UN-HABITAT Water and Sanitation Trust Fund annual report 2006
The UN-HABITAT experience in the water and sanitation sector indicates that enhancing capacity in the sector alone will not lead to improvement in access to basic services for the urban poor unless these are closely linked to follow-up investments. With a view to enhancing its effectiveness and outreach in serving its member countries, and as a direct response to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, UN-HABITAT announced the establishment of a Water and Sanitation Trust Fund on World Habitat Day, October 7, 2002. The objective of the Fund is to create an enabling environment for pro-poor investment in water and sanitation in developing country cities, and support implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Millennium Development Goals, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. The Trust Fund supports cities and communities which have demonstrated their commitment, to promote investment in water and sanitation that are specifically targeted to the poorest of the poor. A fast-track mechanism for reaching out to the urban poor, the Fund provides a bridge for them to access benefits from city-wide sector improvements which often by-pass them. This annual report for 2006 highlights the major outputs and outcomes of various activities supported by WSTF. During this period, the programme delivery capacity of UN-HABITAT has further strengthened with the engagement of additional project management staff in the regions, and through greater involvement of Habitat Programme Managers (HPMs) at country level. The year 2006 has seen the Water for Cities Programme complete more than 66 per cent of Un-HABITAT's operational activities. A rapid gender assessment methodology developed by Water for African Cities has been adopted by 17 participating cities in 14 countries.