New GLAAS findings

Findings from the latest edition of WHO and UN-Water’s Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) give the clearest-ever picture, from 121 countries, of where acceleration is needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 – water and sanitation for all by 2030.

• While 45 per cent of countries are on track to achieve their nationally-defined drinking-water coverage targets, only 25 per cent of countries are on track to achieve their national sanitation targets.
• Less than a third of countries reported having sufficient human resources required to carry out key WASH functions.
• There has been an increase in WASH budgets in some countries, but over 75 per cent of countries reported insufficient funding to implement their WASH plans and strategies.

The report also says that countries that are on track to meet their national drinking-water and sanitation targets are more likely to have: 

• Enough human and financial resources.
• Tariffs that cover operations and maintenance costs.
• Effective regulatory authorities.
• Higher utilization of domestic capital commitments.