What's the problem?
In 2000, world leaders signed up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), targets that could transform the lives of millions around the world.
We’ve only got another 6 years to go until the targets are meant to be met, and progress on water and sanitation is the most off track, with experts predicting that the goal on sanitation is unlikely to be met until early in the 22nd century, more than 80 years late.
Access to clean water and basic sanitation is essential to other development issues as well.
Water and sanitation is the forgotten development issue, yet 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day.
Water-related disease is the second biggest killer of children worldwide. Water and sanitation are neglected by donors and developing country governments alike, yet at any given time, almost half the population of the developing world is suffering from one or more of the main diseases associated with inadequate provision of water and sanitation, and half of the developing world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from such diseases.
It’s about women and children
Lack of access to safe water and sanitation disproportionately affects women and girls. Women and girls across Africa and Asia are walking long distances each day to collecting water weighing up to 20kg.
The time burden of collecting and carrying water is one explanation for the very large gender gaps in school attendance in many countries. Another factor is lack of adequate sanitation facilities: young girls, particularly after puberty, are less likely to attend classes if schools do not have suitable hygiene facilities. About half the girls in Sub-Saharan Africa who drop out of primary school do so because of poor water and sanitation facilities. Improving school sanitation can increase the demand for education among girls: 11% more girls attend school when sanitation is available.
It’s about dignity
For millions of women across the world inadequate access is a source of shame, physical discomfort and insecurity. Millions of women are only able to defecate late at night, often at the edges of their communities, where they are vulnerable to physical attack and rape.
It makes economic sense
Giving people clean water and safe sanitation makes economic sense. For every $1 spent, the economic rate of return in saved time, increased productivity and reduced health costs is $8.
Find out more about the issue, click here to read briefing notes on Water and Sanitation produced by Integral Alliance member, Tearfund UK.
What are you calling for?
The global sanitation and water crisis represents failures by donor and developing country governments to provide the needed finances and political will to ensure universal access to safe water and sanitation. It also represents a weakness of national and international institutions to monitor, coordinate and drive progress in this area.
Integral Alliance Members are supporting the calls of End Water Poverty for world leaders from the North and South to support a Global Framework for Action, in which:
• Developing country governments develop credible national plans to provide sanitation and water for all, and invest more in their implementation.
• Donor governments support the development of these plans, and ensure that no credible national plan fails for lack of finance.
• International systems are developed to monitor and drive progress in the sector, including specifically a global task force, an annual review and an annual global high level meeting.
In response to campaigning last year, such a framework was proposed by the governments of the UK and the Netherlands at the United Nations in September 2008. This included an agreement to hold a high-level meeting in September or October 2009. We need more countries to support and fund this Framework, and build the political will to ensure it delivers sanitation and water for all. Find out more about the Global Framework for Action by clicking here.
Will it make a difference?
While it's easy to get overwhelmed, it's good to remember what London was like just a 150 years ago. Then the River Thames in London was the only drain the city had, it was full of human waste, cholera was rife and the smell was horrendous. Politicians were forced to take action, in part because the smell was so bad, hence the name ‘the Great Stink’.
That action saw the construction of a sewerage system in the capital which resulted in falling levels of cholera. Many other cities in the developed world experienced similar problems and saw similar action being taken.
Adequate sanitation and clean water became something everyone expected not a right for a few. Today, for billions, the great stink continues which is why we're calling on politicians to take extraordinary action.
Are we doing this alone?
No, Integral Alliance Members from 8 different countries are joining in this action, each mobilising their supporters to speak out to their governments about the need to tackle the sanitation crisis.
We’re also supporting the work of End Water Poverty, the international campaign that aims to bring an end to the global water and sanitation crisis. The coalition is formed of like-minded organisations from around the world who are demanding urgent action and leadership from donors and governments alike.
By joining together, with one voice, we tackle this devastating crisis that affects billions of poor people across the world.
