The global community was proud to announce in 2012 that the global drinking water target articulated in the Millennium Development Goals had been met five years ahead of schedule. However, the countries of the water-scarce Arab region still face the continuing challenge of providing safe and sufficient water, and improved sanitation to its growing population. There is high variability in access to drinking water and sanitation services among Arab countries, with some countries nearly fully reliant on desalination, while others are not able to secure sufficient investments to meet basic needs.
The fifth issue of the ESCWA Water Development Report examines developments in the area of monitoring water and sanitation services in the Arab region, in the light of global and regional preparations for the post-2015 development agenda. It particularly focuses on the challenges of shifting to a rights-based approach to the access to water and sanitation services.