International aid departments and budgets came into existence in India and South Africa, previously recipients of aid. There were fewer ‘less developed countries’ in 2011 than ever before; child mortality fell, life expectancy rose and more children attended school. 25.
However, this natural wealth is not yet always reaching the poorest or those most marginalised, and safe water and sanitation remain a distant dream for many citizens.
The challenging context 26.
Population growth and demographic shifts present major challenges. The world’s population hit 7 billion in 2011 and unplanned urbanisation is a grave concern. Without commensurate development, this poses huge challenges to sustainable access to water and sanitation services.
27.
Another major demographic shift has occurred in the location of poor people. Whereas 20 years ago 95% of poor people lived in poor countries, 75% of poor people now live in pockets of poverty within middle income countries.1
28.
There has been significant political instability and conflict in West Africa. Post-election violence in Nigeria resulted in a number of attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram across the country. In Mali, the Tuareg rebellion and subsequent conflict has effectively divided the country in two. People have been displaced in Burkina Faso and Niger and there have been reports of human rights abuse and shortages of water and decent hygiene facilities. To compound this, the Sahel region was hit by prolonged drought and food insecurity, which affected millions of people, especially in Mali and Niger.
1
Sumner A (2011) 'Poverty in Middle-Income Countries', Bellagio Initiative Briefing Summary. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.
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