Mission

The primary objective of the Strategic Plan of Wasrag is to insure both sustainable WASH projects and to pursue the United Nations Millennium Goal of: “By 2015 reduce by 50% the proportion of people without access to safe water and sanitation.” Nearly 900 million people lack access to safe water and 2.4 billion people have no access to sanitation.

Other objectives include:

  • Develop formal strategic partnerships that allow collaboration and coordination needed to jointly plan and implement major regional projects.
  • Build on successful models based on Rotary projects as well as those of other NGOs
  • Build the delivery capacity in the countries of need
  • Prioritize programs to match resources and needs
  • Create local (in-country) capacity and monitor for success

The following mission, vision, values and goals support Wasrag’s efforts to achieve these objectives.

Mission

To facilitate and support Rotary Clubs worldwide with the intellectual capacity to effectively plan, finance and undertake sustainable water, sanitation and health and hygiene education (WASH) projects where they are most needed in a simple, cost effective and sustainable manner, with significant Rotary involvement and through effective partnerships with the community, as well as government and other non-government organizations.

Vision

To be an effective participant and partner in the UN Millennium Goal to bring safe and sustainable drinking water, effective sanitation, and health and hygiene education to the over 2 billion people around the world in need of these basic life systems.

To develop an organizational structure that:

  • effectively promotes WASH projects to Rotary Clubs and Districts around the world,
  • fosters the exchange of ideas related to successful and sustainable WASH projects,
  • facilitates access between technical experts/mentors and Rotary Clubs participating in WASH projects,
  • provides access to necessary scientific, engineering and cultural information to Rotary Clubs and their strategic partners for the successful development of sustainable WASH projects,
  • develops and maintains on behalf of Rotary International effective working relationships with other organizations participating in WASH projects,
  • evaluates and prioritizes the need for WASH projects in countries and regions around the world consistent with available resources,
  • seeks funding sources outside of Rotary for use as matching grants for WASH projects, and provides the link between those funding sources and Rotary Clubs/Districts that are undertaking WASH projects, and
  • establishes procedures to monitor and evaluate the sustainability of Rotary WASH projects.

Values

The following are Values that Wasrag has adopted when engaging in WASH projects.

  • Promote a “Bottom-up” approach.
  • Empower the local community, especially women.
  • Respond to local needs.
  • Focus on community health and economic well-being.
  • Drive for sustainability of resources, technology and financing within the capacity of the local community and culture.
  • Mobilize local resources.
  • Choose appropriate technology that promotes sustainability.
  • Implement metrics that reflect program outcomes.
  • Leverage funding, expertise and resources. 
  • Emphasize training and behavior change that leads to healthy and prosperous communities. 

Goals

The following goals are listed to support the Wasrag Vision and Mission statements and are equally applicable to the Strategic Planning exercise. They are designed to assist Rotary Clubs and Districts (and their strategic partners) to develop sustainable and cost-effective projects and programs.

  • Develop a lean but effective organizational structure to implement this strategic plan and the goals established by the Wasrag Board of Directors.
  • Develop a compendium of best practices.
  • Create a bibliography of relevant materials and references. 
  • Develop and maintain a compendium of international and in-country NGOs.
  • Develop communications tools to distribute information to Rotary Clubs and partners in a timely and effective manner.
  • Distribute information on appropriate technologies for supplying, conserving and purifying water, for effective sanitation, and for promoting health and hygiene education. 
  • Develop formal strategic alliances with major NGOs and meet regularly at the both the national/international and country levels to collaborate and coordinate joint planning and implementation of major regional projects.
  • Create a forum for exchange of information with and between Rotary Clubs and between Rotary and its strategic partners and the communities that they serve. 
  • Develop and encourage mutually beneficial relationships within Rotary and outside of Rotary, including corporations, government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and served communities that share common WASH-related goals.
  • Identify alternative sources of funding and financing to complement The Rotary Foundation, such as private foundations, corporations, and government agencies. 
  • Identify and formulate WASH programs and projects that will promote overall local and regional economic sustainability and vitality.
  • Implement mechanisms to determine the effectiveness and sustainability of projects.
  • Create a network of experts accessible to Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, their strategic partners, and the communities served.
  • Provide support to Rotary Clubs seeking financial and/or technical assistance. 
  • Support “Centers of Excellence” for water, sanitation and hygiene education.
  • Facilitate and coordinate the development of Regional and Community Needs Assessments around the world. 
  • Identify and prioritize countries and regions within countries with high levels of need.
  • Promote throughout Rotary a commitment to WASH projects.