Key issues

1. Lack of harmonization of policies across sectors.
2. Water is not prioritized in the political agenda of many countries.
3. Outdated and irrelevant water policies mean that present-day context is missed.
4. There exist gaps between policy makers and implementers (No well-researched facts/feedback).
5. Not enough women champions of water: women at all levels are needed.

Proposed Recommendations

1. Countries need to set targets for Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) and translate them into national targets.
2. Governments need to consider setting aside or increasing budgets for R&D in water.
3. Empower more women to lead the policy formulation and review process.
4. Establish a continuous dialogue among policy makers, researchers, civil societies.
5. Establish mechanism for institutional capacity building including:

• information provision
• management and evaluation
• coordination between various sectors and management levels.
• over sight and accountability

6. Research input is needed in how to measure implementation including development of performance indicators and a national /basin targets (e.g. SDGs), guidelines /standards.
7. Integrate climate change issues during the process of developing and reviewing policies.
8. Political will for harmonization across sectors through advocacy and raising awareness is essential.

Discussion

1. Empower women to stand for themselves. Example of where to place water source in a village: women choose the school; men choose the water point for the animals.
2. How can existing policies be implemented in a better way? The problem is not policy but implementation. Implement is needed followed by incremental adjustment of policy. Many implementers are not aware of the policies.
3. Some policies are unrealistic, they don’t reflect the actual situations on the ground because they are produced by top level institutions while the implementers are given only a limited window of input and feedback from policy beneficiaries.
4. Policies are implemented via parliamentary acts in some countries. This takes time, money and is also messy. Municipalities are supposed to implement federally designed acts. Devolution of some of the management to the local governments e.g., catchment management agencies (though these have less technical expertise than the large hydroelectric companies and are not as well funded)
5. Importance of research in feeding into policy making.
6. Joint action plans between Rwanda water sector and local municipalities are used to implement different policies via performance contracts. Political will in Rwanda exists.
7. Importance of district councilors in socializing policies about to be implemented to the population
8. In Rwanda when they try to implement policies, experts are sourced and involved.