World Bank water plans may benefit African countries

1 September 2010

A review of the World Bank's water strategy may affect sanitation infrastructure in Africa, after it called for a better approach to the matter.

"We can't properly tackle global priorities of food security, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change, public health and urbanisation unless we manage water better," said Julia Bucknall, water sector manager for the World Bank.

The report was launched yesterday (August 31st) at the organisation's headquarters and found a number of positive steps have been taken regarding the infrastructure.

Lending in this sector was found to have risen and higher-than-average satisfactory ratings have been consistently noted.

However, there is room for improvement and the report - entitled Sustaining Water for All in a Changing Climate - discovered there has been slow progress on one of the Millennium Development Goals.

The United Nations explains the targets were adopted in the year 2000 by world leaders, who have five years left to achieve the developments specified.

Category: Water