Join the next Global Steering Committee!
We are excited to announce that nominations and applications for the 2025 GSC Election are now open!
If you or someone you know are passionate about sustainable sanitation and interested in shaping the future of SuSanA, we would love to hear from you via
About the Global Steering Committee
The Global Steering Committee (GSC) is chosen by members to lead the transition of SuSanA into a new version, known as SuSanA 2.0, and to manage it on their behalf between elections held every three years. During this time, the GSC serves as the main decision-making and governing body. It is accountable to the members, mainly through the Annual Assembly, for ensuring the effective strategic and financial management of SuSanA 2.0.
Currently, SuSanA is not an organization or legal entity but an informal network hosted by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Bonn, Germany.
Purpose
The GSC is responsible for managing SuSanA 2.0 between elections, making decisions wisely and in the best interest of the members, while respecting the legal and financial obligations of the Host Organization.
The GSC may establish a smaller Executive Committee to handle routine decisions more quickly. This committee will not make major decisions that require the entire GSC’s input and vote. The GSC will define the Executive Committee’s responsibilities, and any decisions made can be reviewed by the full GSC.
GSC positions are voluntary and unpaid, with each member expected to dedicate 3 to 4 hours per month.
Composition
The GSC will be composed of elected regional representatives and representatives from the host organization. The regional representatives will be elected by the registered members in each region and will sit for a maximum of two 3-year terms, re-electable once only. The maximum term of office for regional representative is therefore 6 years. The election of the GSC strives for a balanced representation of gender, age and geographic origin, as well as sectoral diversity. Please contact the GSC via
Function
SuSanA is not an organisation or a legal entity, but an informal network of Partners and individual Members. All Partners and Members contribute resources to SuSanA under their own responsibility. If and when to transform SuSanA into a legal entity is a key question to be addressed as part of the change process towards SuSanA 2.0. The role of the GSC described below is to prepare and lead the way to SuSanA 2.0.
Governance Oversight
- Ensure an agreement with a Host Organisation that ensures members’ ability to govern the strategic direction of SuSanA 2.0 while enabling the Host Organisation to fulfil its legal and fiscal obligations
- Ensure that all structures of SuSanA 2.0 function in the interests of the alliance’s strategic priorities and within the policies of the Host Organisation
- Oversee the work and performance of the Head of Secretariat
- Regularly review risks for SuSanA 2.0
Financial Oversight
- Ensure and approve long-term resourcing strategies for SuSanA 2.0
- Approve annual budgets in line with annual work plans
- Review management accounts regularly through the financial year, and require the Head of Secretariat to adjust work plans as necessary to ensure prudent and efficient use of resources
- Review and approve annual accounts prepared by the Host Organisation, for presentation to the Annual Assembly
Resource Mobilisation
- In line with approved long-term resourcing strategies, ensure and actively support the resource-raising activities of the Secretariat
- Approve and regularly review policies on resources to be raised from members, if any
- Approve and regularly review policies on income generation from the sale of knowledge products of SuSanA 2.0, if any
- Approve and regularly review policies on potential sources of grants for SuSanA 2.0
- Support grant applications by the Secretariat, and SuSanA 2.0’s donor relations, by building on the knowledge on, and relationships with, potential and current grant-makers already held by individual GSC members
Find more information on the role of the GSC here.
Meetings and commitments
- Monthly 45-minutes online meeting with the secretariat to exchange on the status quo
- The equivalent of 1 to 2-hours communication with the other GSC members (meetings/email exchange) to consult and make decisions
- Annual 1 to 2-hours General Assembly to inform and report on the main decisions taken to the SuSanA members
First Global Steering Committee (2022-2025)
- Sub-Saharan Africa - Prof. Charles Niwagaba (Uganda)
- Europe & Central Asia - Dorothee Spuhler (Switzerland)
- Latin America & Caribbean - Carla Liera (Mexico)
- North America - Kartik Chandran (USA)
- South Asia - Rohini Pradeep (India)
- East Asia & Pacific - Gina Itchon (Philippines)
- Middle East & North Africa - Dr. Arwa Abelhay (Jordan)
Election and Open Call for Candidates (2025-2028)
The next GSC Election will take place this autumn, from 3 to 6 November 2025. The results will be announced on 7 November 2025.
