Vision 21

Vision 21 began with meetings in towns and villages in 21 countries. Local people - men, women and children - joined local NGOs, citizens' groups, and other stakeholders to explore what kind of water, sanitation, and hygiene environment they would like to see in their communities. They then assessed what had to change, practically speaking, by taking stock of what they themselves could do, what local resources could be mobilised, and how combining their skills and experiences could start the process.

Following the local meetings, these ideas were reviewed at National Consultations organised by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council's National Vision 21 Coordinators and involving government departments in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors. These meetings enabled dialogue between the government and community representatives and NGOs.

The Vision 21 process is overseen by a Steering Committee, headed by the Collaborative Council Chair. A Task Force stimulates and coordinates activities. Action teams work on three parallel lines of effort:

• Social mobilisation through local catalysts and national and regional co-ordinators
• Knowledge synthesis through a team that assembles and analyses current and newly developing knowledge, with the aim of incorporating learning from past experiences into emerging visions.
• Industrialised Countries Inventory developed through consultations with professionals and civil society regarding future developments in the industrialised world and their global impact
• A Linkages Team that maintains contacts with agencies and individuals and arranges for organisational backing.

Health, Rights, Sanitation.

The Vision 21 process began with a local consultation (one of more than 100 held around the world) in the Indian State of Gujarat. Guided by a Vision 21 facilitator, participants from local NGOs and community groups met to visualise how they would like to see their water, sanitation, and hygiene situation change in the next generation. The process was extended via meetings and visits to communities and individual households, and the ideas were combined into a recommended action programme for the whole state. The result was a comprehensive set of targets and goals accompanied by means of implementation. Among the highlights of the programme: a plan to reduce per capita spending from 2,000-2,500 rupees per capita to 1,000-1,500 over the next ten years by using lower-cost technologies and mobilising community resources; an immediate priority to install separate latrines for boys and girls in every school in the State by 2010; and natural resource management groups managed by women established in every village (with the State remaining an active partner).

In more than 20 countries, Vision 21 continues as a movement. In several countries, the Vision 21 consultative process is now being institutionalised as a part of the planning process for community water, sanitation and hygiene improvements.