Keynote speech by His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, Chair of UNSGAB

Speech | 14-05-2008

To the CSD-16 Round Table Discussion "Investing in Africa to achieve Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development".

Madam Deputy Secretary-General, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

The flow of water symbolises the cycle of life. As water flows through the countryside, it nourishes and cleanses the surrounding land. When the flow stops, so does life itself. There is no substitute for water.

So when it comes to sustainable development, water is at the forefront. If this precious resource cannot be managed sustainably, we can forget any further development. Water is the key factor for socioeconomic development and food production. Sound and sustainable management of water resources may reduce the effects of climate change. What is more, water and sanitation contribute the most to improving health and comprehensively reducing poverty. In a nutshell, water is absolutely essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development, in particular in Africa.

The undeniable fact that water is THE starting point for investing in sustainable development is also confirmed in economic figures: every dollar invested in water and sanitation results in at least seven dollars' worth of productive activity. 12% of sub-Saharan Africa's national health budgets is spent on sanitation-related diseases; 50% of the hospital beds are occupied for the same reason. If the MDG target is achieved it would lead to 3 billion more working days and slash premature deaths. Besides being humane, this can also be valued at USD 1.7 billion. And 200 million days of school attendance could be gained by reducing diarrhoea.

We know that there are tremendous opportunities in Africa to develop agricultural potential and sustainably increase food production. Our main challenge is to find ways to produce more food by using less water. More crop per drop is what Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for in his Millennium declaration.

The current food crisis is getting a lot of attention. But solving today's problems will not be enough. To achieve sustainable solutions we also have to look forward and realise that by the end of the century the world will have 9 or 10 billion people who will all need food and water for life and livelihood. So we require nothing less than a new green revolution to make more water available. The need to produce more crop per drop is more vital than ever before! And I would like to stress that a few percent is not nearly enough here; we should be aiming at halving the amount of water that is now consumed for agriculture. Only if this is achieved can we afford to use such a precious resource for luxurious purposes like biofuels sustainably.

In order to overcome poverty and increase economic growth in the region, industrial development is essential. Africa has great potential for economic and social growth this century. In order to achieve this, a comprehensive approach to developing and managing its water resources is essential. At present Africa uses only 3.8% of its water resources for water supply, irrigation and hydropower. In other words, more than 96% of Africa's hydro-potential is still untapped!

Besides the need for clean energy and water, industrial development needs a healthy workforce. However, Africa is facing an ongoing, endemic water and sanitation crisis that debilitates and kills large numbers of people, limiting economic growth, educational access, and life opportunities. Most at risk are the poor, especially women and children in rural areas and in the growing cities and informal settlements. Integrated water resource management and crossborder cooperation among riparian states are powerful instruments in improving management and exploitation of these resources - and doing so sustainably.

This afternoon I would especially like to draw your attention to another subject: the worldwide sanitation crisis.

Ladies and gentlemen, more than 7500 people die every day because they lack adequate access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation. Only 62% of Africans have access to safe water and only 43% have access to adequate sanitation. Clean water and sanitation are not only about hygiene and disease. Sanitation is about health, dignity and development. If we invest in clean water and sanitation we invest in people and their social and economic development.

That is why the UN declared 2008 the 'International Year of Sanitation'.
This year I am travelling around the world in my capacity as Chair of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, better known as UNSGAB, to focus on the worldwide water and sanitation crisis, create awareness and get the subject on the political agenda.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have no more time to lose: things can only get worse in the wake of population growth and urbanisation, especially in Africa. And we all know that Africa is lagging far behind in achieving MDG 7, Target 10 on water and sanitation. And it is not only about MDG 7. We have to realise that without achieving this MDG, we cannot achieve other MDGs on health, education, child mortality and gender equality. Water is the key, and I am happy to see that this recognition is slowly but surely awakening.

I am therefore very pleased that African leaders have now really put Water and Sanitation on their political agenda.

Major steps in the right direction for the African continent were taken at the AfricaSan Conference in Durban last February, with a tangible agreement known as the e-Thekwini Declaration, including a number of important principles to tackle the sanitation challenges. At the same meeting, the new AfricaSan action plan 2008-2010 was launched, creating a sound basis for the implementation of projects and programmes in those regions most in need of immediate action. And I was happy to see that at the 1st African Water Week in Tunis further discussions took place on how to elaborate on these water and sanitation issues.

Once political leaders acknowledge the importance of water supply and sanitation for their countries' socioeconomic development, the responsible ministers can start implementing the plans that are ready and waiting. All it takes is real political will and financial commitment.

In this International Year of Sanitation, UNSGAB will continue to deliver the urgent message about water and sanitation at the highest international level, for example at the G8 in Hokaido, TICAD IV in Tokyo next week and at the African Union Summit of Heads of State in Sharm-el-Sheikh in late June this year. At this African Union Summit, water and sanitation issues will be the main topics of discussion. I sincerely hope that the Sharm-el-Sheikh declaration will reflect the positive spirit of the e-Thekwini declaration - and that it will incorporate its solid financial commitments. Otherwise our good intentions will become empty promises.

Ladies and gentlemen, CSD-13 was successful because agreement was reached on recommendations to advance the water and sanitation agenda, especially in Africa. During the last few days the progress made so far in following up the CSD recommendations has been reviewed.

I would like to quote the following paragraphs from the review, because they are crucial to the actions that should be taken in the future:

'Africa is lagging behind and serious investments and political commitment are needed. Efforts in sub-Saharan Africa need to focus on a systematic scaling up of infrastructure, rehabilitation of deteriorated water systems, capacity building and financial support. Equally important is a strong political commitment demonstrated through increased allocation of resources in national budgets.

Progress in the implementation of water and sanitation targets in many developing countries continues to be held back by inadequate technical and institutional capacities. Other difficulties and obstacles include lack of financial resources; inefficient institutions, policies, laws and regulations; lack of understanding and awareness about integrated water resources management and its relationship to poverty reduction; and limited success in raising funds from local capital markets and the private sector for infrastructure development.'

In Africa, commitment has been shown at a high level, and agreements have been made. But, ladies and gentlemen, UNSGAB's incentives and advice should ultimately lead to concrete action on the ground such as sustained water and sanitation solutions which dovetail with national sustainable development strategies.

National governments should set specific goals and financial targets for water and sanitation. Bilateral donors and International Financial Institutions should allocate Official Development Assistance (ODA) to build institutions, prepare infrastructure projects, and increase the capacity of developing countries' water operators to attract new financial resources and draw on existing commitments.

Ladies and gentlemen, UNSGAB's Hashimoto Action Plan formulates objectives for sanitation and Integrated Water Resources Management that can be achieved through 'our action' and 'your action'.

And as chairman of UNSGAB I constantly ask myself the question: Can we do more? The answer is: Of course we can. But we need to do so in close partnership with those who are responsible for better health and sufficient food production, with environmental managers and with those who manage land and water resources. On all levels we have to work together with as many people as possible. In the end, this is what will make sustainable development work for every individual and every community in every region.

Thank you.