We are now inviting nominations and applications for the GSC Election. If you or someone you know are passionate about sustainable sanitation and interested to help shape the future of SuSanA, we’d love to hear from you via
More details are available in the FAQs.
More Information on the GSC Elections 2025
What is the Global Steering Committee?
The Global Steering Committee (GSC) is delegated by members to govern SuSanA 2.0 on their behalf during the periods between triennial elections (every three years). As such, it is the principal decision-making body and governance vehicle during these periods. It is responsible and accountable to members, primarily through the Annual Assembly, for ensuring the sound strategic and financial functioning of SuSanA 2.0.
Find out more about the GSC here.
How can I vote?
Voting will be online and only be possible for registered members. To cater for all different time zones, the election will have four voting days. During these days members will be able to vote for candidates from their voting region, which is determined by their country of registration after logging into their SuSanA account. Each member has only one vote. Logging in ensures that only registered SuSanA members are able to vote.
You can login here or register as a new member here.
Who are the candidates?
We are currently accepting submissions and nominations for candidates for the 2025 election.
For more details on eligibility, please see the question below.
How do I become a candidate?
Every SuSanA member can be proposed as a candidate for the Global Steering Committee (GSC). The GSC may also approach potential candidates. The final decision on nominations is made by the GSC, based on eligibility criteria and with consideration for balanced representation in terms of gender, region, and sector.
If you have suggestions for possible candidates for the upcoming GSC election, please contact us at info@susana.org.
You can find the detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for GSC members here.
Are GSC members paid for the work?
The positions of the GSC are voluntary and unpaid and each GSC member is expected to commit 3 to 4 hours per month.
How is diversity assured in the Global Steering Committee?
Diversity in terms of gender, region, and sector is taken into account during the GSC election. Each region of the world has the same number of regional representatives, and candidates are nominated from all sectors within WASH. Eligible female members are encouraged to participate in the GSC election.
How do we present the candidates?
The information about candidates; including name, region, a brief biography, and a photo; will be collected by the Secretariat and shared with the SuSanA community through the SuSanA website, SuSanA Forum, and SuSanA’s social media channels.
What are the voting regions?
The seven Voting Regions defined for the GSC election 2025 are:
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Europe & Central Asia
• Latin America & Caribbean
• North America
• South Asia
• East Asia & Pacific
• Middle East & North Africa
What is the difference between the Voting Regions and the Regional Chapters?
The voting regions for the GSC Election 2025 are set as mentioned above, covering all regions of the globe. The region in which a voter can cast their ballot will be assigned based on the country entered during the registration process.
SuSanA’s Regional Chapters are established to better connect SuSanA to the regions, address local needs, and make SuSanA’s knowledge products and services more accessible on the ground. Members can benefit from using the Regional Chapters as a sounding board for issues related to their country or region. The chapters also facilitate connections and exchanges with other organisations from the region.
Current Regional Chapters are:
• Africa
• India
• Latin America
• WANA (West Asia and North Africa)
Is the voting anonymous?
Voting is anonymous, meaning that SuSanA can see whether someone has voted but not who they voted for. The voting process is not linked to any personal data.
Only registered members can vote, which helps to prevent multiple votes by the same person. For voting purposes, SuSanA will automatically retrieve your registered country and assign your voting region accordingly.
Where can I find more information on the governance structure of SuSanA?
Find out more about the Governance Structure here.
Downloads
GSC Meeting Notes 07.05.25.pdf
Type: PDF • Size:
139.14 kB
GSC Meeting Notes 06.03.25.pdf
Type: PDF • Size:
287.73 kB
GSC Meeting Notes 29.01.25.pdf
Type: PDF • Size:
202.74 kB
GSC Meeting Notes 23.11.24.pdf
Type: PDF • Size:
163.11 kB
GSC Meeting Notes 23.10.24.pdf
Type: PDF • Size:
153.81 kB
