The MDG on water and sanitation is to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, which would mean reaching 75% of the global population with water and 63% of the global population with basic sanitation. Reaching these goals would require a better governance framework that could equitably and efficiently distribute water, prepare for water disasters and the impacts of climate change, and increase capacity and balance the needs of agricultural, industrial and household water users.
In the absence of quantitative targets set by the G8, ONE interprets the Evian commitment to ‘give high priority’ and the Gleneagles commitment to ‘increase aid’ to the water and sanitation sector to mean that, at a minimum, ODA for water and sanitation should remain the same proportion of development assistance as overall ODA increases. Additionally, because sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s lowest rates of access to improved water and sanitation sources, the region should receive at least the same proportion of ODA that is given to water and sanitation globally. Water and sanitation comprised an average of 5.5% of global ODA from 1990–2005. Thus, for this report, ONE holds each G7 donor accountable for allocating a minimum of 5.5% of its ODA to sub-Saharan Africa to water and sanitation.
Based on this methodology, if overall ODA pledges to double foreign assistance to sub-Saharan Africa are delivered, fulfilment of the G8’s water and sanitation commitment would deliver a total of $2.79 billion in 2010 for water and sanitation. At $2.79 billion, the G7 would exceed their annual share of the total financing gap for the region to meet the MDG targets on water and sanitation of $2.27 billion, as estimated by the UNDP’s 2006 ‘Human Development Report’. However, the G7 have not reached their overall ODA goal and, therefore, even though donors have delivered 5.5% of total ODA for water and sanitation, the totals delivered are expected to fall short of the $2.27 billion needed.
Progress since Gleneagles
Progress towards increasing access to clean water and adequate sanitation has been positive, but slow and uneven across regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. While many countries around the world are on track to meet the water and sanitation MDG targets, most African countries remain off track. In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of people with access to an improved water source increased from 55% to 60% between 2000 and 2008 (the most recent years for which data exist), still short of the goal of reaching 75% of people with access. Access to improved sanitation in the region reached only 31% in 2008, or less than half that needed to achieve the MDG target coverage of 63%. As a result, the world is set to miss the MDG sanitation target by over 1 billion people. The consequences of this slow progress are fatal for the estimated 4,100 children worldwide who die daily from diarrhoeal diseases, which are spread by a lack of clean water and by poor sanitation and hygiene.
Beyond 2010
Access to safe water and basic sanitation is slowly increasing in sub-Saharan Africa and around the world, but donors have yet to follow through on the commitment made in L’Aquila to truly 'build a stronger partnership to support national plans for water and sanitation access in Africa'. Investments must be increased and directed toward priority areas in order to improve access and achieve the water and sanitation MDG targets, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which remains offtrack. The G8 and other donors should focus on the following:
MAKE A COMMITMENT WITH A CLEAR TARGET
The G8 still lack a clear roadmap for achieving success on water and sanitation and their commitments lack measurable targets. The G8 should work to finance strong national plans and should provide technical assistance for the development of national plans where they do not exist. In addition, donors should make a new commitment to the sector with clear targets and timelines. Special focus should be placed on support for sub-Saharan Africa.WORK WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO ASSESS NEEDS AND MONITOR PROGRESS
In keeping with the progress report presented at the 2009 L’Aquila Summit, and in order to assess future needs, the G8 should continue to review their progress towards implementing the Evian Water Action Plan through an annual public assessment. In order to do this, Africa’s citizens need a robust G8–Africa Partnership focused on supporting national plans and the development of plans where they do not currently exist. The Partnership needs concrete plans for implementation and new financing in order to increase access to these basic services.SUPPORT STRATEGIES FOR RURAL AREAS
The G7 have failed to adequately focus on rural areas which have the lowest water and sanitation coverage, despite the G8’s promise in the 2003 Evian Water Action Plan to address ‘the different needs of rural and urban populations’. The G7 can deliver on this promise by ensuring that their water and sanitation strategy focuses on the needs of rural dwellers. While investments in large systems are valuable and should continue to be increased, support for basic water and sanitation must also be elevated to close the water and sanitation access gap that exists between rural and urban dwellers.
