In a watershed moment at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Sidik Mia, has wrapped up her pivotal role in shaping the global dialogue on water security. Drawing together a diverse array of stakeholders—from policymakers to grassroots advocates—this gathering served as a crucible for assessing progress toward the lofty goal of ensuring universal access to clean, life-sustaining water, as enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 6.
As Mia elucidated, the forum was far from a mere symposium; it was a stage upon which transformative initiatives were unveiled with the launch of the National Water Road Map as the major one. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Minister disclosed that Malawi will be one of the few countries in the world to develop a roadmap for accelerating achievement of the SDG6.
“As a leader of the Malawi delegation, I had the privilege of delivering a statement during the launch. I underscored the pivotal role water plays in our predominantly agrarian economy, serving not only to sustain agriculture but also as a linchpin supporting our livelihoods and overall well-being.
“I hailed the visionary leadership of His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi for creating a standalone Ministry responsible for water and sanitation. Following this decision, water and sanitation issues are getting adequate attention and impactful reforms are being done,” wrote the Minister on her only official Facebook page: Abida Sidik Mia.
Among what is going on well in the country in as far as the WASH sector is concerned, Mia cited the establishment of a dedicated Department for Sanitation and Hygiene, recognizing the imperative of prioritizing these critical issues. As a newly established Department, Mia told the gathering that Malawi is building capacity as well as developing legal and policy reforms to help govern the sector.
“I added that the National Water Policy has just being revised to take care of emerging issues in the sector, while the National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy is in its final stages of review. I further shared with the forum that the National Water Resources Authority is now fully operational, crucial for effective management and sustainability of water resources,” Said the Minister.
Yet despite the strides being registered, Mia acknowledged the challenge posed by climate change, particularly the severe floods, which have been adversely impacting the WASH infrastructure in Malawi and also causing siltation and pollution to water sources.
Nevertheless, the Minister was quick to express gratitude to the country’s Development Partners for assisting Malawi undertake climate resilience initiatives. She singled out the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank in this regard whilst citing the Rumphi Water and Sanitation project supported by AfDB and the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project facilitated by the World Bank, both huge projects aimed at protecting the catchment areas and also restoring degraded landscapes.
At this juncture, the Minister commended the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for recognizing and supporting the water and sanitation sector as a catalyst for agricultural production, food security, health community and productive labour force, among others.
Concluded the Minister:
“I reiterated Malawi’s commitment to global collaboration in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030. Through continued partnerships and collective efforts, I told the gathering that we of Malawi remain optimistic about our ability to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. All in all, it has been a very productive meeting and promises development of many bankable projects for the benefit of our country, Malawi.”
