Off-track, off-target: why investment in water, sanitation and hygiene is not reaching those who need it most
Ending the global water, sanitation and hygiene crisis must now be counted as one of the biggest international development challenges of the 21st century. Almost 900 million people worldwide live without access to clean water, and over two and a half billion people live without adequate sanitation. This crisis is the primary cause of diarrhoea – the biggest killer of children in Africa and the second biggest killer of children in South Asia – and responsible for over two million deaths globally each year. Without a serious shift in approach, there is no sign that this unacceptable and avoidable tragedy of children dying before they reach the age of five is going to end anytime soon. Off-track, off-target explores why resources are not reaching those who need them most and why progress is slow, uneven and unjust. The report recommends key actions for national governments, donors, international agencies and civil society to break the vicious cycle and get off-track countries back on-track to meet the MDGs.