AWWA JAW56670

In the settlement and squatter areas of African cities, the urban poor, particularly children, face untold health risks from raw sewage, unsafe water, and solid waste. Safe drinking water is often nonexistent, and the water of questionable quality that is available may be touted as "safe" by vendors and sold at a price few can afford. The needs of the urban poor are mounting as the inevitable migration of people from rural areas to the cities continues. Land tenure is rare; financing and constructing homes, water systems, and other infrastructure are risky ventures. Municipalities are not equipped, financially or technically, to meet the basic water and sanitation needs of this growing population. WATER For PEOPLE and the US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of International Activities, have joined forces to make a difference. In October 2000, they launched the Water For Africa partnership to help bring safe, sustainable drinking water to Africa's urban poor. Education, capacity-building, and collaborative work with local stakeholder groups are under way in Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The social cohesion that is sometimes taken for granted in rural development projects is often absent because of the great diversity in religion, culture, and ethnicity, making settlement areas complicated environments in which to operate. To determine the assistance best suited for this complex environment, Water For Africa includes extensive evaluation in every project. Includes figure.