Ukraine Puts Water Strategy High on Development Agenda

A lake in Ukraine, which has a relative scarcity of naturally-occurring water supplies in populated areas. Credit: Vitaliy Motrinets/cc by 4.0By Ed HoltKIEV, Jun 21 2018 (IPS)A campaign to raise awareness of water security in Ukraine could be an inspiration around the world, activists behind it say, after it forced a change in the country’s approach to its water resources.After almost five years of promoting a vision of water security and proactive water management among various stakeholders and the government in Kiev, the issue of water security is now a top development priority for the government.“Ageing infrastructure dating back to Soviet times, canals, dams and reservoirs require huge resources – financial, human and technical – and there are new challenges as the climate changes." --Andriy DemydenkoAnna Tsvietkova of local NGO MAMA-86, a partner of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) intergovernmental organisation, and which was involved in the campaign, told IPS this was an example of how expert knowledge combined with awareness-raising could move water, or potentially other topics, to near the top of a country’s development agenda.“Our work could be an inspiration for groups in other countries. We were active and we gave the best advice. Our government had to accept our proposals [on water security],” she said.Like many countries, the issue of water security is becoming increasingly important for Ukraine.Groups like GWP Ukraine have said that the state of...

Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - June 21, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Ed Holt Tags: Climate Change Combating Desertification and Drought Development & Aid Environment Europe Featured Food & Agriculture Headlines Health Natural Resources Poverty & SDGs Projects Water & Sanitation Global Water Partnership Sustai Source Type: news