Develop capacity

One of the starting points for those working on the right to water is the need to develop the capacity of individuals, communities and institutions. This includes both their capacity for for human development and for undertaking advocacy.

The United Nations Development Programme has defined capacity development (often called capacity-building) in the following terms:

“Capacity is the ability of individuals, organizations and societies to perform functions, solve problems, and set and achieve goals. Capacity development entails the sustainable creation, utilization and retention of that capacity, in order to reduce poverty, enhance self-reliance, and improve people's lives.”

The term capacity development is often used holistically to encompass anything from the provision of education, training or increased access to technology, to managing change or resolving conflicts.

The following suggestions illustrate just some of the ways in which capacity for action around the right to water can be developed.

• Training, education and awareness-raising
  
  

  “In many cases, poor people are not aware of their rights. They are often unable to understand the letters and notifications they receive from Government offices and water distribution companies or the administrative steps and procedures they are requested to follow. To enable the poor to defend their rights effectively, it is necessary to set up social structures in their vicinity to keep them better informed of the content of their rights and to assist them with the necessary steps and procedures.”

  Paragraph 23, Preliminary report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to water:

  One of the main barriers to the realisation of human rights is ignorance. Of major importance in working around the right to water is the need for inclusive training, education and awareness-raising on human rights in general, water issues and the right to water.

  This could take many forms and previous participatory community activities around teaching human rights have included festivals and expressions of human rights through the arts.




• Participate in International Water Conferences
  
  

  There have been many international conferences addressing water issues, and in recent years several of these events have addressed the right to water specifically. Such conferences offer organisations working on water and other related issues the opportunity to network, to share information and best practice and to plan for future action.

  Conferences and events are often well publicised and details of about them can be obtained via the press, the Internet, information networks such as listservs and from the listings provided by some of the websites listed in the links section of this website.

  Some events offer discounted rates for individuals or non-profit organisations, particularly those from developing countries. In addition, sponsorship for attendence can sometimes be sought from large water companies and/or foundations. Also check on the conference website to see if any assistance is being given to NGOs and CBOs to attend. Apply in good time, as they usually have cut-off dates.




• Establish Networks
  
  

  There are many benefits to establishing coalitions and networks of individuals and organisations working on the right to water, including the increased public voice, the sharing of expertise, experience and best practice and the possibility of pooling resources. It is worth noting, however, that some coalitions, composed of diverse interest groups, have experienced difficulties in presenting a unified coherent voice on certain issues.

  There are already several networks currently working on the right to water, such as the Asamblea Provincial por el Derecho al Agua in Argentina and the Inter-American Vigilance for the Defence and Right to Water (VIDA) Network (see http://www.citizen.org/documents/elsalvadordeclarationeng.pdf).

  Online networking: Individuals and Organisations with Internet access can receive regular emails providing them with announcements, articles and news on the right to water by registering with one of the available listservs, such as the ‘Right to Water’ listserv available at http://www.waterobservatory.org/.