Youth Social Work Association (YSA)

Through support from the DANIDA CSO Project, NETWAS partnered with  the Youth Social Work Association (YSA) to implement the initiative “Building Capacity of Community Monitors to Engage Government and Advocate for the Right to Clean Water” in Koro Sub-County, Gulu District.

The project strengthened community structures to demand accountability and responsiveness from government actors regarding access to safe and clean water. By promoting transparency in the water sector, the initiative aimed to ensure that safe water provision is treated as a priority issue in local governance.

A key focus was empowering women and girls, who are most affected by inadequate water services. The project also fostered collaboration with civil society organizations, particularly UWASNET members and District Water and Sanitation Coordination Committees (DWSCC), through regular meetings and joint advocacy efforts.

YSA employed the Community Score Card (CSC) approach, which combines community led surveys with advocacy for reform. Community-based monitors were trained in monitoring, evaluation, advocacy, and report writing. These monitors assessed the quality of water service delivery, produced quarterly reports, and presented findings during feedback meetings with service providers and local government officials.

The process created spaces for dialogue, accountability, and immediate feedback between communities and duty bearers. It also enabled citizens to voice concerns, advocate for their rights, and demand improved service delivery ultimately fostering greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in the water sector.