Budget good news for world's poor

But more priority needed for water and sanitation

Clean water is one of the key building blocks of development

Credit: WaterAid / Alex Macro

22 April 2009

The government is to be congratulated for keeping its commitment to the world’s poor in today’s budget, but must now ensure they give more priority to water and sanitation in their aid spending.

The UK government announced today that it will hold firm on its commitment to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) for international development, and will remain on track to deliver £9.1 billion of overseas development aid by 2010-11.

"This is fantastic news for the world’s poor, who desperately need support at this time of global downturn. The Department for International Development (DFID) should be congratulated for making good on their promises and ensuring that people living in extreme poverty are not forgotten,” said Laura Hucks, WaterAid Development Finance Policy Officer.

Safe drinking water and sanitation must be given more priority  

"However, DFID now needs to think more strategically about how they use their budget. Safe drinking water and sanitation – areas that currently receive much less funding than other inter-related areas of development, such as health and education – must be given more priority," said Hucks. "When lack of access to these basic services accounts for 28% of all under-five deaths in the world – far more than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis combined – current under-investment cannot be justified."

The UK government has significantly increased its contributions to health and education over the last decade. However, it has not shown the same commitment to water and sanitation – two of the most important building blocks of development. Latest DFID figures show that the UK gave just 5% of its sector aid to water and sanitation compared to 12% and 18% going to education and health respectively.

"Despite the vital importance of safe water and sanitation to child health and to other development efforts, these life-saving interventions continue to be neglected by international leaders," added Hucks. "The government must ensure that their continued efforts to bring an end to global poverty are not undermined by lack of priority given to water and sanitation."

For all media enquiries/interviews please contact Chloe Irvine at chloeirvine@wateraid.org or call her on 020 7793 4909 or 075 1494 1577.