“The key is in applying a human rights-based approach to achieve SDG 6”
Human Right 2 Water believes the key is in international law. Thanks to a simple step-by-step approach, the NPO uses international law at a local level, identifying the most vulnerable people and then drafting a pathway for reaching them through advocacy, and integration of simplified policy implementation.
With a clear goal in mind, providing sustainable solutions based on human rights to improve water governance worldwide, Amanda Loeffen is CEO of Human Right 2 Water, a not-for-profit organisation founded after 10 years of legal research into the international laws, standards and norms supporting the human rights to water and sanitation (HRWS). In this exclusive interview, Loeffen shares her vision and how she and her expert team work to achieve a world where all people realise the human rights to water and sanitation.
Can you tell us briefly about your career path and your role as CEO of Human Right 2 Water?
I spent the first half of my career working in a variety of energy and chemical businesses in business development, strategy and management in Europe, North America and Australasia. While in New Zealand, I moved into another resource, water where I founded a project management company in water infrastructure development, mostly working on community projects to develop water storage for irrigation. Since moving back to Europe, I have led non-governmental organisations working on water governance to provide access to water and sanitation for vulnerable people.
Human Right 2 Water works towards safeguarding the human rights to water and sanitation. Can you explain your organisation’s step-by-step guide to helping achieve this goal?
Our goal is to understand the causes of the problems with access to water and sanitation to design a set of human rights-based indicators
The key is in applying a human rights-based approach. We start with a situation analysis, including a structured analysis of the current law and policy and how it integrates human rights to water and sanitation. Armed with this information, we then engage with local stakeholders, including vulnerable groups and local authorities, to understand their challenges and needs. Our goal is to understand the root causes of the problems with access to water and sanitation, such that we can design a set of human rights-based indicators that can be monitored. The capture and monitoring of rights-sensitive data provides an understanding of the areas for investment and a pathway for local authorities to follow.
With the growing effects of climate change, do you find that governments and local authorities are paying more attention to water and sanitation issues?
Sadly, water and sanitation are areas that are easily overlooked, because they are difficult to solve, take a long time to fully resolve, and therefore are politically unsatisfying. However, with the increasing political commitment to climate adaptation and mitigation, and the stress on water systems, governments are starting to recognise the value of investing in more sustainable systems.
How important are water governance and policy in achieving sustainable water management practices, and what steps can governments take to improve water governance?
Water governance and policy are incredibly important, as it provides the backbone for long-term changes in behaviour that are based on recognised standards and norms. The first step that governments can take is to check how they have integrated international human rights law into their constitutional laws and policies. With this baseline of information, it is then relatively easy to see where the gaps are, and to start making plans to fill them. For example, ensuring that all people have access to a minimum volume of good quality water a day is more than an aspiration, and it can only be achieved by a set of laws and policies that are designed to make this happen.
Developing countries face the greatest risk from climate change. How can we convince the international community to do more in terms of providing financial support and helping develop institutional capacity?
The capture and monitoring of rights-sensitive data provides an understanding of the areas for investment and a pathway for authorities
It is clear that the differential between developed and developing countries is marked not only in the GDP but also in the carbon footprint per head. If we as a global community want to support the least developed countries to take a low carbon path to help achieve global reductions in greenhouse gas then we cannot ignore them. In my opinion, we need to share knowledge and skills in a way that will support developing nations to jump the technology gap. It is going to take more than one solution to get there, but it should be a shared responsibility.
Amanda with colleague Cynthia Bleu-Laine, at a workshop on the human rights to water and sanitation, sponsored by the AfDB; stakeholders from the Sahel countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Niger participated in the workshop.
What are some of the most innovative approaches you have seen for improving access to clean water and sanitation for marginalised communities?
Sadly, water and sanitation are areas that are easily overlooked, because they are difficult to solve and take a long time to fully resolve
Innovation can take many forms, ranging from the process of deciding on the right solution, including the participation of the local community, to the choice of solution. The most successful choices are the ones that are designed with the participation and engagement of the local community. Ideally, the innovation needs to be designed with local materials and employment where possible, including locally trained operators for maintenance, and at a price that is sustainable. There are so many great solutions out there, but my favourites are the nature-based solutions, incorporating the natural landscape for optimisation of water quality and quantity, such as wetlands or forestland, and using local materials for construction. They generally cost less, can be managed by local communities, and are more sustainable. However, they also take much longer to develop, and for that reason, are more difficult to finance.
HR2W has supported the UNECE programme to encourage sustainable development through the People-first PPP programme. Can you tell us a bit more about this initiative?
The UNECE People-first PPP Assessment Tool is designed to provide guidelines for projects on how to be more sustainable, to support as many of the Sustainable Development Goals as possible (SDGs), and to benefit communities and not just the investors in the project. It has been developed by UNECE for PPPs to use in the design, development and operation of projects to provide standards for reaching the five outcomes of Access and Equity, Economic Effectiveness, Replicability, Environmental Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement.
The differential between developed and developing countries is marked not only in the GDP but also in the carbon footprint per head
In the annual UNECE People first PPP Forum next month, the topic is the Circular Economy, and it will include the showcasing of 48 PPP projects that demonstrate high scores on the assessment tool.
Can you tell us a bit more about the water quality project you are leading with the World Water Quality Alliance?
Human Right 2 Water is partnering with the WWQA to set up local water forums for testing water quality. It is based on citizen science, encouraging local volunteer groups or schools to care about the water quality in their local rivers by taking samples and testing the quality. Some of the apps that we are using are really simple to use and require no cost or specialised equipment. For example, one App, called miniSASS (www.minisass.org) is used to identify the invertebrates that can be found in your river, and then the results are used to determine the water quality. The more sensitive bugs do not live in contaminated waters, and it provides a very simple test and one that helps to create awareness.
The UN 2023 Water Conference took place in March. What do you think of the outcome of this historic event?
It certainly has created a huge wave of interest and commitment from organisations and governments globally. The hope has been that there will be some landmark breakthroughs to ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Pledges to develop resilient infrastructure, water pipelines, wastewater plants, and early warning schemes for natural disasters have been made, but they need to be supported by legally binding legislation. This hasn’t happened yet, and until it does, there is a risk that this energy and enthusiasm will be undermined. There is still a lot of work to follow up on and make sure that the wave continues.