A/66/255 This means more practical training in how to operate and maintain water and sanitation improvements as well as administrative training in how to plan and budget new projects, collect fees and, in some cases, implement a subsidy programme. 74 F. Regulation 57. As with capacity-building, progress towards realization of the rights to water and sanitation cannot be sustainable unless it occurs within the context of a strong regulatory framework. 75 National regulatory frameworks bolster the rights in a number of ways, such as setting clear targets and benchmarks for implementation; clarifying and harmonizing the responsibilities of various actors; setting minimum standards for quality, accessibility and affordability; and improving accountability by creating incentives for compliance. 76 Regulatory frameworks allow governments to prioritize unserved or under-served populations and can form the foundation of subsidy programmes and other safeguards for low-income households 77. G. Awareness-raising and community outreach 58. The proliferation and sustainability of water and sanitation services depends not only on financing and constructing new facilities. States also have an obligation to educate communities about the hygienic use of water and sanitation services. 78 Devoting resources towards educating communities about the use and benefits of water and sanitation and consulting with them about their specific needs have a number of benefits, including, inter alia, ensuring that the services are used correctly and in a manner that supports their long-term sustainability; improving local ownership, transparency and accountability; ensuring that facilities are acceptable and reflect the cultural needs of the community; and improving overall public health. Despite these benefits, most countries still have limited capacity to __________________ 74 75 76 77 78 11-44364 Ibid. General Comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, paras. 16, 47 and 48. World Water Council, Third World Water Forum and Global Water Partnership, Financing Water for All, p. 9. See also Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAS), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Manual on the Right to Water and Sanitation (2008), p. 37; available from www.cohre.org/sites/default/files/ manual_on_the_right_to_water_and_sanitation_2008.pdf. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Working Group on Regulation and Private Sector Participation in Sub-Saharan Africa, “Sharing the Experience on Regulation in the Water Sector” (April 2004). Available from www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/en-regulationwater-sector-africa.pdf (accessed 10 August 2011). General Comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, para. 25; and COHRE, AAS, SDC and UN-Habitat, Manual on the Right to Water and Sanitation, p. 106. 19