Human Development Report 2006, Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis

Safe water and sanitation are fundamental to human development When people are deprived in these areas, they face diminished opportunities to realize their potential as human beings. Unsafe water and inadequate sanitation are two of the great drivers of world poverty and inequality. They claim millions of lives, destroy livelihoods, compromise dignityand diminish prospects for economic growth. Poor people, especially poor women and children, bear the brunt of the human costs.

            At the start of the 21^st century we live in a world of unparalled prosperity. Yet almost 2 million children die each year for want of clean water and toilet. More than 1 billion people do not have access to safe water and 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation. Meanwhile, inadequateaccess to water as a productive resource consigns millions to lives of poverty and vulnerability.

            The report documents the systematic violation of the right to water, identifies the underlying causes of the crisis and sets out an agenda for change. This year’s Human Development Report  looks at an issue that profoundly influences human potential and progress towards the Millenium Development Goals.

Contents:

Foreword

Acknowledgement

Overview: Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis

Chapter 1. Ending the Crisis in Water and Sanitation

Lessons from history

Today’s global crisis in water and sanitation

The human development costs of the crisis

The crisis hits the poor hardest-by far

The Millenium Development Goals and beyond-getting on track

Making process a reality

Chapter 2.Water for Human Consumption

Why the poor pay more-and get less water

Managing the network for efficiency and equity

Delivering the outcomes-the policies

Chapter 3. The Vast Deficit in Sanitation

The 2.6 billion people without sanitation

Why does sanitation lag so far behind water

Bringing sanitation for all within reach

The way ahead

Chapter 4. Water Scarcity, Risk and Vulnerability

Rethinking scarcity in a water-stressed world

Dealing with risk, vulnerability and uncertainty

The way ahead

Chapter 5. Water Competition in Agriculture

Water and human development-the livelihood links

Competition, rights and the scramble for water

Better governance in irrigation systems

Greater water productivity for the poor

The way ahead

Chapter 6. Managing Transboundary Waters

Hydrological interdependence

The costs of not cooperating

The case for cooperation

River basin cooperation for human development

Notes

Bibliographic Note

Bibliography