Skip to main content

This technical report is part of the overall post-conflict environmental assessment of the democratic republic of the Congo

TitleWater issues in the democratic republic of the Congo : challenges and opportunities : technical report
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsPartow, H
Pagination94 p.; 4 tab.; photographs
Date Published2011-01-01
PublisherUNEP, United Nations Environment Programme
Place PublishedNairobi, Kenya
Keywordsaccess to water, congo, demography, drinking water, population, population increase, water shortage
Abstract

Africa’s most “water-rich” country, the democratic republic of the Congo (DRC), is facing an acute drinking water supply crisis. Only an estimated 26 per cent of its population has access to safe drinking water, well below the approximately 60 per cent average for Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to the deteriorated state of its water infrastructure – undermined by years of underinvestment and conflict – and a rapidly growing population, the trend in water supply coverage was until recently in regression. Social and public health consequences of water service breakdown have been considerable. The poorest sections of society have been disproportionately impacted by the decline in service delivery and rising water costs, both in rural areas but increasingly in rapidly urbanizing cities. The DRC’s abundant water resources are a major asset for national development. Despite the great challenges constraining the water sector, these are not intractable problems and can be solved by effectively implementing astute investments and governance reforms. The strategic interventions proposed should help strengthen the water sector to fulfil its critical role in speeding up the DRC’s economic recovery and fund long-term development. [authors abstract]

NotesWith 24 references
Custom 1824

Locations

Disclaimer

The copyright of the documents on this site remains with the original publishers. The documents may therefore not be redistributed commercially without the permission of the original publishers.

Back to
the top