THE GLOBAL CONSULTATION ON SAFE WATER AND SANITATION FOR THE 1990S

The Global Consultation on Safe Water and Sanitation for the 1990s was an outstanding opportunity for participants from 102 developing countries along with over 60 External Support Agencies (ESA) to assess the experiences of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade 1981-1990 (IDWSSD) and to reach a consensus on strategies and approaches for complete and effective coverage of water supply and sanitation. The resulting New Delhi Statement summarizing the conclusions and recommendations of the Global Consultation was presented to the General Assembly in autum 1990. As one of the positive results, the New Delhi Consultation agreed that the UN Agencies and other bodies should continue the coordination work of the Steering Committee for Water Supply and Sanitation. It also provided a basis for the restructuring and consolidation of the new Collaborative Council for Water Supply and Sanitation, which will form a continuous consultative body for all UN agencies, NGOs, other external support agencies and developing countries concerned with the water sector.