Innovative Solution

communication strategy; awareness; human right to water; capacity building; communities; local authorities; empowerment; civil society;sustainable; participation; monitoring /public policies; conservation; water management

educational

Institutional

The programme specific objectives are:

1-Strengthening civil society organizations and society in general through the program to exchange experiences and knowledge offered by the network (in particular in relation to the implications and the gradual implementation of the human right to water and sanitation as well as strengthening community water management considered a suitable instrument for the realization of this right.)

2-Contribute to public policy from applied research in the watersheds and sub-basins where other members work with FANMex

3-Efficiently transmit the voice of CSOs through an informed dialogue with the water authorities at all levels, by strengthening governance structures and operation of FANMex.

As main activities, the work will be conducted locally from sub-basins where other FANMex worked in the states of Morelos, Guerrero, Mexico State, Veracruz, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan and Yucatan Peninsula

Main Line of Action on the human right to water and sanitation

• Identify a baseline of knowledge of users and local authorities on the human right to water and sanitation in 20 communities

• Mapping of institutions responsible for implementing this right

• Based on a diagnosis made, development of an information guide on the implications and responsibilities of each actor in the consolidation of universal access to water and sanitation services

• Awareness campaign this guide, which will include meetings with local authorities and the public workshops.

Main Line of Action on communication and dissemination of knowledge for capacity building of civil society organizations

• Disseminate the results of this program through the strategy of internal and external communication network (newsletter, web, ebulletins, fanmex reports and other external communication)

• Support and enhance the dissemination of the work and results of member organizations with respect to water management and sanitation, in our media.

• Organize meetings for the exchange of experiences between members of national, regional and potential new members on topics of interest to the sustainability of water (ie: community water forum, exchange of experiences among members, etc. ..)

• Organize workshops on issues of operational and professional capacity.

Main Line of Action Governance

• Strengthen the internal governance structure of the network,

• Facilitate communication and maintain regular meetings with national authorities to raise awareness of the challenges encountered and results of work carried out in basins where our members work.

• Expand the scope of the network both in membership and in the national representation.

• Link network with research and education institutions.

• Mapping of other potential donors to the program’s financial sustainability

This program will have different activities which are based on experience and local level work of FAN Mex members in order to influence public policy at the municipal level but also the state, national, regional and global levels. In this sense locally will be from sub-basins where FAN Mex members have worked together we can geographically locate the program, ie in certain municipalities in the states of Morelos town of Tepoztlan, Chilapa municipality of Guerrero, Mexico State, Veracruz, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan and Yucatan peninsula.

SAKBE Communication and Defense work as part of Fresh Action Network (FANMex) to develop strategic priorities on the human right to water and sanitation, communication and dissemination of knowledge for capacity building of organized civil society and governance.The program goal is to link several beneficiaries, between direct and indirect beneficiaries, those are:

Civil society organizations: Member organizations FANMex network will direct beneficiaries through various activities both to systematize information on their experiences of working with comunidades.Las experience exchange activities under this program may benefit a greater number of community and nongovernmental organizations and based on these results may give a better replica and increased coverage of its activities and concretely influence public policy in both municipalities working as state and national level.

Local authorities and decision makers: This same information based on experience and evidence may prepare documents FANMex decision makers with specific proposals for collaboration to include public policy at the municipal, state, national and global, and thus to improve the application of resources and the realization of universal access to water and sanitation for all and all Mexicans.

Local communities without access to drinking water and saneameinto: The first beneficiary communities are the communities where our members however at a later time and peri-rural communities that lack even basic services with access to water and sanitation may be including through their representatives in the activities to exchange experiences in order to link them to the organizations working in their municipalities. It is through all these beneficiaries mentioned above can then be marginalized communities benefit from this program.

The strategy for disseminating and awareness of the implications of the human right to water and capacity building of communities to exercise their right before local authorities, has allready developed as part of the Fresh Action Network Mexico (FANMex), related to strengthening civil society to contribute to sustainable water and sanitation at Mexico through its participation in the design, implementation and monitoring of public policies relating to conservation and water management.

The implementation programme duration is three years, beginning in January 2012.

