Accelerating Change Through Investments, Technical Assistance and Cooperation Beyond Borders

The world is off-track to achieve SDG 6 targets. Current data demonstrate that the world community needs to quadruple the efforts in order to achieve targets by 2030. Although, the proportion of global population using safely managed drinking water services increased from 70% in 2015 to 74% in 2020, still 2 billion people lack access to those services. Eight out of ten individuals who lack access to even the most basic source of drinking water live in rural regions, with roughly half of them residing in least developed countries. For instance, in Sub-Saharan Africa, only 30% of the overall population has access to safely managed drinking water services by the end of 2020. At the current rate of progress, the world will reach 81 per cent coverage by 2030, missing the target and leaving 1.6 billion people without safely managed drinking water services. Moreover, climate change and its magnifying effects worsen the situation. Therefore, urgent, concrete and collaborative action is needed to accelerate the progress and achieve SDG 6 goals by 2030. In this context, Türkiye takes humanitarian responsibility and provides financial and technical assistance in the water sector beyond her borders with the ultimate aim of achieving the SDGs by 2030 leaving no one behind. In line with this vision, Türkiye has launched various works in different parts of the world, especially in Africa. Türkiye has drilled 512 wells to supply drinking water for 1,85 million people in Africa and completed the planning, design and construction of a large-scale hydraulic project including a dam on the Ambouli River in Djibouti -fully financed by the Turkish Government (€11 million) -to provide domestic water to the capital city of Djibouti and to protect the city from potential floods. Additionally, Türkiye has great experience in implementing integrated water resources management via basin level management plans of which are rigorously being prepared and implemented in all her basins to ensure access to safe and clean water and sanitation for all in the scope of the SDG 6 and sharing her experiences through trainings and technical assistance activities in other countries. As one of the top donors of humanitarian aid in proportion to national income, Türkiye pledges to continue providing technical and capacity assistance, sharing her experiences and best practices, supporting the development of water infrastructure within the availability of resources beyond her borders and enhancing international collaboration to access safe, clean and affordable drinking water for all by 2030. Türkiye will contribute to achievement of SDG 6 targets by increasing the proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services and sanitation through enhanced international cooperation and collaboration towards 2030.