3^rd September 2021 – The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) together with different stakeholders have held the National Validation Workshop on Water Sanitation Sector Monitoring (WASSMO) and reporting system data.

Water resource management sub-sector is the key towards the national water security through water conservation practices, wetlands restoration, water storage and efficient water use.

The workshop tends to strengthen water resources sub-sector experts on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation with focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions and understanding of Nationally Determined Contribution – Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (NDC MRV).

However, its key focuses comprised water and sanitation data collection and validation; assigning focal points of WASSMO parameters related in concerned institutions; and training on data entry into WASSMO reporting system.

“A well-functioning National SDG6 and WASSMO Working Group is key in data collection, validation and reporting process for Rwandan commitments at both national, continental and global level,” remarks RWB’s Deputy Director General Christine Niyotwambaza Hitimana.

This has reflect on the link between climate change and other country commitments such as SDGs and Africa water vision 2063, she adds.

The Reporting Format is framed under the 7 themes defined for the water and sanitation sector development in Africa that include:

Theme 1: Water Infrastructure for Economic Growth;

Theme 2: Managing and Protecting Water Resources;

Theme 3: Achieving Water supply and Sanitation MDGs;

Theme 4: Global Changes and Risks Management in Africa;

Theme 5: Water Governance and Management;

Theme 6: Financing Water and Sanitation Sector;

Theme 7: Education, Knowledge, Capacity Development and Water Information.”

 In response to the directive of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit of July 2008 which mandated the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) to report annually on progress achieved in implementing the African Union (AU) commitments made in the 2008 Sharm El-Sheikh Commitments on water and sanitation and taking into account several international agreements including the Africa Water Vision 2025, the Africa Agenda 2063, as well as the global Sustainable Development Goals targets especially SDG6 on clean water and sanitation; AMCOW developed a web-based reporting system, “the Pan-African Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO)” in October 2015.

The WASSMO platform includes different elements which are framework of themes, targets, indications and parameters.