Britain's aid watchdog has expressed concern over the UK's decision to cut funding for the water and hygiene initiatives by two-thirds from the overseas aid budget.
In an assessment of the UK’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) has raised concern over the programme’s budget being cut from 206.5 million pounds to an estimated 70 million pounds in 2021, according to an ICAI report.
The report titled “The UK’s changing approach to water, sanitation and hygiene” said the UK's target – under its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030 – is falling far short from being met. So far, progress is lagging well behind these ambitions.
Recent assessments suggest that the rate of progress needs to be increased fourfold if the 2030 targets are to be met, the report said.
As well as the financial gap, the SDG is threatened by unsustainable water usage, pollution of water sources, and the accelerating impacts of climate change, with more frequent and more severe droughts and flooding undermining sustainable WASH services, it added.
Tim Wainwright, chief executive of WaterAid UK, said, “The consequences are potentially devastating; lives unfulfilled or even cut short as girls and women have to walk further to collect water or drop out of school and diseases spreading more easily, while the climate crisis rages.”
The UK still has a chance – through its forthcoming International Development Strategy – to improve the lives of more of the poorest people and regain its position as a world leader on this issue, he said.
To achieve this, it needs to restore the aid budget to 0.7 per cent and increase funding for water, sanitation and hygiene alongside technical expertise, he added.
Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh, said the foreign aid has significant positive impacts on the people in Bangladesh, which has also recognised the role that WASH can play in supporting gender equity and improving health outcomes for women and children.
Funding cuts mean most vulnerable people are being neglected, she added.