Recognizing that according to data published on the agenda of the CNA 2030, 11.1 million people currently lack access to safe drinking water, 14.8 million people lack sewer service, and at least 70% of the water collected are not no treatment. Recognizing also that this number could double if we take into consideration the lack of water quality, quantity, continuity and accessibility (physical and economic) of these services, with the recognition criteria in the Mexican constitution of the human right to water and sanitation must comply, it is of crucial importance to improve the link between civil society in making decisions about water management. 

Taking into consideration that given the projected population growth and urban sprawl, the gap of the population that does not have access to drinking water may increase in 2030 to 36.8 million inhabitants and at least 40.5 million free collection service or treatment wastewater to achieve universal coverage and recovery of water bodies by 2030 as suggested by the 2030 book certainly requires the collaboration of all stakeholders around water, such as users and civil society. Until today the opportunities for civil society to contribute to better planning and policy development on issues affecting marginalized communities and environmental sustainability are limited or nonexistent in some cases so that the program we propose is an excellent opportunity to promote and strengthen and adequately informed participation in decision-making platforms.

In Mexico and in the world, there are very few platforms or networks that facilitate dialogue and strategic partnerships between Civil Society Organizations and governments, donors, multilateral organizations, water utilities and community organizations in water management and natural resources. FAN is why through their various networks in the world and particularly in Mexico through joint achieves FANMex a network of civil society organizations with extensive experience in several states, channeling their knowledge and experience to the relationship with various platforms for water management at national, regional and global.

FANMex is a solid platform through applied research and experience of its members within the framework of this program may establish a dialogue with key actors in the water sector to promote public policies on sustainability and participation. Identifying and presenting key arguments and tools for planning and implementation of sustainable water plans, building on proven and efficient solutions to meet the needs of the population and the local socio-political context.

FANMex in particular, through the specific objectives previously mentioned 2030 can support the agenda that the CNA has been proposed to implement. In this, both in principle and in its strategic lines are common ground for collaboration:

• the principle of sustainability is one that should guide the strategy and objectives of water management and long-term and for this, as mentioned, it is essential to recognize the users of water resource management. FANMex network can facilitate the integration of these users in established platforms for it and support the strengthening of platforms such as watershed committees, where civil society participation is permitted by law.

• This recognition would support a comprehensive long-term vision as it builds confidence, dialogue, understanding and ownership of projects allowing the necessary continuity and valuing water and bring the work involved and treat it. This appropriation and implementation plans require the support of users to have their evaluation and preservation over time.

• The vision of watershed is the area in which they have and continue to work our members, this being the geographical space to integrate the management of land use, vegetation and ecosystems in water management, and it really make a sustainable development.

• In addition to the participation of civil society is a key player in the local regulation work. It is in the community can be a monitoring and evaluation of the quality of services and works carried out. Civil society can become a strategic ally responsible for providing services.

• It is the ultimate principle of subsidiarity which recognizes FANMex an excellent opportunity to improve the operational capabilities of community management of water is carried for years in various parts of the country. If you properly strengthen these community systems in management skills, conflict resolution techniques, including not only could contribute to the progressive realization of access to safe water and sanitation decentralized remote rural areas, but to recognize and value these systems potencializaría investments already made by the users themselves.

• Organised civil society informed and strengthened by the exchange program experiences and knowledge that the network offers.
• Community water users informed on the status of water and sanitation, economic and environmental costs involved in providing this service and the responsible institutions and instruments with which they can collaborate to improve water management and sanitation.
• Contribute to public policy from applied research in the watersheds and sub -basins where members work.
• Communicate effectively the voice of CSOs through an informed dialogue with the water authorities at all levels, by strengthening governance structures and operation of FANMex.
• Conflict resolution techniques, including not only could contribute to the progressive realization of access to safe water and sanitation decentralized remote rural areas, but to recognize and value these systems potencializaría investments already made by their own users.

As for the two strategic lines arising in the calendar 2030, the first is closely linked to the work that has developed FANMex: Ensure that all basins of the country have a strong governance structure with sufficient capacity to manage water resources sustainably and joint responsibility.

It is in the context of the sub where the organizations that are part of FANMex, work to collaborate to strengthen the local governance system. It is from the sub that we can start building a vision from the bottom up and thus to contribute to water management in a sustainable manner at the national level that meets local needs. This will gradually be able to consolidate what the Mexican Senate has requested relating to recognized human right to water and sanitation and that everyone has access, water and sanitation provision for personal and domestic consumption sufficiently, safe, acceptable and affordable .

