UN-Water TPA drinking water & basic sanitation

Project closed: 2016

The ‘Thematic Priority Area (TPA) on water supply and basic sanitation’ is co-chaired by the United Nations University and UN-HABITAT with support from UNICEF, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), UNSGAB, WHO, UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank Water Supply Programme, and UNW-DPC/DPAC. The goal of the TPA on water supply and basic sanitation is to create a framework for interagency coordination and collaboration on water supply and basic sanitation under the UN-Water umbrella. Activities to-date include the Sanitation Drive (2015) and World Toilet day.

Sanitation Drive (2015) is an advocacy campaign that aimed to meet the Millennium Development Goal sanitation target, and is now working to meet the Sustainable Development Goal sanitation and open defecation target. Sanitation Drive supports and inspires people from around the world to take action towards achieving sanitation and hygiene for all by targeting the poorest and most vulnerable people.

World Toilet Day is recognized as an official UN international day, celebrated on November 19 every year. The goal of this day is to help raise awareness about the risks to health, security, dignity and safety, involved when a community does not have access to adequate sanitation, and help to break the social taboo that surrounds this issue. If we do not accelerate our progress, 2.4 billion people will still be without access to adequate sanitation.