Transcript Slide 1

Midterm Review of
Water and Sanitation
Sector
22 – 23 June 2009, Baghdad
Partnerships and Coordination
UN Agencies
UNICEF, UNDP, UNHABITAT, FAO, WHO,
UNHCR, UNOCHA, UNOPS, ESCWA, IOM
NGOs (National/ International)
ACTED, Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps,
International Medical Corps, HELP, International
Relief and Development, Premiere Urgence,
Norwegian Churches Aid, Relief International,
Mercy Hands
Chaired by
UNICEF
Line Ministries
Ministry of Planning and Development
Cooperation, Ministry of Municipalities and
Public Works, Ministry of Municipalities in KRG,
Mayoralty of Baghdad, Ministry of Environment
UN Assistance Strategy
To contribute to the achievement of the goals defined in the National
Development Strategy (NDS), International Compact with Iraq (ICI)
benchmarks, and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Water and Sanitation Sector:
National priority or goals (NDS 2007- 2010)
• Full access to water and health services
ICI Targets
4.4.1.5 Reduce population without access to safe drinking water and
sanitation to 10% Urban, 30% Rural (Baseline: UNDP Unmet Basic
Needs Survey – 40.4% population without access to safe drinking
water and sanitation of which 20% in Urban and 60.4% in Rural);
4.4.2 Address the needs of IDPs, refugees and returnees while also
enabling them to realize their potential as contributing members of
the economic community.
4.4.1.4 Improve health and nutrition of all Iraqis as a cornerstone of
welfare and economic development.
UN Assistance Strategy (cont.)
Millennium Development Goals
MDG 4 : Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the
under-five mortality rate.
MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability.
• Target 7C: Halve, by 2015 the proportion of people without
sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation.
The Water and Sanitation Sector assists the government in
addressing the remaining MDGs indirectly.
Rehabilitation activities by UN agencies to
increase access to safe water
Sectoral Achievements and Contributions (cont.)
• 1.3 million people with improved access to safe water through
rehabilitation/installation of 61 water treatment units and 67
water networks.
• About 300,000 people with improved sanitation services through
rehabilitation of 19 sewage facilities and provision of garbage
collection and disposal services.
• 1,500 government staff with technical knowledge on various
water and sanitation related topics with 32% of women
participation.
Sectoral Achievements and Contributions (cont.)
• 33 water and wastewater quality control laboratories
rehabilitated and provided with water treatment chemicals,
laboratory supplies and computerized Laboratory Information
Management System;
• Humanitarian assistance provided to 1.4 million vulnerable Iraqis
across the country;
• Employment
generated
throughout
rehabilitation projects in Iraq
implementation
of
Lessons Learned
Good practices (programmatic)
• Joint programming has lead to efficient and cost effective
project implementation;
• Involvement of senior government staff as part of
Technical Working Groups contributes their capacity
development and ensures national ownership;
• Exposure of senior government staff and decision-makers
to global best practices enables acceptance of modern
methods/ approaches;
Lessons Learned (cont.)
Implementation (operational)
• Timelines for project completion should be rationalised
taking into consideration limited capacities of
contractors, weak coordination mechanisms between
central and governorate levels, delayed decision making,
insecure environment and local disturbances;
• Improved co-ordination among various partners at the
field level is important to ensure achievement of project
results;
Lessons Learned (cont.)
Risk mitigation and management
• Situation analysis and assessments should be conducted
prior to commencement of activities.
• Access to water and sanitation services alone will not
reduce incidence of water borne deceases unless hygiene
practices are promoted and implemented.
• Assessment of drinking water coverage in cholera-prone
areas contributed to cholera prevention.
Partnership and coordination
• Partnership with International and local NGOs has facilitated
humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities.
• Need to enhance collaboration to ensure all sectoral
activities are well coordinated with government authorities,
donors, UN agencies and NGOs.
• Need for systematic inter-sectoral collaboration between
Ministries.
Lessons Learned (cont.)
Challenges and Constraints
• Absence of national policies weakens national level planning.
• Limited capacities at Governorate levels for planning,
implementation and monitoring.
• Countrywide, only 72.5% people have access to safe water
and 26% to sewage facilities and 45% with solid waste
collection services (MMPW data for 15 governorates) as a
result uncollected solid waste and untreated sewage - an
increasing health risk.
• Frequent shortages in power supply hamper proper
functioning of water and sewerage facilities.
• Inadequate capital and Operations and Maintenance
investment (approximately 50% gap between planned and
allocated annual budgets).
Key Recommendations
• Need to assist the Government of Iraq in adopting a
more holistic approach towards integrated water
resources management.
• Need to assist Government of Iraq in trans-boundary
water consultations with riparian states.
• Regional experiences and lessons learned on
drought assessment, early warning systems, drought
mitigation measures and response plans should be
shared at the regional level.
• Focus on combating water pollution, rationalizing
water consumption and increased re-use of waste
water will minimize deterioration of water resources
and improve water quality.
Key Recommendations (cont.)
• Enhanced Monitoring and Surveillance is essential (status
of Water and Sanitation infrastructure, Early Warning Early
Action for drought, humanitarian situation, water quality).
• Need to emphasis on rural water and sanitation to attain
MDG.
• Increased Technical Assistance for upstream policy
development and planning at national and governorate
level is crucial:
• development of standard guidelines, sectoral plans,
• development Master Plans at the governorate level.
• With the imminent closure of the UNDG Iraq Trust Fund,
UN Water and Sanitation Sector will need to look at
alternative ways of funding.
Key Recommendations (cont.)
Recommended changes to the Water and Sanitation results matrix
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Development of Water and Sanitation policy;
Renewed focus on capacity development for ministry and governorate
staff;
Inclusion of hygiene aspects in policy level documents and program
planning;
Pilot projects to demonstrate appropriate technologies and
environment friendly approaches (e.g. to reduce carbon footprint);
Support the development of governorate-level master plans and
budget execution;
Reduced emphasis on infrastructure rehabilitation activities;
Readjustment of targets for the remaining period of the UN Assistance
Strategy;
The need for increased inter-sectoral collaboration with Health,
Education, and Shelter Sectors.