WASHINGTON, DC, NOV 22, 2017 -- The U.S. Government recently released its U.S. Global Water Strategy to address the challenges of the global water crisis that may increase disease, undermine economic growth, foster insecurity and state failure, and generally reduce the capacity of countries to advance priorities that support U.S. interests.
The report, requested by Congress in 2014, lays out four goals: increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation; improve water management; protect watersheds from pollution; and prevent conflict over rivers, lakes, and aquifers that cross political boundaries.
The strategy identifies 12 high-priority countries and regions, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, that will be the first in line for U.S. funding. Afghanistan and Haiti are also on the list, as are Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. These areas were selected based on need, willingness to work with U.S. partners, and the likelihood that aid will improve health and well-being. The report describes the challenge, provides a vision of the global water strategy, and describes a number of U.S. Government strategic objectives to address the challenges. The report also identifies Agency-specific plans designed to help meet these needs.
