UN-Water global analysis and assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) 2014 report : investing in water and sanitation : increasing access, reducing inequalities

The urgent need for increased access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is a key theme of this report, which draws on
data from 94 countries and 23 external support agencies. 

The report provides information on country efforts and approaches to extend water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to all.

Following a short introduction there are chapters dealing with:

• national policies and plans supporting the provision of sanitation, drinking-water and hygiene services, with a special focus on addressing inequalities
• country monitoring and evaluation
• national and external financial support
• aid priorities, aid flows and allocations, alignment, coordination, and targets

The report includes pilot study results for Brazil, Ghana and Morocco of the TrackFin initiative on tracking financing to drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene (annex B).p

The following ten key findings emerge from GLAAS 2014:

1. Governments show strong support for universal access to drinking-water and sanitation
2. Political aspirations, nonetheless, are impeded by weak capacity at country level to set targets, formulate plans, undertake implementation and conduct meaningful reviews
3. Critical gaps in monitoring impede decision-making and progress for poorest
4. Neglect for WASH in schools and health care facilities undermines country capacity to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks
5. National financing for WASH is insufficient
6. International aid for WASH has increased and regional targeting has improved
7. Lack of human resources constrains the sector
8. Sanitation in rural areas – high needs, yet low expenditures
9. Weak monitoring of the critical 'H' factor – hygiene promotion
10. Efforts are being made to reach the poor, but few at scale