Media Advisory: USAID Releases its First Water and Development Strategy

Media Advisory: 

USAID Releases its First Water and Development Strategy

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

USAID Press Office

202-712-4320

USAID Water and Development Strategy, 2013-2018 (pdf - 2 MB)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 21, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will join Senator Richard Durbin, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Congressman Ted Poe to release the U.S. Government’s first Water and Development strategy.
This strategy will address global water-related development needs by providing a clear understanding of USAID's approach to water programming, emphasizing how sustainable use of water is critical to saving lives. To achieve this goal, the Strategy sets two strategic objectives:

• Water for Health – Improve health outcomes through the provision of sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
• Water for Food – Manage water for agriculture sustainably and more productively to enhance food security.

Globally, over 780 million people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.5 billion people lack access to sanitation. Projections are that by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population could be living in severe water stress conditions. This strategy reflects the commitment of the U.S. government to work in partnership with the global community to meet these challenges.
To view the entire USAID Water and Development Strategy, please click on this link:  http://www.usaid.gov/documents/1865/usaid-water-and-development-strategy-2013-2018

WHO:	USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX)
WHAT:	Celebration of the launch of USAID’s water strategy
WHEN:	Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
WHERE:	Kennedy Caucus Room Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC

RSVP:  Press must RSVP by Monday, May 20^th to the USAID Press Office USAIDPressOfficers@usaid.gov and Max Gleischman Max_Gleischman@durbin.senate.gov. To follow and discuss the event on Twitter, use hashtag: #WaterStrategy

Global Waters - USAID Newsletter

Water friends, please see below for details about a new water newsletter published by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

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Dear Water and Development Colleagues –

Global demand for freshwater is doubling every 20 years, yet water is becoming increasingly scarce in a number of countries, including many in the developing world. As you all know well, water is central to the success of our sustainable development efforts. Whether for domestic use, agriculture, industry, energy, or the environment, the availability of adequate supplies of good quality freshwater underpins the hopes and expectations of billions of people for improved well-being and affluence.

In his inaugural address, President Obama pledged to help the developing world address its water challenges. And last March, Secretary Clinton challenged USAID and the State Department to elevate our freshwater access efforts and to ensure that we look at these challenges in an integrated manner. Climate change, food security and global health issues are three of our top priorities, and water is integrally linked to each challenge. In order to maximize the impact from our development investments we must enhance integrated programming, utilize smart science and innovation, build strategic partnerships, and learn from experience.

As one step on this path, I am pleased to announce the launch of Global Waters – the first newsletter dedicated to the broad portfolio of water-related activities of the United States Agency for International Development. Through this new bi-monthly newsletter, we wish to share with you the many challenges and opportunities, and the approaches and lessons learned that reflect upon USAID programming in the water arena. Each issue will highlight the work of our many implementing partners, as well as some of the more intimate stories of how the Agency’s work directly affects individuals, families, and communities around the globe.

If you wish to receive Global Waters on a regular basis, I encourage you to subscribe today, and to share this with your colleagues and partners who may find this of interest. You can do so by clicking on the following link, where you will find the full newsletter and subscription details.

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/water/globalwaters/

I hope you will take time to peruse Global Waters and continue to help us build public support and understanding for these critical development challenges.

Dr Rajiv Shah

USAID Administrator