text: or action plans set up since the start of the Decade, while others were still in the process of formulation and will be important sector management tools during the 1990s. During the early stages of the Decade several countries alroady emphasired the need for long-term sector planning rather than restricting themselves to an /. . .h/45/327 English Page 6 arbitrary lo-year period. Others anticipated the need to integrate water supply and sanitation plans into broad plans related to water resources management, pollution control and environmental protection. 19. In the majority of developing countries where Decade plans were established, co-ordinating mechanisms were set up in the form of national action committees, national councils for water resources, decade committees, local action committees and similar groups. However, the fact that these mechadsms were frequently restricted to having an advisory function limited their involvement in the decision-making process, and hence their potential for promotion of water supply and sanitation at the level of national development planning. As a general rule water resources management and administration remain fragmented, and horizontal linkages among ministries and departments dealing with water resources, as well as vertical linkages with those dealing with economic development planning, remain inadequate. This diversity of responsibility and potential overlapping has resulted in many cases in co-ordination difficulties and delays in policy implementation. Integration of water supply and sanitation strategies into environmental planning has proved particularly difficult partly because of the different ministries and agencies involved. 2. $z; i he oromotion of women’s uarticioation 20. The role of the community, and particularly that of women in the communities, in the promotion, implementation, maintenance, and management of water supply and sanitation services has undergone a significant change uver the course of the Decade. Ten years ago, the community was viewed primarily as a source of unskilled labour, and community participation was generally limited to its mobilization in
analysis: The text discusses the implementation of water supply and sanitation plans and strategies, highlighting the importance of long-term planning, coordination, and community participation, particularly of women. It also touches on the challenges of integrating water supply and sanitation into broader environmental planning and policy implementation. These themes suggest that the text is more related to the management of natural resources, particularly water, and its impact on human development.