A major challenge to the IWSSD

One of the major challenges facing the planners and executors of rural water supply and sanitation programmes during the remainder of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade is to find ways for the different agencies involved to work concretely together in fostering programmes that will bring health and socioeconomic benefits to users. Cooperation among agencies responsible for rural water supply and sanitation is central to this challenge. In this paper the obstacles inherent in each type of agency, the potential contributions of each, and the problems and successes already found are reviewed. An approach to coordination that focuses on national action committees and coordination in the field is suggested.