The Millennium Development Goals and the Water Sector in South Africa Reginald Tekateka Specialist Advisor: International Relations Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

MDGS & WATER SECTOR In 2000 UN set eight goals for development An agenda for improved human conditions by 2015 Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education Goal 3: Promote gender equality Goal 4: Reduce child mortality Goal 5: Improve maternal health Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases

MDGS & WATER SECTOR Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability By 2015, reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water Achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020 Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

World Summit Sustainable Development 2002 MDGS & WATER SECTOR World Summit Sustainable Development 2002 Recognized sanitation as an important priority for effective management of water resources Set 2015 target to complement MDG target on water Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation

World Summit Sustainable Development 2002 MDGS & WATER SECTOR World Summit Sustainable Development 2002 Agreed to develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005 South Africa reached this target one year in advance with the adoption of the National Water Resource Strategy in September 2004

MDGS & WATER SECTOR SOUTH AFRICAN TARGETS All the people of SA to have access to safe drinking water by 2008 All the people of SA to have access to basic sanitation by 2010

MDGS & WATER SECTOR Some countries in Africa are on track to achieve the MDG & JPoI targets-more? Most African countries highly unlikely to reach the target for water and sanitation by 2015 NEPAD provided a framework, through Partnerships for the improvement of water management in Africa Within this framework AMCOW was established to create the policy framework and support to meet the challenges of water management and development across the continent

MDGS & WATER SECTOR As stated most African countries will not achieve the MDGs and JPoI targets without massive assistance. At the Third World Water Forum in 2003 it was recognized that such assistance should be mainly in the form of grants.

MDGS & WATER SECTOR National efforts should be complemented through supportive global programmes A substantial increase in Official Development Assistance to developing countries is required to achieve the MDG’s by 2015 The special needs of Africa should be highlighted on the international agenda

SECTOR CHALLENGES Preponderance of transboundary Rivers- over 60 shared by 2 or more states. Extremes variability in climate and looming threat of climate change Uneven distribution of the resource in time and space Indicative of need for infrastructure, IWRM, institutional and governance arrangements at national and interstate levels

LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE Per capita storage in North America over 6000 m³ 746 m³ in South Africa, with the highest storage rate in Africa; Only 43m³ in Ethiopia, despite its high water resource potential; Africa has harnessed less than 5% of its Hydropower potential

NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT A strategic framework for Africa’s renewal based on African ownership - 37th OAU Summit, July 2001 New international Partnership to change the unequal relationship between Africa and the developed world; Ensures that all partnerships with NEPAD linked to the MDG’s and other agreed development goals and targets

A M C O W Created in April 2002 to spearhead quest for water and sanitation targets Specialised Technical Committee of AU soon Brings together all ministers responsible for water Supported by Executive Committee consisting of 15 Ministers –Sub-regional balance Technical Advisory Committee (AMCOW-TAC) of 25 officials

AFRICAN WATER FACILITY Mobilise additional funding Develop appropriate financing mechanisms for the water sector Support capacity building Oversee monitoring and evaluation of MDG’s Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI)

IMPACT OF NEPAD Elicited response from developed world by way partnership announcements at WSSD; Especially EU Water Initiative (EUWI), Also: Water for the Poor Initiative (USA) UN-Water/ Africa Individual Partner Country progs.-.FRG

IMPACT OF NEPAD By adopting Monterrey (2002) to Paris Declaration(2005), donor community committed to: Respect for ownership by Partners Need for alignment of interventions with national priorities, and Harmonisation of donor procedures Managing for results

NEPAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMME Energy, ICT, Transport, and Water and Sanitation Broad Water Sector Objectives To harness available resources to meet the basic needs of water supply and sanitation; Contribute to food security through better use of water for irrigation Tap the renewable hydropower potential of the continent

EU RESPONSE EU Water Initiative: Multi-stakeholder Forum Joint membership of 5 Working Groups with AMCOW-TAC, namely: Finance, TbW/IWRM, Water and Sanitation, Research, and Monitoring and Evaluation EU Water Facility

EU RESPONSE EU Infrastructure Partnership To double ODA funding by 2010 To reach 0.7% GDP by 2015 To Commit significant portion of EDF 10 funds to leverage private Sector Funding

OBSERVATIONS IN CONCLUSION Developed world should be held to their word; Formations such as Multi-Stakeholder Forums present opportunities for partnerships yet unutilised; Paris Declaration offers an unprecedented opportunity; RSA one of few countries able to play advocacy role with effect;