According to a UNICEF/WHO special study on Africa that was released today at the World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal, attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets on water, sanitation, and hygiene in Africa will necessitate a substantial acceleration in the present rates of progress. On a continent where a lack of clean water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene services can endanger peace and development, this special study urges swift action.

Africa’s population will rise from 800 million to 1.3 billion people between 2000 and 2020. A report from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP), released today during a session of the World Water Forum hosted by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and UNICEF, estimates that approximately 500 million people now have access to basic drinking water and 290 million to basic sanitation services.

On the continent, however, 418 million people continue without access to even the most basic drinking water services, 779 million lack access to basic sanitation (including 208 million who nonetheless defecate in the open), and 839 million do not have accessibility to basic hygiene services.

According to the research, increasing current rates of growth for safely managed drinking water, safely managed sanitation, and basic hygiene services by 12 times, 20 times, and 42 times, correspondingly, is necessary for Africa to meet the SDG targets.

UNICEF urges quick action at a time when a lack of water exacerbates conflicts and water sources are targeted. We need water, sanitation and hygiene services in schools, especially for the advantage of female students who can skip class due to lack of lavatory access or having to fetch water. Children and women require secure access to water. We need global risk-sensitive and heat-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services for kids and their communities as climate change puts more strain on resources. And right away, please.

Within African countries, there are still large disparities between the richest and the poorest, between urban and rural areas, and across subnational regions. In major cities, half the population lacks access to basic hygiene services, and two out of every five persons lack access to securely treated drinking water, sanitation, or both. In rural regions, 3 out of 4 people lack access to clean sanitation, 4 out of 5 people lack access to safe drinking water, and 7 out of 10 people lack accessibility to basic hygiene services.

Within African countries, there are still significant gaps between the richest and the poorest, between urban and rural areas, and across subnational regions. In major cities, half the population lacks access to basic hygiene services, and two out of every five persons are denied access to securely treated drinking water, sanitation, or both. In rural regions, 3 out of 4 people lack access to clean sanitation, 4 out of 5 people lack access to clean drinking water, and 7 out of 10 people lack connection to basic hygiene services.