§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he is giving to projects which improve access to clean water in the developing world. [171017]
§ Hilary BennDFID is committed to supporting implementation of the Millennium Development Goals on access to safe water and provision of basic sanitation, and to the commitments made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development for better management of water resources. DFID's goal in the water sector is to enable poor people to lead healthier and more productive lives by helping to increase and sustain their access to safe drinking water supply and appropriate sanitation. DFID supports an integrated approach to sustainable water resource management, water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion.
DFID currently has bilateral programmes in many countries and supports several major multilateral initiatives to improve access to clean water and sanitation. DFID is also working with other bilateral and multilateral agencies to develop more effective ways of attracting financing at a global level that are linked to the development of effective national water sector strategies and policies.
1710WDFID's recent Water Action Plan sets out how DFID will contribute to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), through ongoing commitments to water supply, sanitation and water resource management.