Strategic Sector Cooperation of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Global achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) require massive investments
and active involvement of a broad range of partners and actors. The common vision expressed in the SDGs is
fully in line with the core interests, values and principles for which Denmark has worked globally during the
past decades, and the fulfilment of the SDGs constitute the overarching frame for “The World 2030. Denmark’s
strategy for development cooperation and humanitarian action” from January 2017.
The Danish Government believes that the experiences and competencies of the Danish public sector institutions
can provide useful inspiration for other countries in their efforts to improve framework conditions for sustainable
development.
Strategic Sector Cooperation is a concrete initiative that, since 2015, has aimed at mobilizing the competencies
of Danish public authorities directly in long-term strategic cooperation and partnerships with counterpart
institutions across the world. Such partnerships will promote long-term bilateral relations between public
authorities in Denmark and their counterparts in partner countries. Special priority is given to sectors perceived
as Danish strongholds, where both the public and private sector can offer useful models and solutions.
under the Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC). •
The expected outcomes are:
• Enhanced liveability through sustainable development •
Improved water quality by reduced proportion of
untreated waste water
Improved drinking water services and water quality,
increased water-use efficiency and enhanced integrated
CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in
and there is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. However, due to
bad economics or poor infrastructure, millions of people including children die every
year from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food
security, livelihood choices and educational opportunities for poor families across
the world. At the current time, more than 2 billion people are living with the risk of
reduced access to freshwater resources and by 2050, at least one in four people is
likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water.
Drought in specific afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries, worsening hunger
and malnutrition. Fortunately, there has been great progress made in the past
decade regarding drinking sources and sanitation, whereby over 90% of the world’s
population now has access to improved sources of drinking water.
CLEAN WATER
AND SANITATION
6
To improve sanitation and access to drinking water, there needs to be increased
investment in management of freshwater ecosystems and sanitation facilities on a
local level in several developing countries within Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia,
Southern Asia, Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia.
Source: United Nations Sustainable Goals
29