Background paper of the Task Force on Water and Sanitation

The report provides the institutional context for the Task Force's work, analyses key issues that relate to the MDG targets, provides facts and figures aimed at providing an overview of progress towards achieving the MDG targets, examines a set of globally relevant success stories in meeting the target, and briefly reviews existing information on financial requirements. On the basis of an analysis of the factors that have a key bearing on the ability of countries or communities to achieve the MDG targets, it outlines a framework for a global strategy to achieve the MDG targets and puts forward selected preliminary proposals for implementation. The paper ends with a review of the way in which actions in the water resource area will impact on the other MDGs. The report highlights the fact that 1.1 billion people worldwide currently lack access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion do not have access to basic sanitation facilities. Important differences exist between rural and urban areas. At a global level, the withdrawal of water supplies may seriously constrain the availability of water for all purposes. The report includes a detailed analysis of case studies and highlights some of the lessons learned from experience to date. On costs, the report notes that currently 27-30 billion dollars are invested in water and sanitation in developing countries each year. A key part of the report focuses on the development of a framework for an overall strategy to achieve the water and sanitation targets of the MDGs. The report emphasizes that investments in other sectors such as health and education will be crucial to the achievement of the water and sanitation targets and argues that technological advances - as well as innovation in institutional and financial mechanisms - are needed to improve these interventions still further.