Juba – UN Environment, in collaboration with UNESCO, UNICEF, and ILO, development partners (JICA and GiZ) and the national Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation and the Ministry of Environment, organized a public awareness raising event on the theme "Better Water, Better Jobs" to celebrate World Water Day in Juba, South Sudan.
The event was attended by three national Ministers and senior government officials in addition to representatives from national and international NGOs. The event included speeches by the national ministers, heads of agencies, as well as poems and songs from school children and traditional dances. The event was also attended by children and youth from different schools and colleges and received nationwide coverage.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Water Resources & Irrigation, Hon. Jemma Kumba urged development partners, including the private sector, to support the country in provision of clean and safe drinking water. She stressed the importance of water as it is needed in every sector of the economy: “Water is important in agriculture, health, industry, education and in all sectors,” she said.
The Hon. Deng Deng Hoc, Minister of Environment, said there is a need to recognise climate change as a significant threat to the availability and accessibility of clean water, which could increase insecurity and result in conflicts. The Minister attributed crop failure and consequent food insecurity to scarcity of water in the country.
In his remarks, Mr. Arshad Khan, UN Environment South Sudan Programme Manager, said that half of the world's workers - 1.5 billion people - work in water-related sectors. Moreover, nearly all jobs, regardless of the sector, depend directly on water. Three out of four of the jobs worldwide are water-dependent. According to the 2016 United Nations World Water Development Report, "Water and Jobs," water shortages and lack of access may limit economic growth in the years to come.
Mr. Khan further added that water, from its collection, through various uses, to its ultimate return to the natural environment, is a key factor in the development of job opportunities either directly related to its management (supply, infrastructure, wastewater treatment, etc.) or in economic sectors that are heavily water-dependent such as agriculture, fishing, power, industry and health. Furthermore, good access to drinking water and sanitation promotes an educated and healthy workforce, which constitutes an essential factor for sustained economic growth.
