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WaterAid's African Union summit blog
30 June 2008 This week WaterAid is attending the 11th ordinary session of the Assembly of African Union. At this year's summit, African Heads of State are gathering under the theme, 'Meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for water and sanitation'. African leaders will debate the challenges facing the continent and, we hope, set out ambitious commitments to turn around progress in the water and sanitation sector. In particular, WaterAid hopes to see leaders endorse the eThekwini declaration agreed in February this year which articulates the critical actions that need to be further developed, funded and monitored by 2010 in order to put Africa back on track to meet the sanitation MDG target. We are also calling for an increase in public investment and for governments to commit to developing national investment plans for water and sanitation, with clear budgets, clear institutional responsibilities, an effective performance monitoring system and resources devolved to the local level institutions with the responsibility for delivering services. Idrissa Doucoure, WaterAid's Head of Region - West Africa, blogs from Sharm El-Sheikh in EgyptDay two The summit ended yesterday on a disappointing note for the water and sanitation sector with the absence of a formal declaration by African leaders of actions to put Africa back on track to meet the water and sanitation MDG. African leaders issued a formal Declaration on the Zimbabwe political crisis at the close of the summit. A full report of the summit resolutions is being expected soon. Hopes of a possible plan on how Africa intends to address the water and sanitation crisis were, however, raised with a press conference addressed by the MDG Africa Steering Group on its recommendations to the leaders on 'achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa.' Officials of the United Nations, African Development Bank and the African Union Commission continued to urge African leaders to join forces with multilateral development systems to unite with one voice and demand that the G8 make good on existing promises to support African development. They said African and international leaders have produced a practical plan to use G8 support to reduce poverty in the continent. Water and sanitation occupies a mere paragraph in the report. The initial reaction of the civil society present in Egypt was that of disappointment at the report, on indications that it may have suggested the removal of subsidies to help Africa achieve the MDGs. The summit ended with a declaration on the Zimbabwe crisis and the leaders' concern that the current increase in food prices will force many countries to divert their development resources to importing food. The summit also urged all member states to take action to institutionalise enquiries into maternal, infant and child health high on the continental agenda. Day one - pm
There were great interventions from African leaders during today’s debate on the theme, 'The Achievement of MDGs target on water and sanitation'. The presentations emphasised the human right to water and sanitation and outlined specific actions taken by the individual countries. Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure told his colleagues to emulate his country’s positive action of approving the National Plan on Water and Sanitation with the support of CSOs and the private sector. According to him, national leadership, one action plan and one coordinating body are minimum conditions to advance the sector. President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana encouraged their colleagues to put in place urgent measures and make the extraordinary efforts needed to meet the water and sanitation MDG targets. Other recommendations that may be endorsed include the endorsement of the eThekwine Declaration on sanitation; declaring water and sanitation a basic human right; setting up water and sanitation division in the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission; the establishment of a water and sanitation cluster under the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union and the integration of African Ministerial Council on water as a structure of the African Union among others. Day one - am
The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target on water and sanitation was top on the agenda today as African leaders discussed the theme of the summit, 'achieving the MDG targets on water and sanitation.' We heard talks emphasising the fundamental importance of water and sanitation. Abdoulie Janneh, the Executive Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, underlined the links between climate change and water provision, as well as highlighting its importance for political stability. The real challenge of the summit is to ensure African leaders make clear commitments to pushing the MDGs through. Strategies for meeting the goals was the focus of Dr Asha Rose Migiro's presentation. As the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, she implored leaders to do everything possible to accelerate progress on the MDGs and called on them to send a strong message to the G8 ahead of its meeting next week in Japan. She said: "The world's most industrialised countries must live up to their global responsibilities, their past commitment and their obligations to future generations, knowing that the African Union will do the same. Action is vital in accelerating progress in many fronts. Regional integration is crucial and so is partnership with the United Nations. We must act together and act quickly. Donors are not on track to meet their commitment and donor financing have make it difficult for African countries to reach the goals … support for African development is not just a moral imperative but critical to its development."
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