This briefing paper identifies the major inequalities that persist in the water and sanitation sector today. It contrasts these inequalities with the latest data on Official Development Assistance and shows that the greatest volume of aid rarely goes to the places where there is the greatest need. The report, Bridging the divide, highlights that out of the world’s 48 poorest nations (categorised by the UN as Least Developed Countries) just eight are among the top ten aid recipients for water and sanitati on aid in any of the last six years.

Disparities in aid financing become even more glaring when the actual number of people lacking access to water and sanitation are taken into account. Achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene will require substantial mobilisation of funds from a broad base and within a well-regulated, fair, open and accountable policy framework.It will also require new sources of financing, including financial transaction and carbon taxes to complement aid flows. An important lesson from the MDG framework is that many financing promises made by governments have not been kept, leading to uneven progress across the MDGs, across regions and countries. Successful mobilisation of resources for sustainable development and theSDGs will require the international community to commit to obligatory financing mechanisms,