MUNITY SOUTHERN M CO AF T VE N DE LOPM EN CA RI RE REGIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IV (2016 - 2020) T U W TO AR D SA C O M MO N FU P5.2.2 HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH TO WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION A common understanding of the human rights approach to water supply and sanitation needs to be initiated. The human rights approach to water supply and sanitation was adopted at the United Nations level. However, the interpretation and understanding of its meaning and implications to each Member State differs. Activities include mobilising resources for regional dialogues on the human rights approach to water and creating regional dialogue to build consensus on this approach to water supply and sanitation. a) assessing national and RBO/OSIC policies, strategies and plans for water financing including public private partnerships, in collaboration with the SADC Private Public Partnership (PPP) network; b) developing an innovative water financing strategy for the region including: • fund raising strategies; • PPPs; • partnerships with civil society in infrastructure resource mobilisation; and • blending strategies for infrastructure financing; c) developing and updating an interactive database of water financing institutions and options; and P5.3 WATER ECONOMICS P5.3.1 CAPACITY BUILDING AND APPLICATION OF ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING OF WATER (EAW) d) organising conferences. water infrastructure investment There is need to build capacity on economic accounting of water (EAW). Understanding the economic value of water will go a long way in the financing of water initiatives. SADC has undertaken economic accounting of water in the region and the results need to be applied. Activities include: a) promoting the use of tools and methods developed during the SADC economic accounting for water in 2010; b) undertaking demonstration projects on the economic accounting of water use at both national and river basin levels; c) scoping of data availability in Member States to support the construction of economic water accounts; and d) reviving Member State structures for data collection and construction of water accounts (e.g. the country teams). P5.4 WATER FINANCING P5.4.1 STRATEGY FOR INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE MECHANISMS FOR THE WATER SECTOR There is need to develop a strategy for innovative development finance mechanisms for the water sector. A regional water sector development finance strategy is essential for equipping Member States and RBOs/OSIC to mobilise funds for their projects. Activities include: 23 A Vehicle to implement the Water Component of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP)