Achieving the MDGs of Water and Sanitation in Sub ... - UNU-IAS

Yet, the Socio-Economics of Investment in Water
and Sanitation would be enormous in SSA
countries
• In SSA, every dollar invested in water and sanitation provision
would yield an economic return of at least US $10 (WHO, 2004).
• Improved sanitation would give every household an additional
1,000 hours a year to work, study, and rest. The amount of time
saved equates to an estimated US $100 billion each year. (UN-
Water, 2008).
• Meeting the MDG water target would increase school attendance
by 272 million school days per year and give rise to an increase of
320 million productive days for the 15 to 59 year age group.
• If schools are equipped with safe, private sanitation ti facilities, girls
will be much more likely to attend and stay in school. In many SSA
countries a 1% increase in female secondary schooling results in a
0.3% increase in economic growth (UN-Water, 2008).
• Improved sanitation would facilitate gender equality by making it
easier for girls to stay in school upon reaching puberty,
Albert Djemetio Water Seminar, UNU-IAS, March 10, 2009
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