History

FAN was established after the 2nd World Water Forum in March 2000 as a freshwater advocacy network. It was obvious that local NGOs working on delivery of water and sanitation had so much to contribute but no organisation was around to facilitate their participation in policy processes.

For nine years, Freshwater Action Network (FAN) has worked to improve water governance by strengthening the role of civil society in decision-making, linking the environmental and developmental agenda, for the realisation of the right to water and sanitation for present and future generations. 

FAN was set up to ensure that Southern CSOs working on water or sanitation issues were strongly represented at international water policy forums their voices are heard during the increasingly political water debates.

FAN members in Central America, Asia and Africa have created fully functioning independent regional networks that FAN supports.

During the 3^rd World Water Forum, FAN members from Africa met and decided to have an inception meeting in Kenya to create what is now known as the African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) in October 2003.

This regional network has been developing steadily, convening sessions for African CSOs during the 4^th World Water Forum, three years on. A recent EUWF grant will fund ANEW to promote and improve the capacities of African CSOs for advocacy and participation in governance.

The idea for a network of CSOs in Central America The Central American Freshwater Action Network (FAN-CA), was born out of the activities of FAN at another international meeting; the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002). FANCA was integral to the Latin American process for 4^th World Water Forum

FAN South Asia members who were present at the 4^th World Water Forum in Mexico, where they witnessed the positive impact that FANCA and ANEW are making, expressed a strong interest in establishing their own network.