Formally launched in January 2008, Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA) incorporated as a semi-formal network of organizations active in the WASH sector in South Asia. The concept to establish South Asia regional civil society organization’s network evolved during Freshwater Action Network (FAN) global meeting. The FANSA secretariat was initially hosted by Modern Architects for Rural India (MARI), India from 2008 to 2020 and recently been shifted to Lumanti, Nepal in 2021.
For over 12 years, FANSA has contributed to, and helped shape, the regional WASH agenda at national, regional and international forums. FANSA, through its programs and alignment with regional and global agendas such as the UN resolution on the ‘Rights to Water and Sanitation’ and UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as its ongoing collaboration with the global consortium like the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) and End Water Poverty (EWP) campaign, will continue to contribute towards achieving the target to provide universal access to sanitation and water by 2030 in South Asia, by bridging regional boundaries and facilitating dialogue between policymakers, practitioners, researchers, press/media and other relevant stakeholders.
Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA)
Overview about FANSA
Vision
An inclusive, equitable and climate resilient WASH facilities and services for ALL in South Asia.
Mission
To support civil society organisations in South Asia for their meaningful engagement in WASH advocacy to enhance/ensure inclusive, equitable and climate resilient WASH facilities and services for all, particularly focusing on the key vulnerable populations.
An integral part of its mission is to support and promote investigation on the policy-practice gaps in the WASH sector and their implications for SDG 6 targets in South Asia.
Goals
Goal 1: Research-based advocacy
Promoting and supporting regional and international collaboration for research-based advocacy on WASH agenda related to COVID-19, climate change and disaster risk reduction and other contextually relevant themes particularly relevant to South Asia.
Goal 2: Capacity development Enhancing capabilities to participate in advocacy for WASH rights, climate change impacts, functionality and sustainability and to support evidence-based policy formulation and planning.
Goal 3: Collaboration and engagement Continuing to enhance collaboration and engagement with like-minded organizations and other stakeholder groups including youth and entrepreneurs’ networks to accelerate progress on WASH.
Goal 4: Policy-practice interactions Strengthening interactions between policymakers, practitioners, researchers and members of other societal groups, and providing sufficient evidence for policymaking processes.
Goal 5: Institutional growth Strengthening organizational, operational and financial capacity that is sustainable, efficient, equitable and able to support FANSA and its activities.
Goal 2: Capacity development Enhancing capabilities to participate in advocacy for WASH rights, climate change impacts, functionality and sustainability and to support evidence-based policy formulation and planning.
Goal 3: Collaboration and engagement Continuing to enhance collaboration and engagement with like-minded organizations and other stakeholder groups including youth and entrepreneurs’ networks to accelerate progress on WASH.
Goal 4: Policy-practice interactions Strengthening interactions between policymakers, practitioners, researchers and members of other societal groups, and providing sufficient evidence for policymaking processes.
Goal 5: Institutional growth Strengthening organizational, operational and financial capacity that is sustainable, efficient, equitable and able to support FANSA and its activities.