Africa could turn a corner in the sanitation crisis

22 July 2011

Rakiya Abdullah from Tamale, Ghana, worked with WaterAid to design a latrine that was appropriate for her family's needs.

Credit: WaterAid / Jon Spaull

Africa could finally be turning a corner in the sanitation crisis, say civil society groups and non-governmental organisations attending AfricaSan3 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The comments, from ANEW, FAN, WaterAid, WSSCC and the End Water Poverty Campaign, come at the end of the conference designed to "put Africa back on track to meet the sanitation MDG".

These groups say that the high level of participation and engagement shown by African Governments offers cause for optimism.

However, the challenge remains formidable. Figures presented show that the host Rwanda is one of just four countries in Sub Saharan Africa that are currently on-track to meet the sanitation target.  584 million people in Africa do not have an improved sanitation, and the poorest are 18 times more likely to practice open defecation. 

Sanitation has always been the most neglected and off-track of the MDGs, with little funding, resources or political will to address the crisis, but this conference attracted unprecedented levels of participation by delegations from 42 African countries. These included ministers of water, health, environment and education.

Civil society leaders also played a big part and pledged to work closely with AMCOW (African Ministers Council) to track progress, identify challenges and seek joint solutions. Perhaps most critically, for the first time countries agreed detailed action plans to address key blockages to progress.

All countries were able to show some progress towards pre-existing eThekwini commitments. However, the single biggest challenge identified at the conference is funding. There has been little or no progress towards the agreed target of allocating 0.5% of GDP to sanitation.

"If Africa is to stand any chance of getting back on track for the sanitation MDG then these plans and strategies urgently need to be resourced," said Lydia Zigomo, WaterAid's Head of East Africa.

"But African ministers of finance and donors have a real opportunity to resolve this financing gap through the Sanitation and Water for All partnership. Concrete financial commitments from both sides are essential if millions of Africans, particularly women and girls, are to be lifted out of poverty and lead lives of dignity."

Ends

For more information please contact: meltompkins@wateraid.org +44 (0)779 328 2764, 250 (0)784870389 or Tatiana.fedotova@wsscc.org +41 79 903 78 18 or +41 76 321 60 35.

Notes to editors:

WSSCC – Water Supply and Collaborative Council
FAN – Freshwater Action Network

Key Facts

• Diarrhoea kills more children globally than HIV/AIDS, malaria and measles combined and is the biggest killer of children in Africa
• Only four countries in sub Saharan Africa are on track to meet the sanitation Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target, 584 million lack access to improved facilities and 231 million practise open defecation
• Sub Saharan Africa is the region with the highest number of people without access to safe water and only 20 countries are on-track to meet the MDG water target
• Slow progress towards WASH MDG targets, particularly sanitation, is holding back progress on all other MDGs

Existing commitments

To achieve progress towards the MDG targets on water and sanitation, African Heads of State have signed up to African commitments on water and sanitation:

• eThekwini Declaration (2008). Signed by 20 African countries, outlined commitments to increase the profile of sanitation and hygiene in poverty strategies and public sector budget allocations (a minimum of 0.5% of GDP), enhance leadership, coordination and capacity, and develop and implement sanitation monitoring systems. In the same year, it was recognized by African Heads of State and endorsed in the Sharm El-Sheikh Commitments on Water and Sanitation.
• Sharm el Sheikh Declaration (2008): commitment to establishing water management policies, regulatory frameworks and programmes, and prepare national strategies and action plans for achieving the MDG targets for water and sanitation; build human resources capacity, climate change adaptation measures, increase domestic financial allocation an mobilize donor finance to WASH, Civil Society, women, youth and public engagement in WASH programmes, monitor progress, regional dialogues on climate change, regional cooperation
• Sanitation and Water for All: Sanitation and Water for All is a global partnership between developing countries, donors, multi-lateral agencies, civil society and other development partners working together to achieve universal and sustainable access to sanitation and drinking water, with an immediate focus on achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the most off-track countries. This transparent, accountable and results-oriented framework for action provides a common vision, values and principles that support a vision for everyone in the world to have sustainable access to sanitation and drinking water.

To achieve this, Sanitation and Water for All aims to:

1. Increase political prioritisation for sustainable sanitation and drinking water 
2. Support strong national sanitation and drinking water planning, investment and accountability frameworks 
3. Improve targeting and impact of resources for sustainable sanitation and drinking water
4. Support effective decision making by providing detailed information and evidence on sanitation and drinking water
5. Strengthen mutual accountability of governments and development partners