South Sudan Signs Global Compact on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

On the 3rd of June, The President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, signed the country’s Heads of State Initiative Compact on Water and Sanitation to ensure universal access to water and sanitation in the country.

According to UNICEF. the signing of the Compact on Water and Sanitation marks a significant step forward in improving the water and sanitation situation in South Sudan which faces many climate-related, social and economic challenges. According to the Joint Monitoring Programme of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, Sudan’s statistics show that access to ‘basic’ levels of water supply has fallen over time from 41% 𝑖𝑛 2010 to 39% 𝑖𝑛 2020. During the same period, access to adequate sanitation rose from 7% to 14% and the rate of open defecation dropped from 71% to 63%.

The WASH Compact is a tool to encourage accelerated progress on SDG 6.1 and 6.2: sustainable access to climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for all. The Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) alliance in partnership with the government of the Netherlands, UNICEF and IRC WASH encourage high level commitment and leadership, together with with multi-stakeholder sector collaboration and allocation of national resources towards this aim. In the case of Sudan, this achievement is a follow on from the UN Water Conference in March 2023, held in New York. It is built upon clear commitments that encompass increased budget allocations, innovative sources of financing, and comprehensive plans for the construction of vital water and sanitation infrastructure. These have been supported by the Dutch, German and Japanese governments together with the World Bank and the Ministry of Water Resources of South Sudan.  

Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator, stated that the signature of the compact by South Sudan shows commitment to the achievement of SDG 6.