The conference being inaugurated by Mr. Abdul Hamid, Honorable President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh will see governments and civil society of SAARC countries develop a regional agenda on sanitation, enable learning from past experiences, and agree on future actions to accelerate the progress in sanitation and hygiene promotion in South Asia.
The conference aims to achieve improved policy frameworks, increased financing and strengthened implementation and monitoring strategies for sanitation and hygiene to support the achievement of an open defecation free South Asia by 2023.
As the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) draw to a close, the conference provides a platform to review the accomplishments of the sector as a region.
The proportion of people using improved sanitation in South Asia has increased remarkably in the last fifteen years compared to global progress.
The era of SDG offers a much broader frame work to tackle challenges exacerbated by climate change, wider socio-economic changes and increasing inequality which will be addressed in this government-led biennial convention.
SACOSAN-VI is expected to contribute to increased knowledge, deepened learning and practical solutions to address the common challenges in South Asia, especially on universal access to and use of sanitation and hygiene, with an emphasis on behavior change across communities, institutions and public places.
The conference will bring together over 500 delegates, policy makers, practitioners, media and civil society members across the SAARC countries in three day deliberations in the context of national, regional and global priorities in the post 2015 context and developing a strategic direction for the days to come.
It will include various plenary sessions and side events sharing wide range of information including country specific experiences and knowledge.
By the end of the conference, a declaration on the commitment (Dhaka Declaration) will be signed by the participating countries of South Asia to ensure the future course of action in making a healthy, hygienic, peaceful and prosperous South Asia.
The conference closes with the presentation of the mementos to the heads of the delegations of the participating countries by the Honorable Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MP, Ministry of LGRD & Cooperative, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Further details can be obtained from Mr.Khairul Islam, Country Focal Person, SACOSAN-VI & Deputy Secretary, Local Government Division (+88029361956)
