National Strategy for Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), WASH in Schools and WASH in Health Facilities.

This National Strategy for Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), in Schools and WASH in Health Facilities and the associated Investment Plan set out a roadmap to meet the needs of rural populations for water and sanitation services, eliminate open defecation and improve hygiene practices. The Strategy also addresses water, sanitation and hygiene in schools encompassing high schools, health facilities and township hospitals. The Strategy and the Investment Plan will contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals for Myanmar by 2030. One major change in approach proposed by the Strategy is a move from providing water supply and sanitation systems through time-bound projects for infrastructure, to operation of WASH as services without time limit. The emphasis is on operation, sustainability and recurrent cost financing of services that people want and can afford to pay for. Principles and factors that are taken into account in the Strategy include, among other things, sustainability, monitoring and management of information, disaster risk reduction and climate change, cost sharing for water supply, decentralization and de-concentration of service provision and management, accountability and transparency, and mainstreaming gender.
The Strategy is divided into eight Chapters: Chapter 1 contains an introduction; Chapter 2 gives a Situational Analysis; Chapter 3 defines the goal, strategic objectives and targets for water supply, sanitation, hygiene behaviour change, WASH in schools, WASH in health facilities, WASH in emergencies, humanitarian action and climate change adaptation, institutional arrangements, financing; Chapter 4 gives the definition of services to be adopted through the Strategy; Chapter 5 defines the scope of the Strategy - the range of what it addresses and the geographic areas covered; Chapter 6 sets a number of principles to guide the sector. These provide some of the detailed policy necessary for achieving the Overall Goal and Strategic Objectives; Chapter 7 sets the Strategic Components necessary to achieve each Strategic Objective and the overall Goal. It is based on a logical framework format; Chapter 8 gives the time-frame for implementation of the Strategy. The Appendices provide supporting information and guidance on the Strategy, including definitions of terminology, concept and approaches in WASH; institutional roles and responsibilities of the organisations and stakeholders.
As for water supply, the objective is that all in rural areas will have access to effective, efficient and affordable services for improved water supply by 2030. Water resources are managed equitably and sustainably so that there is adequate availability and provision for domestic use (highest priority). Women and men, girls and boys living in villages and village tracts, and schools and health facilities have equitable access to water supply services. Routine testing of water supplies to ensure that the allocation for drinking use conforms to the Drinking Water Quality Standards. Each Township and each village has an operational water safety plan. Effective, efficient and environmentally safe services for solid waste management shall be provided in rural areas.