Thanks for the responses. It is useful information.

Dear All,

Thank you for all your questions. Below are our answers. You will also find attached the presentation we gave (with some extra comments and links).

Alex Wolf (Borda): Question: How can community level monitoring information be aggregated and delivered to national level?
Response from Ellen Greggio:
There are different methods which can support community level monitoring information to feed and contribute to the wider national monitoring processes. This varies country by country and is dependent on:
• Presence of a system which aggregates information on water and sanitation from community to national (generally going through sub-national / district aggregation. The SIBS in Timor Leste is an example of where information from communities’ use of sanitation facilities and water point functionality is aggregated up to national level. See more in www.slideshare.net/ircuser/8-willets-timorleste or www.ircwash.org/resources/sibs-rural-wat...nitoring-timor-leste
• Presence of community based reporting process for complaints or issues reporting (for example water point breakdown) via ICT (i.e. mobile based SMS) or paper-based reporting – this is the case of M4W in Uganda for example where communities could report on water point breakdown and the information derived could be used by local governments to inform national governments on coverage and resources needed (i.e. for maintenance). See more - also on other systems in MAVC research Development of information aggregation processes for consolidating data from different NGOs, CSO – i.e. open access data platform which allows anyone to update and input information on services


Shabana (UNESCO-IHE): How does WASHwatch include data on access to water for different socio-economic class within urban areas or within cities? How does it also include data on use of groundwater within cities?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
WASHwatch does not include such disaggregated data as they are not yet available across countries. We use JMP access data. However, the refined indicators to monitor global goals 6 include more socio-economic components; therefore this information should progressively be monitored by countries and collected in the GLAAS reports and by JMP. We will add these data as they are made available to us.
Regarding groundwater within cities, WASHwatch is currently only gathering data related to access to water for personal and domestic uses and to sanitation at home, at work and in other public places. WASHwatch do not look at what we call the “Big Water” sector.


James Wambua, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya: How does WASH watch define "Access to Sanitation"?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
WASHwatch is using the JMP definition for access to “sanitation”. When this updates in the future to reflect the SDG definitions for the use of ‘basic’ and ‘safely managed’ services, we will reflect that change. If a country has a different definition which it is important for others to be aware of, that would be a useful contribution to make which we could share in the sector monitoring part of the country profile. Overall, we share information from sources and it is they who determine definitions. For example, we use the JMP data for our maps and main access statistics, as that is the only consistently internationally compoarable dataset, therefore sanitation is defined here as per JMP’s definition: www.wssinfo.org/definitions-methods/watsan-categories/


Shawn Africa Our Home: Is this tool available?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
Yes the WASHwatch platform is open to everyone and available at washwatch.org/en/
Response from Ellen Greggio:
For mapping we use 2 tools:
• Water Point Mapper – free offline excel and Google Earth based mapping tools - available www.waterpointmapper.org/
• mWater – free mobile based data collection tool - www.mwater.co/


Tugrul Yegenaga: WaterAid where can we get info specific and technical please
Response from Elisa Dehove:
On the resource page of the platform you will find a guide to WASHwatch (PowerPoint) to help you use the website.


Dak Victor (IOM): How does this tool work in emergency areas
Response from Elisa Dehove:
Dear Victor, if you are talking about WASHwatch, WASHwatch was not really developed for emergency setting. The data collected are updated every 6 months and are more for policy and advocacy purposes.
Response from Ellen Greggio:
Mapping as a process itself can be used in emergency situation to ensure there is up to date information on presence and functionality of WASH services. There are some specific organisations working on emergency mapping – see www.missingmaps.org/ and hotosm.org/
Moreover, the presence of up to date WASH services database and information supports decision making in emergency situation – (i.e. knowing where which communities are covered by water supply) Data that is collected regularly and is available can inform fast humanitarian response.
Kim Nace: How long has WASHwatch been active? What goals for this forum in the next year?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
WASHwatch was created in 2010 but this newer version of the platform was launched in September 2014. It is only since August 2015 that a full-time staff was recruited to manage the platform. With the help of WASHwatch users, institutional collaborators and volunteers we are progressively enriching the platform.
The immediate next steps are to share more and more disaggregated data (sub-national levels), develop donor profiles and work in closer collaborations with governments to take the information collated on WASHwatch to the next step and help build response mechanisms.


