Launch of UNDP Human Development Report 2006

VIENNA, 8 November (UN Information Service) -- UNIS Vienna, together with the Austrian Development Cooperation, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the UNDP Human Development Report 2006, at a press briefing in Vienna, Austria, today. The Report was launched under embargo until 9 November, 14:00 local time. The focus of this year's Report was "Power, poverty and the global water crisis".

The Report was presented by Anton Mair, Deputy Director-General, Austrian Development Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Juerg Staudenmann, Water Governance Advisor, UNDP Regional Centre in Bratislava. The press briefing was moderated by Sonja Wintersberger, Information Officer, UNIS Vienna.

Mr. Staudenmann drew attention to the growth in overall disparity between and within countries, which was hindering progress. People in Norway (the country with the highest Human Development Index (HDI) rank) earned 40 times more, and lived twice as long, than people in Niger (the country with the lowest HDI rank). The richest 500 people in the world earned more than the poorest 416 million people. The greatest challenge for future human development was to fight the general apathy towards such disparities.

On the topic of the global water crisis, Mr. Staudenmann emphasized that the lack of water and sanitation led to diminished opportunities to realize people's capabilities and human potential. The human cost of the crisis was shown by the 1.8 million deaths of children each year as a result of diarrhoea (4,900 deaths a day), the 443 million school days that were lost each year due to water-related illnesses, and the fact that almost 50 per cent of all people in developing countries were suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits. On current trends, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of halving the number of people without access to water and sanitation would be missed. An investment of US $10 billion per year was required - an increase of current ODA allocation from 5 per cent to 10-15 per cent. On the other hand, the economic benefits of meeting the MDG target would amount to US $38 billion, with an economic rate of return of US $8 for each US $1 invested in achieving the water and sanitation target. There were no ready-made blueprints for reform but four foundations were crucial for success: making water a human right, drawing up national strategies for water and sanitation, increasing international aid and developing a Global Action Plan.

Mr. Mair drew attention to the fact that the Austrian Development Cooperation was working for the improvement of water supply and sanitation for many years through its programmes and projects. The water sector was closely linked to other areas: health, food security, energy, and poverty reduction, but also to political questions of decentralization and participation, good governance and protection of the environment. In the competition for access to water, the poor and the environment often lost out. "We are facing two challenges," said Mr Mair. "All people should have access to clean water at affordable prices. At the same time, the vital resource of water must be preserved in the long-term -- through sustainable and internationally coordinated management."

The Austrian Development Cooperation was supporting water projects and programmes in 14 countries. Around 12 per cent of budgetary funds for bilateral development cooperation were going directly to the water sector, especially directed at the establishment of water supply and sanitation in rural areas. The Austrian Development Cooperation was focusing on integrated water management, with a clear priority for providing water to schools and public facilities, with the aim of sustainable access to drinking water for all population groups. A success model of the Austrian Development Cooperation was Uganda, where water and sanitation systems in around 40 small urban settlements were being built or improved with Austrian help.

The briefing was followed by a questions and answers session.

In response to a question why countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan were not included in the Human Development Index ranking, Mr. Staudenmann explained that this was due to the lack of reliable and up-to-date data for some countries.

In response to a question on the Austrian development aid expenditure in relation to GDP, Mr. Mair said that there was now a political consensus in Austria to reach the EU agreement of 0.51 per cent GDP by 2010. Updated data on Austria's development aid expenditure was due to be published shortly.

In response to a question on whether there had been an attempt to channel or use funds that were remitted from migrant labour, which surpassed the ODA in many countries, Mr. Staudenmann confirmed that ODA was "a drop in the bucket" compared to the value of inward remittances. However, he said the more compelling fact was that only 0.5 per cent of GDP in developing countries was used for water issues, and it was important to reform policies at the national level. Mr. Mair added that remittances from migrant labour were often associated with very high transaction costs.

When asked about the role of water companies in relation to water supply, Mr. Staudenmann responded that water problems had to be dealt with not only at state level, but also in the economic sphere. International water companies played an important role and needed to ensure a reasonably priced water supply. Measures of public and private partnership should also guarantee that the poor had access to affordable drinking water.

In response to a question on gender issues in relation to water supply, Mr. Mair answered that through its development programmes, Austria was working to make the lives of women easier. Water sources were targeted to be placed near residential areas to shorten the distance that women must travel for water. Women were also being put in charge of these water sources.

A question was raised on the status of the global action plan, which was one of the recommendations of the Report. Mr. Staudenmann answered that currently, the measures to address the situation were uncoordinated and scattered. There needed to be an effort to coordinate and integrate various programmes. There was also a need for discussions among developing countries on joint solutions to water problems.