An African regional consultation on water in the post-2015 framework has resulted in the “Tunis Outcome Document for the Water Sector Post-2015 Thematic Consultations,” a common African position on water.
In the outcome document, participants call for a stand-alone goal on water in the post-2015 agenda.
The consultation took place on 1 March 2013, in Tunis, Tunisia, convened by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW).
1 March 2013: An African regional consultation on water in the post-2015 framework has resulted in the “Tunis Outcome Document for the Water Sector Post-2015 Thematic Consultations,” a common African position on water. In the outcome document, participants call for a stand-alone goal on water in the post-2015 agenda. The consultation took place on 1 March 2013, in Tunis, Tunisia, convened by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW).
Participants proposed to “ensure a water secure world for all,” with the aim of guaranteeing universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation and water for energy, food and green growth. This goal is in line with the Africa Water Vision 2025 of “an Africa where there is an equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for poverty alleviation, socio economic development, regional cooperation and environment,” which was developed at an AMCOW-organized water consultation on the margins of the meeting of the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP) in Liberia, in January 2013.
Participants agreed on three primary targets to support a water-secure world for all. On water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), participants agreed on a target of “universal access to safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene by 2030.” Under water resources management, participants proposed to increase productive use of water resources under managed conditions to “X% of harvest potential by 2030.” To address wastewater and water quality management, participants proposed “by 2030 water quality is assured and safeguarded for all uses.”
Participants also proposed secondary targets in the three areas, which corresponded to e-consultations hosted on the World We Want 2015 platform as part of the global thematic consultations on water co-led by UN-Water, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
Participants also recognized the need for continued efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on water and sanitation.
The consultation included 74 representatives from African governments, international organizations, river and lakes basin organizations, and women and youth representatives. AMCOW is a Specialized Technical Committee on Water and Sanitation to the African Union (AU). [AMCOW Press Release] [Tunis Outcome Document] [Water Consultation Website] [IISD RS Story on Africa Consultations on Water in Liberia]