners, and NGO representatives, meets monthly to inform each other of activities and progress. The WES NGO coordination group is made up of NGOs active in the WASH sector.
