Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

E N S U R I N G T H E K N O W L E D G E B A S E : A C O L L E C T I V E R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y / 3 6 5Figure 14.7: ICT expenditure as percentage of GDP% of GDP12108642AustraliaUnited KingdomJapanSouth AfricaCanadaBrazilUnited StatesNorwayMalaysiaChinaVenezuelaIndiaThailandMexicoEgypt01995 2001This figure shows the dramatic difference in expenditure on Information and Communication Technologies between developed and developing countries.Source: Extracted from the World Bank Group web site, 2002. Data by Country – ICT at a Glance tables. Data and Statistics. http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata.htmlNew technologies can improve the method and reliability ofgathering data. Advances in ICTs can improve the ability of waterprofessionals to gather, analyse and share data. They also provide afurther avenue for spreading the word, enabling individuals andinterested parties to access information more readily. But caution isneeded – access to ICTs remains highly uneven across the world.Developing countries, which arguably have the greatest need forthe benefits of ICT in overcoming their geographical and economicisolation, are hindered by the digital divide.The challenges are clear. The overriding urgency is to enhancethe capacities of low-income countries to develop their ownexpertise, while also ensuring they have full access to the globalbody of knowledge. The goal is fundamentally an ethical one,linking water to equity and social justice. It is a task that demands asustained pursuit of international collaboration and investment tomeet the UN Millennium Development Goal and the World Summiton Sustainable Development target of halving the proportion ofpeople without access to safe drinking water and sanitation by2015, and to pave the way for fairer, more sustainable developmentby integrating social, economic and environmental concerns.Progress since Rio at a glanceAgreed actionProgress since RioRegard ensuring knowledge as a practical basis for sustainable water resource managementConduct feasibility of water resource assessment services by 2000Establish long-term target of fully operational services including hydrometric networksEnsure effective sharing of knowledge and technologyUnsatisfactory Moderate Satisfactory