WASHActs series 2021: our action in support of Indonesia...

As we draw curtains on 2021 and reflect on the year proceedings, it brings in a sense of relief, a year of progress despite challenges and a renewed promise for a brighter 2022. Our bimonthly newsletter WASHActs resulted from our internal team conversation - document our efforts, build on it and continue to demonstrate Action in enabling realization of rights to basic water, sanitation and hygiene for all children in Indonesia.

Indonesia has made great strides in increasing access to WASH and lifting people out of poverty. Since 2000 over 93 million people have gained access to basic water and another 156 million to basic sanitation. Despite this challenges remain in eliminating open defecation, low handwashing coverage across all settings and poor access to safely managed water and safely managed sanitation services.

WASHActs provided us a rear-mirror view of the situation as we continued to move forward. WASHActs-1 focused on SDG-6 planning, monitoring & financing and COVID19 support, especially the 3M real-time monitoring of public behaviour (handwashing, mask usage and social distancing). WASHActs-2 highlighted the challenges and the efforts being made towards improving access to Menstrual Hygiene Health (MHH) services for all young girls in Indonesia - empowering them to manage their sexual and reproductive health. We expect increased momentum in advancing MHH, especially through the user friendly Digital Oky App in 2022.

With over 60 million students affected by nationwide school closures since March 2020 (for nearly 18 months) due to COVID-19, WASHActs-3 allowed us to look deeper into the long-standing WASH issues in schools. We successfully tapped in the private sector (through the PPP on handwashing forum) to support safe operation of 15,000 schools with COVID19 Safe school kit. Taking advantage of the Global Handwashing Day commemoration, WASHActs-4 amplified the urgent need to make handwashing with soap a priority. Thirteen ministers from various line Ministries pledged their commitment towards making handwashing with soap and reality for All in Indonesia.

The last one in the series (Nov-Dec 2021) will be brought out in early 2022 and highlight challenges and efforts in eliminating open defecation and increasing access to safely managed sanitation. Thanks to all our partners for their collaboration and support in advancing the rights of children to basic water, sanitation and hygiene in Indonesia.

You can access all the WASHActs newsletter here along with links to other documents