Debate on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and sustainable development

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is about access to water and is commonly used by non-governmental organisations and aid agencies. It covers accessibility, water quality and water safety, and encompasses drinking water, sanitation (for example, access to toilets) and hygiene practices (for example, handwashing). In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognised the human right to water and sanitation. In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by UN Member States, including SDG6 for clean water and sanitation.

SDG6 aims to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”, prompting nations to act to deliver targets relating to WASH. It calls for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. It also aims to end defecation in the open, improve water quality and water use efficiency, and encourage sustainable abstractions (removal of water from the environment) and supply of freshwater.

The UK undertakes both national and international action to deliver on the targets of SDG6. The UK has made significant progress towards the targets of SDG6 in the UK. Internationally, the UK spent around £1.8 billion in bilateral aid on WASH-related activities from 2009 to 2022. However, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact has questioned how sustainable UK WASH interventions have been in the past and the degree of UK commitment to the sector, given recent reductions in UK aid spending.