Water is a common property resource and IS critical for sustainablernlivelihoods. All households need water for domestic use, i. e. for drinking,rnfood preparation, washing, cleaning, etc. Access to adequate, clean waterrnwill greatly contribute to improved health and better productivity.rnWater supply and sanitation coverage in Ethiopia is one of the lowest inrnthe world, which is 39.4 percent and 11.5 percent in 2004 respectively. Tornchange the situation the government of Ethiopia has launched a UniversalrnAccess Program for water supply and sanitation in 2005. The objective ofrnthe program is to reach 100% coverage of water supply and sanitationrnservices through out the country until 2012. The respective regionalrngovernments have prepared strategic plan to implement UAP in theirrnregIOn.rnThis study is carried out to identify major Issues and challenges in thernimplementation of UAP in SNNPR, with particular reference to Mirab Abayarnworeda. Primwy data is collected through KID and FGD at regional andrnworeda level. Totally 34 key informants are interviewed and two FGDs arerncarried out. The data is analyzed and interpreted qualitatively with thernhelp of some quantitative methods (percentage).rnThe SNNPR water bureau and MA W water office have prepared strategicrnplan for the period 2006-2010. The plan preparation process, thernparticipants of the planning process, the time and resources allocated forrnthe preparation of the plan and availability of data are analyzed.rnStakeholders in the sector include NGOs, Donors, GOs, private sector andrncommunity, Water bureau being the major responsible body in the region.rnTheir coordination and integration is very weak. There is no defined line ofrncommunication among the stakeholders (e.g. water bureau & NGOs). Somernof the existing means of communications are not being implementedrnconsistently.Material and Human resources available to implement the strategic planrnare mapped and analyzed at regional and woreda water sectors. Thernworeda water office is well capacitated to implement the program.rnMonitoring and evaluation of the different processes (pli:mning,rnimplementation, management, etc) are examined. The plan andrnprogramming section in the bureau is not well equipped with necessaryrnequipments and adequate man power. Lack of standard indicators andrnformats is one of the problems. At woreda water office there is nornresponsible person to carry out M&E.