The aim of this document is to provide External Support Agencies (ESAs) with structured and concise information that can help programming support to accountability-related actions. ESAs very often play an instrumental role in starting some of these actions; however, too often this support has not been initiated after a systematic analysis on how the accountability relationships can be strengthened, how they fit the context, what are adequate roles of ESAs, and what can be learned from past experiences.
The Reference Guide for Programming contains guidance on existing mechanisms promoting accountability, illustrated by examples of how they are currently being operationalized in different contexts. The content of the Guide is the result of desk research. It is informed by a conceptual overview presented in the Concept Note, which unpacks the idea of WASH governance in relation to sustainability. The Concept Note was developed as background reading for UNICEF WASH personnel. It provides an overview of the key concepts used in the present Reference Guide, highlighting the particular importance of the quality of the relationships developing between stakeholders of the WSS delivery framework. It also identifies better accountability at the sectoral level as a high priority for improving the sustainability and effectiveness of WASH interventions.