The Global Water Crisis: Addressing an Urgent Security - Unu-inweh ...

Introduction
Despite being a water-abundant country, Afghanistan still struggles to make the best of its natural resources and to achieve
water security for its citizens. A reform of the water sector was initiated as early as 2002, yet the ‘good governance’
principles, enshrined in the recently passed Water Law of 2009 (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 2009) and the Water Sector
Strategy (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 2008), have yet to demonstrate results on the ground. More noteworthy, early
signs of a lack of buy-in for a new model of governance introduced by the international community are now emerging.
In fact, while a drive towards a more infrastructure- and technically-oriented development is seemingly prioritized by
the government, this paper argues that in Afghanistan, a choice cannot be made between developing infrastructure or
better governance and management: it is about developing both in an integrated way. Additionally, in order to improve
governance, it is now necessary to take an adaptive approach to adapt and fine-tune imported models in order to better
fit the realities on the ground, and to build on already existing water management institutions.
1. Salient Figures of Water Insecurity
1.1. Failing to meet essential needs: safe drinking water
Afghanistan is among the countries with the lowest accessibility to safe drinking water sources and hygienic sanitation.
Despite massive interventions by the international community – US $19 billion has been spent by the U.S. alone, the
largest donor of Afghanistan’s reconstruction (Christian Science Monitor, 2011) – the most recent national survey shows
that only 27% of the population has access to protected water sources, while only 5% has access to improved sanitation
(MRRD and CSO, 2009). Furthermore, the current trend of progress at 1% per year indicates that Afghanistan will be
delayed in meeting its water targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of reducing the number of the Afghan
population without access to safe drinking water by half by 2020, by more than 20 years (Figure 1). As a result, every
hour, six children under the age of five die because of the effects of diarrhea (CPHD, 2011).
Improved drinking water coverage (%)
2045
2040
2035
2030
2025
2020
2015
2010
2005
2000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Coverage rate
Source: Calculated based on MRRD and CSO (2007, 2009).
Figure 1. The projected trend for meeting the MDG target for access to safe drinking water in Afghanistan (CPHD, 2011).
Water Governance Reform in Afghanistan: Early Lessons for a Water-secure Future
Part 2
111