James Wambua: Are there individuals who have undertaken water supply and sanitation data monitoring or is this a job that only governments and NGO's do?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
The role of governments in setting targets and monitoring progress is becoming much more prominent. NGOs and international organizations are to align and support countries in this monitoring exercise. There are examples of individuals helping collecting data via the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT), which are seen as a new way for citizens to hold service providers and government to account. Yet, there is still no clear evidence of the role of ICTs in enhancing service sustainability and accountability. You can visit this recent study “How can ICT initiatives be designed to improve rural water supply?” to learn more about success and failures.


Kim Nace: To create a full platform - how many people would you need to have working on WASHwatch full time?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
To serve our current objectives we are conducting two main activities:
* Imputing the data that we have already received from WASHwatch collaborators – This probably represents at least 6 months of full-time data entering.
* Collecting “hard to find” data that are scattered across the internet, buried in reports or hidden in desk drawers. We are spending much of our time talking to government representatives and country level NGOs to encourage them sharing their knowledge, official documents, research, monitoring reports which together paint a picture of progress. More people could be recruited to collect this knowledge but instead we are counting on collaborators like you to help us collect them, like a Wikipedia of the WASH sector.


Jose Carlos, University of Birmingham: I wonder how is the collaborative work with governments in getting data and whether you could get more information with alternative strategies and maybe with the help from natives. How to reach the right persons willing to collaborate?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
This is indeed our approach, we build relationships with government representatives and country-level NGOs for them to share their national-level knowledge of the WASH sector and the progress made.


Rick Johnston (JMP): The website is very nice, congratulations! Is it possible for users to download data, for example when using the Country Comparison function?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
On WASHwatch, It is indeed possible to compare progress made towards commitments across countries (see for example progress from SACOSAN countries). Just enter several countries in the country selector bar. There is no download function yet but anyone is welcome to integrate the data onto their own website/blog by using the embed function (look for the <> button). It is really easy to use. SHARE website did it, and it looks really nice. The embedded content will update automatically every time we update it on our side. Please contact me (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you need any information of assistance.
You can also access the entire set of statistics available on WASHwatch by downloading the excel document from our resource page.


Regine Skarubowiz: How do you encourage national and local partners to provide data for wash watch?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
Most of my work is to reach out to countries representatives and NGOs and show them the value of sharing information with WASHwatch: mostly to allow for triangulation of sources and increase transparency. But we mostly count on you to pass the word and create a ripple effect. We have a brochure and a PowerPoint presentation available in 4 languages to explain what is WASHwatch, how it works and how it can be used to support advocacy and policy efforts.


Wini @unesco-ihe: What does the platform you do to validate the data you got? To reduce the risk of spreading biased or incorrect data?
Response from Elisa Dehove:
As a collaborative platform, we want to give all contributors a space to express their point of view. However, we ask WASHwatch contributors to back their knowledge with evidence. For example, FANSA conducted the monitoring of the 2013 SACOSAN commitments and they provided pieces of evidence to explain the scores. It is for the person who will read and use the knowledge collated on WASHwatch to decide what to do with it.

Hi,
Thank you to everyone who participated in the webinar on collaborative monitoring.



Questions from the webinar are shared below, and some are answered in the recording.

Alex Wolf (Borda): Question: How can community level monitoring information be aggregated and delivered to national level?

Laurra Olmsted: UniWater Education is starting new university programs in Africa. We need to be able the understand the impacts of these programs.

Emily Balls: I work on SHARE (of which WaterAid is a partner!) which is a research consortium on Sanitation and Hygiene Applied Research for Equity - we have four focus countries and as part of our impact level indicators in our logframe we are monitoring the number of people gaining access to improved sanitation each year. We are now looking at basing our targets on WASHWatch data re how many people need to gain access each year in order to reachSDG targets.I'm interested in learning whether - and how - others are using WASHwatch data in their monitoring and evaluation work?

Shabana (UNESCO-IHE): How does WASHwatch include data on access to water for different socio-economic class within urban areas or within cities? How does it also include data on use of groundwater within cities?

James Wambua, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya: How does WASH watch define "Access to Sanitation"?

Shawn Africa Our Home: (15:34) Is this tool available?

Tugrul Yegenaga: WaterAid where can we get info specific and technical please

Dak Victor (IOM): How does this tool work in emergency areas

Kim Nace: How long has WASHwatch been active? What goals for this forum in the next year?

James Wambua: Are there individuals who have undertaken water supply and sanitation data monitoring or is this a job that only governments and NGO's do?

Kim Nace: To create a full platform - how many people would you need to have working on WASHwatch full time?