• Support civil society organizations to influence public policies in an informed, linking the environmental agenda and social development for the sustainable integrated management of water resources and ensuringthe human right to water and sanitation present generations and future.

• Ensure training and development of Mexican CSOs to build alliances and effectively advocate for universal access to water and sanitation inthe region and achieve a comprehensive and sustainable managementof water in the basin of Mexico. This strengthening will improveparticipatory processes, accountability and governance, which will generate sustainable changes in policy implementation and health of Mexicans and the country’s development.

In this coordination programme the secretariat action by the water (FANMex) will be responsible for the program presented yet have the cooperation and close supervision of the executive committee members FANMex. A brief description of those who form the steering committee.

Guardians of the Volcanoes – By promoting organizational processes, planning and training of community management of natural resources of the Sierra Nevada, provide environmental services and organic products for the Valley of Mexico basin and its surroundings. They look for the transition to sustainable water management in the Basin of Mexico, with the conversion of Amecameca Rivers Subbasin and the company replicable models of sustainable resource management through workshops, demonstration projects of eco, research and consulting.

Environmental Studies Group (GEA) – With 30 years of experience, GEA redefines its mission to contribute to the sustainability of life on the planet, in the country and, as a priority in rural Mexico, through the collaborative creation and application of useful knowledge, farm management natural resources, improving quality of life and the full exercise of individual and collective rights of women and men. Farmer Management Program Natural Resources seeks to strengthen the capacities of communities and peasant organizations to better control and more appropriate management of natural resources, orienting towards sustainability and basing them on defense and development of knowledge, institutions and local technologies.

Sarar Transformation – It is a multidisciplinary international consulting group that promotes the transformation of the relationship with the water and sanitation to more natural and holistic systems, closing the nutrient cycle to stop the degradation of the planet and improve the quality of life in a context of equity and economic harmony , social and ecological. Their actions are focused on the development of ecological sanitation (ecosan) to adopt as a viable alternative in rural settlements, suburban or urban micro-managing vision. They work on improving existing systems and planning of new water and sanitation, building skills in existing groups to adopt ecosan development programs, and negotiate the inclusion of ecosan systems in public policy, through partnerships with government institutions.

SENDAS – Hiking and meetings for a Sustainable Self Development is a private non-profit organization founded in 1999 with the aim to promote and encourage sustainable development through good management of natural resources and local development with justice and dignity.

Sendas – supported through research, education, social promotion and advice to improve material living conditions, environmental and intellectual people, and the rescue, preservation and enrichment of their culture.

Pronatura Center – Since 1981 seeks to conserve flora, fauna and priority ecosystems of the country, promoting social development in harmony with nature. It focuses on climate change issues, preservation of social and private land, water, green funds and priority species, performing various actions for the conservation and sustainable management of priority ecosystems, education and strategic communications, community development, environmental policy and management generation and information management.

Valle de Bravo Procuencas Fund – Founded in 2000 seeking to improve the quality of life of the Valle de Bravo company and reverse the deteriorating state of forests, rivers and water bodies in the area through actions and projects that promote the recovery and conservation of the region. They work in generating resources to promote conservation and sustainable development of the watershed issues and support projects in priority areas developed jointly by the Fund, the three levels of government and civil society, and disseminate information and generate social, economic and environment of the basin. Emphasizes the use of eco in their projects.

Network City Water Bodies – The network was created to link actors in the water bodies of the Federal District and generate strategies for solving the problem of eutrophication by scientific data and previous experiences to track and disseminate short, medium and long term. Be replicable in other states of Mexico.

SAKBE Communication and Defense with Claudia Gomez Portugal M.

at www.sakbe.org.mx / Tel (5255) 52643777 / Monterrey 111 int.2 col. Roma Norte, Mexico City, C.P.06700.

claudia@sakbe.org.mx

Fresh Action Network Mexico (FANMEX) with Nathalie Seguin

at www.fanmex.net / Tel (5255) 84217261 / Mexico City / 

fanmex@gmail.com / skype: fanmexico / fanmexnathalie@gmail.com