Introduction: The African Sanitation Crisis

Why water and sanitation? 

Welcome to my blog on Water and Sanitation in Africa! 

For most of us, I'm sure the idea and process of acquiring water is overlooked. In the UK, and more broadly, the Global North, we are fortunate enough to face no challenges with accessing a reliable supply of water. We are blessed with the ease of access to safe water for domestic and industrial purposes. However, this is not the case globally… 

3.6 billion people do not have available safe sanitation services (CDC 2022)

2.3 billion people go without basic hygiene services (CDC 2022)

My blog will specifically focus on the water and sanitation crisis in Africa. I will be exploring a range of themes including the focus on water and sanitation in SDGs by the UN, the link between gender and sanitation, faecal contamination and the role of governance and effective management being implemented to work towards improvements and possible solutions. 

Understanding the basics 

Before diving straight into the details of the water and sanitation crisis in Africa, it is important to understand what is meant by the key terms 'water' and 'sanitation'. 

Water is a fundamental and one the most valuable resources on our planet. It is a core part of agricultural and industrial processes, as well as a vital aspect of sustaining the lives of living creatures including humans. The UN defines sanitation as the availability of faecal management and wastewater services that are private and secure dignity, establishing a clean and healthy environment for all. These facilities include the efficient collection, treatment and disposal of human waste and the promotion of hygiene necessary in certain environments.

Water and sanitation cannot be seen separately from one another. Simultaneously, they are both essential for improving education, health, and economic productivity of countries (UN). In 2010, the UN officially recognised access to water and sanitation as a human right, acknowledging that water is indispensable to our health and dignity (UN 2014). 

What's happening in Africa? 

Despite the declaration of water and sanitation as a human right there are still major disparities between and within countries. 

There is a stark difference between global water consumption patterns in the global south and the global north. The average person in the UK uses 334 litres of water per day, which is significantly more than the 47 litres of household water use per person in Africa (UNFPA 2002). As I previously mentioned, a populations' water consumption level is directly linked with their access to sanitation services. 

                                                                                                                                Figure 1

Figure 1 shows the global proportion of population which have access to safely managed sanitation services. It is clear to see African countries have the least access to these services in proportion to their population, specifically in the SSA. There are 839 million people in Africa that still lacked basic hygiene services (UNICEF 2022). 

As the blog develops, I hope to build and reflect on my understanding on the water and sanitation crisis in Africa, as well as gain a better insight into the different management and governance schemes that are being used to help improve the current situation. 


                                                                                                     



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