eu4journalists

Water

5. Global Water

An estimated 1.2 billion people across the world lack access to clean water, with over 2.6 billion without sanitation. Transparency International has calculated that by 2025 this figure will rise dramatically, with approximately 3 billion people living in water-stressed countries.

EU member states are among the most important donors in the water development sector. They can draw on a wealth of experience in international development cooperation and water management. Against this background, the EU launched its Water Initiative (EUWI) at the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The EUWI aims to meet the UN Millennium Development Goal of halving, by 2015, the number of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation and improve water resource management.

The main focus of the EUWI is to:

• reinforce political will and commitment to action
• promote improved water governance, capacity-building and awareness
• improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water management through multi-stakeholder dialogue and coordination
• strengthen coordination through promoting river basin approaches
• identify additional financial resources and mechanisms to ensure sustainable financing

Its immediate actions are to:

• develop an overview of the situation of different regions and countries with an analysis of major gaps and accompanying organisational, knowledge and financial needs
• prepare a coordinated action programme with a longterm financial strategy providing concrete benchmarks and building blocks until 2015
• establish a monitoring and reporting mechanism to measure progress in implementation and to steer further action
• prepare a work programme for the following years, with specified targets and responsibilities

The EUWI Annual report 2008 asks for reinforced commitment by the EU member states to support the EUWI and allocation of appropriate financial and human resources for management and follow-up of the initiative. Also, closer operational links should be reinforced between the EUWI and ongoing bilateral and regional programmes supported by the Commission and the member states.