Connecting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene with Fresh Water Conservation and Climate Resilience: The Need to Facilitate Integration in Development Assistance
Many areas that lack safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) also need to restore or protect fresh water ecosystems and enhance resilience to climate change. Integrated solutions can help end extreme poverty and ensure long-term access to basic human needs such as food, clean water, and sanitation facilities. Currently, the development sector all too often addresses WASH, climate resilience, and fresh water conservation as separate issues. Fortunately, though, awareness about the importance of integrated efforts to solve these challenges in development projects is increasing. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has publicly spoken about and financially supported some efforts to promote integrated solutions for addressing WASH, conservation, and climate. However, more can and should be done to fully facilitate integrated approaches.This Natural Resources Defense Council issue brief is focused on examples from U.S. government development aid funding, however, its recommendations are relevant for any funder or implementer, including development agencies, foundations, or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
Year: 2014
Source: Natural Resources Defense Council