Jose Carlos, University of Birmingham: I wonder how is the collaborative work with governments in getting data and whether you could get more information with alternative strategies and maybe with the help from natives. How to reach the right persons willing to collaborate?

Rick Johnston (JMP): The website is very nice, congratulations! Is it possible for users to download data, for example when using the Country Comparison function?

Regine Skarubowiz: How do you encourage national and local partners to provide data for wash watch?

Wini @unesco-ihe: What does the platform you do to validate the data you got? To reduce the risk of spreading biased or incorrect data?

Feel free to post your own questions or comments on collaborative monitoring in this thread for the presenters and other SuSanA members to jump in.

We hope to see you at the next monthly webinar.
best regards,
Sarah

Here is the recording of the webinar from May 26, 2016
‘Collaborative monitoring, a prerequisite to achieve universal access to WASH’

Overview:
Through the UN Sustainable Development Goals, countries have committed to achieve universal access to water and sanitation by 2030. To realise this ambitious goal, they must pull together and regularly review progress in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) access. This webinar is an opportunity to look into some of the main obstacles to effective monitoring (lack of transparency, inclusion and accountability) and how collaborative monitoring can bring a partial response. The WASHwatch platform will also be presented as a tool to achieve collaborative monitoring with concrete examples of the different platform’s uses by partners.

Presenters:
Elisa Dehove - Policy Officer - Monitoring and Accountability, WaterAid
Ellen Greggio - Programme Advisor - Monitoring & Mapping, WaterAid

Dear all,

We look forward to discussing with you about collaborative monitoring. We will be presenting the overall objectives of collaborative monitoring and few concrete examples: (1. Working together to monitor progress on water, sanitation and hygiene with WASHwatch / 2. Collaboration to strengthen water & sanitation services monitoring: institutional & crowdsourcing)

Please let us know if you already have questions and if there is anything about monitoring you would like us to cover in particular.

Talk to you on Thursday!

Elisa

Dear James,

we are happy that you have decided to participate at the webinar on Thursday!
There is no problem in having no video camera! You will still be able to follow the presentations and you can comment on it via text messages in the chat box.


Kind regards,

Raphaela

Raphaela,

This will be my first time to participate in a webinar. However, my computer does not have a video camera. Will I be able to follow the presentation? Will it be possible for me to make comments using text messages?

Just a quick information since the question has arisen: We are warmly welcoming everybody to the webinar - SuSanA members as well as non-members


Kind regards,

Raphaela

Link for the webinar on May 26 is seint.adobeconnect.com/seiwebinar/

The password is webinar2016

Turn off Skype.
Use a headset.
Use your webcam.
Test your connection.

Your internet speed should be at least 4 Mbit/s. To increase speed connect your computer by ethernet cable to your modem router. If you have a fast enough WILAN connection you can use your IPAD or mobile phone.

Test your connection: seint.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Get a quick overview: www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html

Troubleshooting your sound system if necessary - go to Control Panel, click on Sound, make default the system you want to use eg the USB headset you have plugged in.

Please join us for a webinar on ‘Collaborative monitoring, a prerequisite to achieve universal access to WASH’ scheduled for May 26th 2016 at 9:00 EDT (New York time). This is the second webinar in a monthly recurring series on SuSanA.

Overview:

Through the UN Sustainable Development Goals, countries have committed to achieve universal access to water and sanitation by 2030. To realise this ambitious goal, they must pull together and regularly review progress in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) access. This webinar is an opportunity to look into some of the main obstacles to effective monitoring (lack of transparency, inclusion and accountability) and how collaborative monitoring can bring a partial response. The WASHwatch platform will also be presented as a tool to achieve collaborative monitoring with concrete examples of the different platform’s uses by partners.

Presenter: Elisa Dehove - Policy Officer - Monitoring and Accountability, WaterAid

The webinar will last approximately 45 minutes. Elisa’s presentation will be followed by perspectives from other WaterAid offices, followed by an open discussion with webinar participants.

We will also open the session 30 minutes beforehand for a low-key ‘mingle’ among participants, where you can use your computer video or microphone.

The webinar is being hosted by Stockholm Environment Institute and the SuSanA secretariat as part of a grant to SEI funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Time:
9:00 New York/Washington DC
14:00 London
15:00 Stockholm
16:00 Nairobi
20:00 Hanoi
23:00 Sydney

To register please follow this link: www.susana.org/en/webinar-registration