Source:
IPS
Almost half the developing world's population is suffering from one or more diseases linked to poor water and sanitation, or poor water resources management. August 2005.
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Timed just weeks in advance of the United Nations’ five-year review of progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the annual World Water Week in Stockholm, held from 21-27 August, will present concrete examples of how problems of poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and gender inequality can in large measure be solved with water and sanitation as the key entry points.
Since development has occurred differently throughout the world, and regional climates and conditions vary greatly, the 2005 World Water Week in Stockholm will examine the two primary ways of meeting future water and sanitation related development needs – the “soft” path and the “hard” path. Experience has shown that both paths – often through astonishingly simple projects and participatory approaches – can give results:
The “soft” path: The Central American Handwashing Initiative supported by USAID, UNICEF, the World Bank and five countries in the region demonstrated that effective partnerships among government departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), women’s groups, the private sector and the media can contribute to effective hygiene promotion and behavioural changes that are essential to combat diarrhoeal disease and create public awareness.
The “hard” path: Improved water storage capacity makes national economies more resilient to rainfall variability and boosts economic growth. In Kenya, improved resilience to the effects of floods and droughts could make its GDP grow annually at a rate of at least 5%–6% – the amount needed in order to start effectively reducing poverty – rather than the current 2.4% annual growth rate.
“In many cases, a mix of ‘hard’ approaches such as technology and ‘soft’ tools such as community participation may be needed.” says Mr. Anders Berntell, Executive Director of the Week’s host, the Stockholm International Water Institute. “Tailoring solutions to situations will be a key focus during the week.”
Water – the key to socio-economic development and quality of life
Facts don’t lie: poor countries with access to improved water and sanitation services enjoyed an annual average growth of 3.7% GDP; those without grew at just 0.1%. Over 1,300 leading experts on water, sanitation, environment and development issues – from more than 100 countries – will meet in Stockholm to present concrete cases of just how such gaps can be bridged.
With more than 60 organisations and programmes convening or co-convening workshops, seminars and side events, the international “consensus” coming out of the World Water Week in Stockholm has an indirect effect on decision-making in different fora, internationally and nationally. Among the collaborators intensifying their involvement in 2005 are the European Union (EU), through the EU Water Initiative, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and UN-Water, the forum that brings together the 24 different UN agencies and programmes working with water and sanitation.
Participants in Stockholm will include experts from businesses, governments, the water management and science sectors, inter-governmental organisations, NGOS, research and training institutions and United Nations agencies.
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For Africa to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) the rate of provision for water supply must be doubled, while that for sanitation must be trebled, according to the Hon. Ms. Maria Mutagamba, Minister of State for Uganda and President of the African Council of Ministers for Water (AMCOW).
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The crisis-weary African continent, which has two of the world's longest rivers -- the 6,400-kilometre Nile River and the 4,370-kilometre Congo River -- is suffering from a virtual economic paradox: a shortage of water amidst potentially plentiful supplies. 23 August 2005.
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