5th Annual Water for the Poor Report

U.S. State Department Releases Fifth Annual Water for the Poor Report

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC, August 16, 2010

On August 13, 2010, the U.S. Department of State released the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor 2010 Report to Congress describing U.S. efforts to expand access to safe drinking water and sanitation, improve water resources management and increase water productivity in developing countries.

The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, to submit an annual report to Congress outlining the U.S. Government’s strategy and progress in achieving the objectives of the Act.

The United States is committed to reducing water-related diseases and to increasing access to safe drinking water and sanitation in countries with critical needs. As Secretary Clinton noted on World Water Day (March 22, 2010): “It’s not every day you find an issue where effective diplomacy and development will allow you to save millions of lives, feed the hungry, empower women, advance our national security interests, protect the environment, and demonstrate to billions of people that the United States cares, cares about you and your welfare. Water is that issue.”

Key Results: In FY 2009, the United States (primarily through USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) invested about $774 million for all water sector and sanitation-related activities in 62 developing countries. Of that amount, USAID invested more than $481 million in drinking water and sanitation-related activities. As a result of USAID investments, some 5.7 million people received improved access to safe drinking water and 1.3 million received improved access to sanitation during FY 2009. Other U.S. Government agencies made unique contributions to water and sanitation that greatly magnify our overall effectiveness. In many cases these agencies made both programmatic and non-financial contributions. From 2005 to 2009, the United States invested more than $3.4 billion for all water sector and sanitation related activities.

In her 2010 World Water Day speech, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton asked Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah to review current efforts and identify specific steps to strengthen the United States’ capacity to deliver sustainable, measurable results. This process is underway.

This and previous reports in response to the 2005 Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act can be found at:
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/water/index.htm.

For more information on the Department’s efforts on water, visit: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/c36032.htm

Paul Simon Act receives FY2011 funding; reporting is late

Congressional Appropriations Update

Senate and House foreign operations bills are appropriating a level of $315 million in Fiscal Year 2011--the same funding level as FY2010--to continue to implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act. That landmark Act, coupled with Congressional appropriations of recent years, is allowing USAID and State to strengthen long-term programs on behalf of safe, affordable and sustainable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in high-priority countries.

State’s 2010 Water for the Poor Act Report

Two months past the June 1st deadline, the State Department’s Annual Report to Congress on the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act has still not been sent to Congress. As soon as the 2010 Report is made public, it will available on the State Department's website.
http://www.state.gov/G/OES/water/

Happy World Toilet Day

Today, the 19th of November is World Toilet Day, a day set aside by
the World Toilet Organization to demand proper sanitation for the
world's people. The lack of sanitation is the world's largest cause
of infection which contributes to approximately 4 billion cases of
diarrheal diseases per year (e.g., cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, and
dysentery) and roughly 600 million cases of intestinal worms which
can lead to malnutrition, anemia, and retarded growth according to
the World Bank.

A few toilet-related distractions:

Time Magazine's history of the toilet:
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1940525,00.html

Also from Time: "Is it time to kill the flush toilet?":
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1857113,00.html

World Toilet Organization's list of World Toilet Day events:
http://www.worldtoilet.org/getinvolved.asp?no=19

Chief Macha's Toilet Revolution Read about Account of how Chief Macha
has led the CLTS campaign 'No shit, please! One family, one toilet.'
in Choma and how this, together with the involvement of other
traditional leaders, has boosted efforts to transform rural
sanitation in the country.
http://www.communityledtotalsanitation.org/resource/chief-machas-toilet-revolution

International Glossary
http://www.communityledtotalsanitation.org/resource/international-glossary-shit

S.H.I.T.S (Sharing Highlights in Total Sanitation) Read the first two
instalments of this monthly newsletter created by Engineers without
Borders Canada staff in Malawi, describing district-level experiences
and aiming to encourage horizontal communication and learning.
http://www.communityledtotalsanitation.org/resource/shits-sharing-highlights-total-sanitation

AND there's even an educational game on the WaterAid website:
http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get_involved/world_toilet_day/5064.asp#top