POVERTY REDUCTION LINKAGE WITH WATER MANAGEMENT  IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA 

Elemide Oyebola, Federal College of Agriculture, Nigeria

Abstract

The global community is united in its commitment to remove the scourge of world poverty through actions that bring different interests and organizations together in effective partnerships around the  Millennium  Development Goals  agenda .
This paper analyses the  links and outlines the different ways  in which improvements to water management can advance the cause of poverty reduction .The contribution of water management to poverty reduction goes far beyond just drinking water and sanitation .Water  is essential for improving the health and livelihoods of the poor ,ensuring wider environmental   sustainability, reducing  urban squalor and eradicating hunger .It is also critical in addressing  gender inequalities and improving access to education for the poor. This paper also gives  a clear  and optimistic message for the future .It illustrates that improving the contribution of water management to poverty reduction is not just achievable  ,it is affordable. In many cases it is  a good investment that generates growth and gives rate of return comparable with investments in any sector .The benefits are directly targeted to the poor and especially to women who bear many of the burden that a lack of investments in water creates .Investing in water, in reforms to the institutions that govern water management and creating more effective partnerships  to focus international  support  to water and environmental sustainability are all essential.
The paper demonstrates  that affordable and sustainable actions are possible and in many places are already happening. All  aspects of poverty are considered which reflected in the analysis of water potential contribution to all of the Millennium Development  Goals .The political prominence of water issues  is all too often not translated into investment priorities in Sub-Sahara African countries.

Keywords: Poverty, linkage, water management, sub-Sahara Africa