Making the Most of Scarcity : Accountability for Better Water Management Results in the Middle East and North Africa

World Bank

Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO WATER;    ACCOUNTABILITY TO USERS;    ADEQUATE WATER;    ADJUDICATION;    ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT;   

DOI  :  10.1596/978-0-8213-6925-8
RP-ID  :  41113

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Water -- the resource itself as well asthe irrigation and water supply services derived from it isimportant for every country. It is fundamental to humanhealth, wellbeing, productivity, and livelihoods. It is alsoessential for the long-term sustainability of ecosystems.Here, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, themost water-scarce region of the world, good water managementmatters even more than it does elsewhere. The reportsuggests that MENA can meet its water management challenge.People have a very real need for water for drinking and forhousehold uses. This domestic use, however, accounts forless than ten percent of a typical country's waterconsumption. Every country in the region has enough waterresources to meet domestic needs, even accounting for thelarger populations expected in the future. And policydecisions can help improve the way drinking water andsanitation services are delivered so that people get theservices they need. The bulk of a typical country'swater consumption goes to agriculture. This demand dependson such factors as the structure of the economy,people's consumption preferences, agriculture and tradepolicies, and how efficiently water is used. These factorscan be influenced by policy choices. Similarly, countriescan protect their environmental quality with policy andinstitutional choices. The necessary policy changes are farfrom easy. Yet they are essential, and, when coupled withimprovements in accountability to the public, waterresources and services will support communities and promoteeconomic development and bring benefits to the entire population.