THE FAIR SHARE WATER STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Introduction
To make Agenda 21 operational in Africa, a crucial third link must be integrated throughout the new 'environment and development' agenda. The critical missing link in Agenda 21 is 'equity'.
Throughout Africa the poverty of the poor majority is the main cause and consequence of environmental degradation which continues to undermine future economic development. Although the poor majority suffer first and most in this destructive cycle, the poor are not the problem. The national development and international aid policies which fail to reach, involve and benefit the poor majority are the main problem.
Growth, Equity and Sustainable Development Growth strategies which fail to improve the lives and livelihoods of the poor majority are not socially or even politically sustainable. Growth strategies which degrade the environment and resource base needed for future development are not ecologically or even economically sustainable. Growth strategies which are not economically, socially and environmentally sustainable are not and should not be called 'development'. Accelerated economic growth is still urgently needed throughout Africa. Without economic growth, greater equity will be difficult to achieve as there will be few or no benefits to share. Without growth there will be no additional financial resources for tackling the already large backlog of environmental degradation. Without economic growth and greater equity, poverty-driven environmental degradation will continue to escalate. Economic growth is not at issue. At issue is the kind and content of that growth. Future economic growth in Africa must become more equitable, less polluting and more efficient in the use of energy, water, forests and other natural resources. New national and international equity-led growth strategies are needed to provide a "new basis for a new deal for the majority of poor people and countries in order to secure and sustain our common future."
Main Goals for Equity-Led Growth The 1996 SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government approved a new 'Policy and Strategy for Environment and Sustainable Development' in southern Africa based on the equity-led growth approach in their national development plans. Other African countries such as Kenya have incorporated key elements of an equity-led growth approach in their national development plans. In both the SADC and Kenyan cases the three main goals are:
To accelerate economic growth with greater equity and self reliance; The three goals constitute one agenda for action. None are achievable without the other two. Moreover, none are achievable without significant changes in international trade and debt policies. Without more equitable international economic arrangements, most African and other developing countries have limited scope and little hope for achieving sustainable development....
Equitable Use of Water Resources For decades the poor majority in Africa got far less than their fair share of safe water. Today [ 1995] more than half of the people in Africa still lack reasonable access to safe water and sanitation. Current statistics suggest that those in cities generally have greater access than in rural areas. However, as those statistics combine the urban rich and the urban poor in a single average, they disguise the harsh reality of the poor urban majority in large slums who lack reasonable and affordable access to safe water. The urban poor also pay an unfair price for their small share of water. As most buy their water in small containers, the urban poor often pay four to ten times more per litre than the metered rates of their wealthier neighbours. Although they get far less than their fair share of water, the poor make good use of what they get. By circumstance and choice, the poor are experts in conserving and recycling water through multiple uses. The poor majority also rarely share in the benefits of large scale water supply, sanitation, irrigation and hydropower projects which dominate investments in the water sector in most African countries. The poor are either not connected to the water and electricity supply systems or cannot afford the prices charged. Moreover, the poor are often displaced by large scale water projects, are exposed to water borne diseases spread through badly managed irrigation systems, suffer impaired health because of industrial and agrochemical pollutants or sustain serious losses in their livelihoods due to reduced flows (e.g. floodplain farmers) or increased siltation (e.g. riverine fishermen).
Approved by African Water Experts The experts confirmed that the top priority for water resources management in Africa must continue to be the provision of drinking water and sanitation for the majority of people. The African Expert Group Meeting proposed to pursue a 'fair share' water strategy at the national, sub-regional and regional levels with the following priorities:
A fair share for the poor majority;
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