*EPF205 02/11/2003
Fact Sheet: "Water for the Poor" to Focus on Supply, Sanitation
(Initiative will be discussed at Third World Water Forum in Kyoto) (700)

A February 11 State Department fact sheet says the Water for the Poor Initiative, to be discussed at the Third World Water Forum next month in Kyoto, Japan, calls for investments of over $2,500 million from the United States, Japan and other international partners to improve sustainable management of fresh water resources in developing countries.

Following is the text of the fact sheet:

(begin fact sheet)

Fact Sheet
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Washington, DC
February 11, 2003

Water for the Poor Signature Initiative

Purpose of Initiative: This initiative will improve sustainable management of fresh water resources in developing countries. It will accelerate and expand international efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Declaration Goals and implement the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation including halving, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation. WSSD, the United States committed to working with other governmental and non-governmental partners to address three key objectives:

-- Access to clean water and sanitation services -- The U.S. proposed total funding commitments of $510 million over the next three years for water supply, sanitation and health activities. Of this, $450 million is for project grant funding in USAID client countries around the world. In addition, the United States committed to engage in new partnerships, including the West Africa Water Initiative, an alliance in which $4.45 million of USAID resources will complement over $36 million in resources from private foundations, NGOs, universities, international organizations, and industry groups to support water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in West Africa. In a similar urban water partnership, $11 million of USAID grant funds will combine with an estimated $55 million from other donors, local and national governments, associations of private water services companies, corporations, foundations, NGOs, and slum dwellers organizations to expand and improve water supply and sanitation services in cities and municipalities, starting with Panama, South Africa and India. Finally, the U.S. also proposed a $45 million investment in local currency investment guarantees, coupled with technical assistance, to encourage private investment in water services -- leveraging as much as $600 million in additional resources for developing countries around the world.

-- Improved watershed management -- The United States will invest nearly $400 million over the next three years to promote management and protection of water resources at the watershed scale. Activities will include the development of regional and national policies and regulatory frameworks for joint and integrated management of shared water resources, using advanced technologies -- such as Geographic Information Systems -- for better watershed management and interventions to reduce contamination.

-- Increasing the productivity of water -- The U.S. will invest $60 million over the next three years to increase the efficiency of water use in industrial and agricultural activities. A critical goal is to reduce water losses from irrigated agriculture.

Resources: The United States proposed a total of up to $970 million would be invested over the next three years (2003-2005). It is anticipated that these investments will mobilize more than $1.6 billion for water-related activities globally.

Partners: The United States will share leadership with Japan and other interested developing and developed country partners. Japan and the U.S. have committed to working together to strengthen their cooperation and pursue joint or parallel projects wherever possible, aiming at maximizing the efficiency and synergetic effects of their efforts. Japan will focus on improving access to safe and stable water supply and sanitary sewage systems, implementing its grant and loan aid - as well as technical assistance efforts - in close cooperation with local municipalities, NGOs, and the business sector.

Partnership efforts to date: New and ongoing activities are proceeding to address each of the three objectives in over 50 countries, with additional activities planned for the near future. Since WSSD, meetings with developed and developing country partners have taken place to explore additional leveraging and collaboration possibilities. The Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, March 2003 is an opportunity to continue the dialogue on this partnership.

(end fact sheet)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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