The need and importance for providing access to safe to water and sanitation has been recognized well in Millennium Development Goal (MDG) No. 7.  Water and Sanitation are also closely linked with the achievement of many other MDGs, as they affect individuals and community life both directly and indirectly.  This report reveals that in sub-Saharan Africa, there are significant challenges to reduce the number of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation; this is a challenge for both policy makers and development agencies.

The region’s status in achieving MDGs to date has not been encouraging;  Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind the rest of the world with respect to achieving the MDG related to water supply and sanitation. Though the report notes some impressive progress in meeting other MDGs, the continent as a whole still requires more focused efforts towards meeting the global target of halving proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.

This report also examines individual countries’ preparedness to meet the MDG targets, financing requirements and gaps and the sustainability of the sector.  It includes recommendations for each country regarding steps needed to improve performance and redouble their efforts to meet their goals.