An accountability report on development aid by G8 countries says that progress towards meeting the water and sanitation targets provides a mixed message. The report says the world is on track to meet the water goal globally, but is dangerously behind in achieving the sanitation goal, with Sub-Saharan Africa making the slowest progress. Support for sanitation and water was not reaching the most affected countries with only 42 percent of sector commitments over the past three years reaching the least developed or low-income countries.

The report [1], which was prepared for the Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit in Canada, concludes that the G8 countries have significantly increased aid levels for water and sanitation. This is in line with the 2003 Evian G8 Water Action Plan, In 2008, G8 Official development assistance (ODA) for the water sector was US$ 3.7 billion [€ 2.9 billion], representing an increase of over 200 percent since 2002.

In 2009, the G8 and African partners issued a Joint Statement at the L’Aquila Summit to strengthen ongoing efforts on water and sanitation through a stronger G8-Africa partnership. The partnership “has increased political awareness and has helped to facilitate new work with African partners”, the report says.

[1] Government of Canada (2010). Muskoka accountability report : assessing action and results against development-related commitments. Download full report

Related news: Africa: G8 water and sanitation initiative lacks concrete act, Source Weekly, 07 Aug 2009

Source: Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, 21 Jun 2010

Tags: africa, financing, policies & legislation, sanitation, water supply