WATER FLAGSHIP COUNTRY
The concept and process

1. What is the Water Flagship Country?

There's an article posted on the Internet that serves to clarify what a Flagship entity is. Referring to Star Trek, it poses the question, "Is Enterprise the Flagship?" The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the following definition, which traces back to 1672.

1: the ship that carries the commander of a fleet or subdivision of a fleet and flies his flag
2: the finest, largest, or most important one of a series, network, or chain

It is important to understand the two different definitions of the word "flagship." The first is a technical definition, the second a complimentary definition. By both definitions, Enterprise is, or has been, a flagship. By analogy, this is how the IAWD Flagship Country will operate. Although a given country has been selected as the Flagship Country for a given year, others can take on the same role in subsequent years. In fact, the idea is to allow any country seeking Flagship status the opportunity to do so.

In 2002, El Salvador was selected by the International Coordination Group (ICG) of the Initiative to be the Water Flagship Country (October 2002 to September 2003). Honduras was selected by the ICG for period of Oct-04/Sep-06.Other countries can be selected henceforth to play this role.

If a country is interested in becoming a Flagship Country for a given year (now, Water Flagship Country will be selected for the period 06-08), the National Coordination Group (NCG) of the IAWD Initiative should present its proposal directly to the ICG through the coordination of IAWD Initiative. Proposals have to be send to: aidis@aidis.org.br

2. Why a Flagship Country?

The main idea is to work and demonstrate the Initiative's two core values: Equity and Pan-Americanism. The selected country would work toward identifying opportunities that can support the goal of universal coverage for water supply and sanitation systems and expand access to good quality services and at the same time protecting water resources in general. By incentivizing cooperation between countries to support the flagship country, Pan-Americanism can be promoted.

3. How? Selection Criteria for a Flagship Country.

The International Coordination Group (ICG) will select the Flagship Country each two years, considering the proposals received as well as the needs identified. Of all the candidates presented, the selection will take into account the country whose sectorial needs are the greatest and who offers the most pronounced opportunities to support improvements and to mitigate problems faced by local organizations and citizens. This selection takes into account two issues: equity and Pan-americanism.

The intention is to stimulate each country in the region to collaborate on specific projects or goals pertaining to the selected Flagship Country. The ICG will also use as selection criteria the country that is most committed and willing to play the Flagship role. In addition, the ICG will take into account the capacity for internal coordination and resources mobilization of the national sectorial organizations and companies. In accordance with the received proposals, the International Coordination Group can select a country sequence to act as a water flagship country in subsequent years.

4. Specific Products.

Among the most important activities that the Flagship Country should carry out are the following issues:

• a - Preparation of an Action Plan.
• b - Constitution of an Organizing Commission that could be the same NCG corresponding to the IAWD initiative.
• c– Preparation of a schedule of activities and definition of responsibilities for each project.
• d - Preparation of a document with a global vision that includes a diagnosis and sectorial prospects.
• e - Preparation, if deemed advisable, of a given number of small projects linked to the document’s Global Vision so as to motivate particular areas or target populations.
• f - Negotiation of projects with potential partners, with the support of the ICG.
• g- Preparation of agreements to be signed by potential donors and corresponding national counterparts involved in a given project.
• h- Evaluation of the activity to monitor the initiative’s progress.

5. Countries that have been selected.

El Salvador: Water Flagship Country 2002

Honduras: Water Flagship Country 2004

6. Form for country candidacy

Countries interested in presenting candidacies should fill out the appropriate form highlighting expected commitments and a justification for the candidacy. It is recommended that draft be presented in an attractive manner, with information that will allow for an adequate evaluation. Something important to point out is the benefit the country sees upon becoming a Water Flagship country: promotions, education, sectorial advocacy, etc.

7. Local coordination

Among the partners of the initiative are AIDIS and CWWA, which means all countries in the Region of the Americas have institutional representation through such associations. Taking into account the multiple actors in each country, a National Coordination Group of the Initiative should be constituted according to the guidelines of the Inter-American Water Day. Thus, AIDIS and CWWA should take the initiative and coordinate actions for the presentation of candidacies.

8. Support from the Partners

Partners in the initiative do not have financial resources allocated for the activity and for coverage of local actions in the countries selected for this function. The countries selected every year will have the institutional support of the associated organizations and together can identify potential donors. In this regard, the local market and its international links clearly represent the key to the success of the initiative.