Summary

This document provides an overview of Australia's efforts to increase access to safe water and sanitation in the world's poorest regions.

Description

Improving public health by increasing access to safe water and sanitation is one of the ten development objectives of the Australian aid program.

Access to safe water and basic sanitation combined with good hygiene behaviours (WASH) underpins Australia's ability to deliver public health outcomes and significant economic benefits for developing countries.

Australia's approach will centre on three pillars:

1. Increased access to safe water and basic sanitation: Facilitate increased access to safe water and basic sanitation that results in the provision of universally accessible facilities
2. Improved hygiene behaviour: Support the development of increased capacity to ensure hygiene promotion services bring about sustainable behaviour change
3. Creating sustainable services: Support policies and strategies to keep services operating through effective governance and partnerships with multilateral agencies, civil society and business.

Investment in WASH programs will use delivery mechanisms and partnerships that are effective and deliver real results for poor people.

Australia will continue to focus support for WASH on East Asia and the Pacific with expanding programs in Africa and South Asia, particularly to support improvements in global sanitation by 2015.

Saving lives–Improving public health by increasing access to safe water and sanitation [PDF 250kb]
Saving lives–Improving public health by increasing access to safe water and sanitation [Word 461kb]