Access to water is a recurring source of conflict, due to the transboundary nature of most water resources. It is therefore important to establish a well-functioning legal framework and institutions for management of common water resources, as well as to create a good dialogue between the parties. Water resources management is the area that gets the largest share of Sida’s total support to the water sector.
Six countries sharing water from the Volta River
One example of how common water resources can cause conflicts is the Volta River basin in West Africa, shared by six countries. The regional programme was created to mitigate political tensions between Ghana and Burkina Faso, following accusations of dams causing a drastic decrease in water flow. To solve the problems, cooperation and involvement of all parties was crucial. One main feature of Sida’s work included strengthening regional organisations to increase awareness about the common water resources. Today, Burkina Faso and Ghana have an established common framework for monitoring and managing the Volta River Basin. One concrete result of the programme is the Volta Basin Authority that was established for the six neighbouring countries.
The support to water resources management in West Africa is one example of regional cooperation; the Okavango river in southern Africa is another one. One third of Sida’s disbursements to the water sector is allocated to regional programmes.
Bilateral support to water supply and sanitation
We also support many countries directly. In 2010, bilateral support to water supply and sanitation programmes was distributed in 14 countries, representing a third of Sida’s total water portfolio. The last third of the water portfolio went to global cooperation, e.g. The Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP). A smaller part is distributed to local initiatives.
Access to clean water and sustainable sanitation can be a matter of life and death. Children under the age of 15 are particularly vulnerable, and diarrheal diseases affect them more seriously than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TBC together. Water and sanitation is the area that gets the second largest share of Sida’s water portfolio budget.
In Kenya, a major water sector reform is taking place, driven by the new water law passed in 2002. The reform focuses on sustainable, affordable and safe water supply and sanitation facilities managed by communities with a special focus on the poor, women and other disadvantaged groups. Sida supports the water sector reform with a priority on sustainable water management and rights perspective. We support local associations, providing rural areas with clean water.
The effects of climate change are becoming evident in Kenya, with more recurrent floods and droughts. The water programme also seeks to strengthen the ability to adapt to climate change, on all levels. Sida’s global support to water and sanitation mainly focuses on increasing the sustainable water supply and sanitation systems for people living in poverty. This is implemented in cooperation with the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
Sida supports four main areas in the water sector:
- Water resources policy and management
- Water supply
- Water treatment, hygiene and sustainable sanitation
- Waste management
Sida’s disbursements to the water sector in 2010 amounted to SEK 321 million.
