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Good Health and Well-Being
Acknowledgements
The Global Report on Sanitation and Wastewater Management in Cities and Human Settlements was prepared with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The preparation of the Report was entrusted to a consortium of partners led by Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP). The other consortium members included Aguaconsult (UK) University College London (UCL) (UK) Thuyloi University (TLU) (Vietnam) International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) (Burkina Faso) The GSMA (UK) and Eastern and Southern African Water and Sanitation Regulators Association (ESAWAS).
Executive summary
Sanitation and wastewater management are core to the health and wellbeing of individuals cities societies and whole environmental ecosystems. But halfway through the SDG era and despite being a public good sanitation continues to lag behind. Governments and intergovernmental organizations still lack critical data on the status of wastewater and faecal sludge treatment both globally and at the country level. There is a need for greater clarity and better guidance on what a public service approach to sanitation involves in practice. There are many cities across regions taking effective measures to improve sanitation — but guidance is needed to make universal access a reality.
Global Report on Sanitation and Wastewater Management in Cities and Human Settlements
Sanitation and wastewater management are core to the health and wellbeing of individuals cities societies and whole environmental ecosystems. But halfway through the SDG era and despite being a public good sanitation continues to lag behind. Governments and intergovernmental organizations still lack critical data on the status of wastewater and faecal sludge treatment both globally and at the country level. There is a need for greater clarity and better guidance on what a public service approach to sanitation involves in practice. There are many cities across regions taking effective measures to improve sanitation — but guidance is needed to make universal access a reality. This report provides the rationale for a strong and urgent public response to the urban sanitation challenge. Its key premise is that sanitation is a public good and sanitation services must be organised into public service systems. National and local governments should prioritize sanitation and wastewater as a public service — just like education health energy and other services where service authorities have a clear public mandate to ensure service delivery for all.
Foreword
As the world prepares to mark the halfway point in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals the dramatic and unacceptable figures on sanitation and wastewater are a stark reminder of the enormous challenges still lying ahead. 3.6 billion people accounting for nearly half of the global population still lack safely managed sanitation services and up to 494 million people practise open defecation. In addition over 80% of the world’s sewage is discharged untreated into the environment.
The way forward — bringing sanitation and wastewater management to the heart of urban development
Drawing on existing literature and primary data collection across 18 cities this study has underlined the scale of the challenge in strengthening sanitation and wastewater management at the global level while also demonstrating that many inspiring examples exist for cities and countries to follow. In this chapter we synthesize key conclusions and recommendations.
2023 Orange Book of Results
Key Results Achieved at the Country Level
The 2023 Orange Book of Results features more than 700 immediate results achieved by UNFPA at the country level in implementing the country programmes in 2023. These results were achieved in close collaboration with governments and other partners including civil society organizations. The publication reflects the accountability of UNFPA for achieving results and can be used as a learning tool.