Agenda for Change members are excited to welcome Susan Davis as the new Global Coordinator for the collaboration. Susan began her role in January 2019. She is taking over the role from Elynn Walter. Susan is based in Washington DC and hosted by Agenda for Change member IRC. In her new role, Susan will have the opportunity to work with current members, potential new members, and the WASH and other development sectors on systems strengthening as a means to achieve SDG 6.
In addition to her administrative role as coordinator, she will be coordinating learning, sharing, and influencing within and outside the collaboration. Susan comes with more than 25 years of experience in international development activities in 23 countries. She has advised funders and impact investors on investing in effective sustainable water and sanitation services in developing countries and guided non-profits and social enterprises in strategies for lasting impact.
She has worked for WaterPartners International (now water.org), CARE USA, and Water For People. Mostly recently she headed Improve International, a mission-driven research and consulting firm focused on WASH sustainability. She strongly believes that collaboration and understanding complex systems are critical to lasting water and sanitation services.
The Agenda for Change members are grateful to the Osprey Foundation for their generous support, including funding in June 2018 that has allowed us to expand the Secretariat to two full time staff: the Global Coordinator (Susan) and a Knowledge Manager. This funding will help the collaboration to expand and become stronger.
Agenda for Change has big plans for the coming year and will be actively contributing to the Colorado WASH Symposium, the All Systems Go! Symposium, LatinoSan, WASRAG Summit, Stockholm World Water Week, and UNC Water & Health. We also are planning regional learning events in Africa and Latin America.
Launched in May 2015 by Aguaconsult, IRC, WaterAid, Water For People, and Osprey Foundation, Agenda for Change sets out what we think we need to do and how we need to act so that everyone, everywhere has water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services that last forever (see Building Blocks figure). Since 2015, the collaboration continues to grow at the global level. Our current members are: Aguaconsult, CARE, IRC, Osprey Foundation, Splash, Water For Good, Water For People, WaterAid, and Welthungerhilfe.