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AfricaSan latest18 February 2008 Six years ago in South Africa the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for halving the proportion of people without access to adequate sanitation was agreed and added to the UN's MDG Initiative. So hopes are high that another historic step will be made at this meeting of African ministers taking place in Durban, South Africa this week (18-20 February). AfricaSan 2008 was officially opened this morning by South Africa's Honorable Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Lindiwe Benedicta Hendricks. Read more about the conference here. WaterAid's Policy Officer for Sanitation, Oliver Cumming, blogs from Durban:Day three
As AfricaSan 2008 comes to a close, it can be safely said that the meeting has provided a real opportunity to share and learn of the successes and challenges in the African sanitation sector. Those governments who are here at AfricaSan are demonstrating their commitment. However, it is alarming that not all African governments are represented, when half the population of Africa does not have access to safe sanitation. It is important that African governments come together to agree clear, concrete and time-bound actions that will really address this crisis, and WaterAid looks to African Ministers to agree a statement that makes clear their commitment to prioritise and tackle the sanitation crisis. But it is equally important that the international community match these commitments. The leaders of the world's eight richest nations will meet at the G8 summit this year in Japan, and WaterAid calls on these governments to make an extraordinary effort to tackle the global sanitation challenge. See you in Japan! Day two The pressure is on today as we start the countdown to tomorrow's ministerial statement. There have been some really interesting sessions this morning, with lively question and answer sessions, which it's great to be a part of. I was particularly impressed by the Minister of Health for Ethiopia, Doctor Shiferaw Telkemariam. He declared that in just five years, investing in sanitation in Ethiopia has contributed to child mortality falling from 160 deaths per thousand to 127. In development terms that's very impressive. This type of evidence cannot be ignored by decision makers. To be honest, it can be frustrating working in the sanitation sector, when the evidence is so clear but the political neglect so huge at all levels. But this conference demonstrates that the world is waking up to the sanitation crisis and how it undermines development. There's buckets of positivity and energy here - everyone's motivated and passionate about turning the sector around - and everyone has an opinion on how to do it. The consensus seems to be about garnering political will and adequate funding, with the focus definitely on the former. A colleague from Tanzania said yesterday, "If a country were invaded by a foreign enemy, and that enemy was killing hundreds of children every day, what do you think the government of that country would do? Would they write a proposal for action? Would they convene a meeting for next year? Would they commission research into finding a cure? Would they spend years debating which ministry should be responsible for preventing the attack? Would they find the money to respond to this attack?" It's certainly a thought provoking analogy. She's going to use it to lobby the ministers today and demand immediate action to address this crisis. This afternoon I'm giving a presentation on advocacy for sanitation. I've heard a rumour that members of the End Water Poverty campaign are going to storm the stage whilst I'm on, which should liven things up a bit! Hopefully I'll be able to blog about it tomorrow... Day one There is a real sense that a global consensus is emerging around the importance of sanitation and the need to address this crisis. In the opening session the Minister reminded us that progress in health, education and economic development depends on overturning the current neglect for the sector.It was great to hear from representatives of other regions of the world who are also engaged in addressing the failing sanitation sector. In his address, Jon Lane, representing the East Asia Sanitation Conference, stated that it was clear in that region that sanitation is not a symptom of poverty but, rather, it is a powerful driver of prosperity and economic growth. We've been busy launching the Giving sanitation the green light ( My colleagues from WaterAid programmes in Africa will be working hard today and tomorrow lobbying their respective government ministers to push for a strong and clear Ministerial statement - recognising the crisis, outlining their commitments to action and calling on the international community to support these acts. This statement will be agreed on Wednesday. More tomorrow...
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PDF 250Kb) report, which sets out what positive steps African governments have already taken, and what still remains to be done to achieve the MDGs.