Politicizing discussions on water governance
Recommendations for creating equitable water futures in cities in the Global South

Summary

While important on its own, ensuring the success of SDG 6.1 (clean water and sanitation for all) is crucial in an urban world experiencing multiple environmental stresses. This is especially important for cities in the Global South where more people are increasingly living in cities, and governments lack capacities, magnifying the scale and complexity of challenges. The stakes of not achieving SDG 6.1 in cities are high. Lack of affordable access to clean water has consequences not only for health and well-being,1 but also for political outcomes such as deepening inequities in cities. Considering that the world will continue to experience environmental stresses including risks such as spread of disease, it will be low-income populations that will suffer the most.

Despite making some gains, the world is falling behind on reaching SDG 6.1. One out of four people lack access to clean and accessible drinking water (WHO, UNICEF, World Bank 2022). To maintain progress and make further headway, more funding and effort is required. Yet, official development assistance (ODA) has declined in the water and sanitation (WASH) sectors in the aftermath of Covid-19 (Nomura et al. 2023). Moreover, even stated gains are considered as under-reporting of shortages, especially for those living in informal settlements in cities (Beard and Mitlin 2021), or those experiencing homelessness (Meehan et al. 2022). These challenges underscore the importance of
getting it right in ensuring clean and affordable water for all, especially low-income populations in cities in the Global South.

In addition to increasing funding for WASH, a deeper understanding of experienced water shortages, which may be invisible in global metrics, is crucial. Such knowledge could contribute towards the success of SDG 6.1. Based on published and ongoing research on water issues in Karachi, Pakistan, and Metro Manila, Philippines, the author suggests three recommendations.

Recommendation 1: Focus on links between water and informal settlements should be included in
global monitoring frameworks.


Global monitoring frameworks, like the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization, identify key metrics to measure progress on securing water for all. Yet, these metrics overlook crucial links between water access and status of housing tenure. Many in informal settlements are unable to get clean, regular, and affordable water. The links between housing tenure and water access (and price and quality of water) should be accounted in the JMP and other such policy frameworks to provide a more accurate understanding of ground realities for many.

Recommendation 2: Local governments and international development agencies should fund research co-created with local communities on water governance.


Deep water inequities come into being through governance patterns and urban planning. These inequities illustrate the political nature of water governance in cities. This understanding is required for creating more equitable futures in cities in the Global South especially considering increasing urbanization and multiple environmental stresses. One way to develop this knowledge is by co-creating it with urban poor communities that possess a deep awareness of their challenges. Local governments and international development agencies should fund such research to design effective
policy interventions.

Recommendation 3: Local governments should play a strong role to ensure affordable and clean water for the urban poor.


As local governments have capacities, and bear responsibility to meet the needs of residents of cities, they should play a stronger role to ensure access to water, especially for under-privileged populations. Corporations, community-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations lack capacities and political clout in contexts where technical solutions alone cannot overcome deep-rooted challenges of governance and political will.

The full report can be downloaded below.

Policy Recommendation(PDF)


1 World Health Organization, “Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)”.
(available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/water-sanitation-and-hygiene-wash#tab=tab_1)