New report: lack of funds and leadership hampering progress on sanitation and water
New report highlights critical failings of sector and calls for a global framework of action to be agreed at the UN High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals
Aid for water and sanitation is declining as
a proportion of overall aid and is extremely
poorly targeted.
Credit: WaterAid/Brent Stirton
End Water Poverty members Tearfund and WaterAid have released a new report highlighting how political neglect and under-funding of sanitation and water are at the heart why many countries are off-track in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The report, entitled 'Sanitation and water - why we need a global framework for action', highlights how the MDG target for sanitation is one of the most off track, undermining all other development efforts, impeding progress in education and health, and preventing economic growth.
Mari Williams, Senior Policy Adviser at Tearfund commented:
"This report highlights the weak global response: aid for water and sanitation is declining as a proportion of overall aid and is extremely poorly targeted, plus there is a total lack of coordination and accountability at the highest level."
Both Tearfund and WaterAid are supporting the End Water Poverty campaign's calls for a framework of action to be agreed at the UN High-Level Meeting on the MDGs, taking place in New York, 23-25 September. The framework for action should include:
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The establishment of one annual review and one annual high-level meeting to monitor and drive progress
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The development of national sanitation and water plans to to achieve the MDGs at country level
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A commitment that no credible national plan will fail through a lack of finance
Read 'Sanitation and water - why we need a global framework for action' (opens in new window, PDF 174 Kb)
Read End Water Poverty's recommendations for the UN High-Level Event (opens in new window, PDF 271 Kb)
Read more about the UN High-Level Event
.