State Department Releases Third Annual Report to Congress on Water and Sanitation Strategy in Developing Countries

This report is required by Section 6 of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005. The Act makes the provision of safe water and sanitation services in developing countries a component of U.S. foreign assistance. It requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with USAID, to develop and implement a strategy to support this goal within the context of sound water resource management. This is the third Report to Congress.

The United States obligated more than $900 million to developing countries for water and sanitation activities – over $590 million of this went for drinking water supply and sanitation activities. Most importantly, the United States has delivered results on the ground. Nearly two million people received first-time access to an improved drinking water source and more than 1.5 million people received first-time access to improved sanitation services.

Over the past year, the Department of State and USAID, working closely with other U.S. government agencies, have taken a number of steps to advance the goals of the Water for the Poor Act and to strengthen the U.S. response to water and sanitation challenges in developing countries. We have more clearly defined U.S. goals and objectives on water to respond to the Act and to take into account increasing demands for water—such as food production, energy, and the environment—and increasing risks, including the projected impacts of climate change. We have identified countries where water will be a priority for U.S. foreign assistance based on country need and where we believe U.S. assistance can make the most meaningful impact. We have developed a water framework that describes the kinds of investments the United States will make at the local, national, and regional levels to address water and sanitation challenges. We have developed strategies that identify region-specific goals, approaches, and outcomes. And we have developed information to assist USAID operating units to program resources for drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to ensure that USAID meet its statutory obligations.

We believe these are significant steps that represent a growing commitment by the United States to make water a core element of our foreign assistance. The 2008, 2007 and 2006 Reports can be found at www.state.gov/g/oes/water.

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