PP UNDP SouthAfrica

Committee: United Nations Development Programme
Agenda: Mission health: Clean water and sanitation for all
Name: Thej T. Thomas
Delegate of South Africa
Agenda: Mission health: Clean water and sanitation for all
Clean water and sanitation are fundamental human rights and integral to development as of Resolution
64/292 at the United Nations in 2010, the right to water and sanitation requires that services are
sufficient, safe, acceptable, accessible, and affordable without discrimination. Roughly one-third of the
world’s population currently lives in water-stressed areas and is predicted to increase to 2.9 billion by
2025, while floods threaten lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure. Research continues to show that in
low and middle income countries, 38% of health care facilities lack an improved water source, 19% do
not have improved sanitation and 35% lack water and soap for hand washing. WASH is the pillar of
public health, the key to the growth and development of every individual, alleviating the burden of
disease, and reducing death in healthcare facilities. There is potential to save the lives of the 829,000
people, who currently die every year from diseases directly caused by unsafe water, inadequate
sanitation and poor hygiene practices, and drastically reduce child malnourishment, help alleviate
physical and mental under-development. Similarly, women and girls can avoid open defecation in the
dark, and be safe from sexual assaults.
Water supply and sanitation in South Africa is characterised by both achievements and challenges.
South Africa wholly identifies the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU) and its vision.
The overarching goal of partnership between South Africa and UNDP advances strategic priorities to
work for a thriving Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Chapter 4 of National
Development Plan (NDP) envisages South Africa recognising the importance of secure and equitable
access to water and sanitation as catalysts for socio-economic development. The focus is on developing
and investing in water infrastructure, planning in the regulation of water sector, and protecting South
Africa’s water resources. According to General Household Survey, the percentage of households with
access to piped water increased from 9.3 million (2006) to 13.8 million (2018), access to improved
sanitation increased from 61.7% (2002) to 83.0% (2018). Nationally, the percentage of households that
live without proper sanitation facilities have been decreasing from 12.6% (2002) to 2.8% (2018).
However, South Africa is known as one of the most unequal societies of the world, and despite
commendable progress over the last two decades, the nation is still grappling with historically rooted
apartheid legacy. Many households continue to be without proper sanitation facilities. COVID-19 has
shed further light on lack of access to water and sanitation services. An intervention would contribute
sustainably managing water and sanitation, reducing inequality and paying attention to needs of
women, girls, and those in vulnerable situations. The government has developed programmes to
ensure a more coordinated approach to water and sanitation management, planning, implementation
and evaluation, keeping with aspirations of NDP and SDGs. South Africa also partnered with other
African countries for Ngor Declaration on Sanitation and Hygiene to accelerate access to adequate and
equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation by 2030. Adhering to the recent
launch of SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework by the UN, the country conducted the 5th Africa
Conference on Sanitation and Hygiene (AfricaSan5) to review progress against Ngor Vision and
Commitments and SDG6, and generated the report, “Is Africa on track to achieve the SDGs on
sanitation?” and “A review on progress of the Ngor Declaration on Sanitation and Hygiene.”
Water and sanitation are central to South Africa’s transition to sustainable development. Beyond being
one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, investing allows the government to tap into opportunities
arising from the shift to a circular economy. The South African government awareness of this
predicament makes them the strongest investor ($2.3 billion) among the AU for the water
infrastructure and mitigation measures. The government has strong commitment to high service and to
high investment subsidies to achieve those standards. In conclusion, South Africa is a member of the
United Nations and striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6.
SOLUTIONS:
 Addressing the water-efficient/saving technological options, such as next-generation sanitation to

be widely promoted and adopted so that the entire infrastructure is well protected, operated,
repaired, and maintained.
 Encourages organizations and local stakeholders to collaborate and build effective water systems
by planning and learning from past sector failures and accomplishments.
 Appeals to government to embrace the multidimensional view on access to water and sanitation to
ensure that communities already facing other hardships have proper access instead of substandard
service delivery.
 Further recommends the government to adopt and strengthen sound policies as per SDG 6, which
calls to substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors by ensuring sustainable
withdrawals, supply of freshwater, improving water quality by reducing pollution, and substantially
increasing recycling and reuse globally.
 Calls upon government to provide more sustained and structural intervention by country’s water
and sanitation infrastructure as well as redressing historical inequalities to sustainably manage
water and sanitation, reducing inequality and, importantly paying special attention to the needs of
women, girls, and those in vulnerable situations.
 Urges the government to effectively and efficiently coordinate actions of key water and sanitation
players, facilitate the strengthening of regional cooperation on water resources management and
development, and capacity building of relevant institutions and agencies.
REFERENCES
 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-sanitation-and-hygiene/
 Water and Sanitation in South Africa
https://www.gov.za/about-sa/water-affairs
 Access to water and sanitation in South Africa
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-02-access-to-water-and-sanitation-in-
south-africa-a-renewed-call-for-more-action/
 AfricaSan5
https://www.africasan.com/africasan
 Agenda 2063
https://au.int/en/agenda2063/overview
 WASH Financing Assessment
https://www.unicef.org/esa/media/4971/file/UNICEF-ESARO-2019-WASH-Financing-
Regional-Assessment.pdf

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Committee: United Nations Development Programme

Agenda: Mission health: Clean water and sanitation for all

Name: Thej T. Thomas

Delegate of South Africa

Agenda: Mission health: Clean water and sanitation for all

 Addressing the water-efficient/saving technological options, such as next-generation sanitation to

 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

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