Combining our strengths : exploring the complementarity of human rights and systems strengthening approaches

Presentation accompanying the session 'Combining our strengths: exploring the complementarity of human rights and systems strengthening approaches' shared at the All Systems Go Africa symposium 19-21 October 2022.

To date, systems strengthening and human rights-based approaches mostly exist alongside each other. There is significant scope for learning and synergies: How can the legal obligations, criteria and principles of equality and non-discrimination, accountability, participation, access to information and sustainability that come with human rights be used to address bottlenecks in WASH systems?

This session explored the perceived divide between human rights and systems strengthening approaches. 

Conveners: Agenda for Change, End Water Poverty, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Making Rights Real, WASH United, WaterAid (Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda) 
Presenters and panelists: Representatives from the convening organisations

Chair: Bethlehem Mengistu [Agenda For Change]

• Session under thematic area 6: Excellence and acceleration of WASH governance and service delivery systems in Africa