The Mission of the Africa Civil Society Network on Water [ANEW] is to facilitate the coordination of diverse African Civil Society Organizations [CSO] voices in water and sanitation. Its main objective is to build the capacity of African CSOs, thus enabling them influence and develop policies supportive of MDG and WSSD targets.Accordingly, this Programme aims at providing members with opportunities to make constructive contributions to international work aimed at sustainably managing water resources and improving water supply and sanitation services. It therefore seeks to initiate, develop and maintain collaborative mechanisms among CSOs working in Africa by enhancing communication on matters relating to water and sanitation, and updating members on national and international water initiatives, policies and strategies, reports as well as best practices which are relevant to the African scenario.
The Africa Civil Society Network on Water [ANEW] is a regional networking body established from a commitment to contributing to water resource management and the sustainable provision of water and sanitation services in the African continent. It was conceived from an appreciation of the critical role of civil society organizations [CSO] in the regions successful realization of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation, and the WSSD international targets on water resource management. The Network provides a forum for CSO coordination and involvement in debates and information exchange to enable the region influence policy decisions and strategies affecting Africa in the water sector.ANEW was officially launched during the Africa Ministerial Conference on Water [AMCOW] Pan-African Implementation and Partnership Conference [PANAFCON] on Water in Addis Ababa in December 2003. It was established in October 2003 at a meeting organized by the Freshwater Action Network [FAN] on African Civil Society Water Resources Development. The meeting, specifically held to establish an African network of NGOs involved in water management and water supply and sanitation, was hosted by the Environmental Liaison Network International [ELCI] in Nairobi and attended by 40 representatives of African NGOs from all over the continent.ANEW membership is open to all civil society organizations working in Africa and who are involved in sustainable water management, water supply and sanitation and as membership is restricted to organizations, individual members of the public are not eligible to join. ANEW works in partnership with Freshwater Action Network and is open to establishing collaboration with other networks, research institutions, consultancy firms and multilateral organizations.