Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Policy.

This Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Policy is formulated as a basis for strengthening enabling environment and other Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) governance capacity systems in the State, and for effectively achieving full access to WASH services and increasing service coverage in the State. The Vision and the Mission of the Policy aim at achieving adequate, potable, equitable and sustainable water supply and improved hygienic sanitation for all through sustained investment and stakeholder community participation. The Policy covers interventions in those topics where the lack of sanitation, hygiene and water supply services is higher, particularly: education, health, gender and social issues, poverty reduction. In order to achieve its goal, the Policy defines the following objectives: increasing service coverage for water supply, sanitation and hygiene statewide; ensuring good WASH quality standards; ensuring affordability and access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene services for all citizens; enhancing state capacity in the operation and management of WASH undertakings; legislating and regulating standards for WASH services; promoting market principles and encouraging private sector participation in the sector; reducing the incidences of WASH related diseases in order to improve quality of life. The Policy provides for implementing water supply services in urban and town areas, small towns and rural communities. The Policy also concerns financial measures for funding and fund mobilisation.