Lars Stordal
Programme Management Officer, GWOPA (UN-Habitat)
Globally, millions of people suffer from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), many of which are often found in places with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and insufficient hygiene practices.
In recent decades, substantial progress has been made in increasing access to clean drinking water and sanitation. However, billions of people still lack these basic services. One in three people do not have access to safe drinking water and more than 673 million people still practice open defecation.
One in three people do not have access to safe drinking water and more than 673 million people still practice open defecation.
The link between water, sanitation and health
The World Health Organization has found that handwashing is one of the most effective actions that can be taken to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, yet two out of five people do not have a basic handwashing facility with soap and water. These issues are among those that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Six includes in its eight targets, with the aim of ensuring “clean water and sanitation for all”.
Most utilities in developing countries suffer from several institutional weaknesses, including inadequate cost recovery through revenue, little to no funding for dilapidated infrastructure, limited service area coverage, insufficient training available to staff and poor customer relations, among others.
Fostering collaboration between water supply and sanitation utilities is a vital element in ensuring an exchange of experiences and know-how between peer utilities at varying levels of performance. This can be done by bringing together a diversity of factors such as utilities, utility associations, financial institutions and research and expert organisations in a not-for-profit environment. This is key to not only promoting peer-to-peer learning for the betterment of destitute communities, but also for creating a sense of solidarity.
As partnerships form, the sharing of knowledge and acquisition of funding can combine to strengthen community water and sanitation services, providing these essential services needed to prevent avoidable diseases.
Networking for peer-to-peer support
Since 2009, the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA), an initiative hosted by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), has developed a network of utilities and their partners committed to peer-to-peer support.
Water and sanitation service providers, connected through GWOPA’s extensive network, are sharing and helping one another improve services every day through not-for-profit partnership. This year, GWOPA will hold its 4th Global WOPs Congress—a global gathering of hundreds of public utilities and their partners (donors, NGOs, regulators, government, etc.).
Every one of us has both something to learn and something to share with water and sanitation utility staff. We hope to see everyone from across the world of water and beyond this October at this free and fully online event because by learning from each other, we can be better prepared for future challenges ahead.
