Water Poverty and its Impact on Income Poverty and Health Status in Sudan: The Case of Gezira State (1993-2013)
Presenter's country
Sudan
Start Date
27-5-2016 2:35 PM
End Date
27-5-2016 3:40 PM
Location
Hall I
Submission type
Presentation
Abstract
Water resource development can address poverty, improve well-being, and enhance People's opportunities in different fields of life. Despite the fact that water resources are available in Sudan, some parts of the country still continue to face significant water provision challenges. This research aimed at measuring water poverty in Gezira State, Sudan over the period (1993-2013), using the methodology of Sullivan et al (2003). Furthermore, the research investigates the impact of water poverty on income poverty and health status in Gezira State. The research employed data collected from the Central Bureau of Statistics, Khartoum, Sudan. Both descriptive and empirical approaches are used to analyze the data. The average incidence of water poverty index (WPI) over the period under consideration is estimated at 41.8 %, which is quite high given the fact that Gezira State is endowed with huge water resources and capacities. Environmental problems are found to be the main contributor to water poverty in the State. The results also assert that water poverty significantly increases income poverty. In particular, a 1% increase in water poverty is found to increase income poverty by 2.3%. It is worth noting that agriculture is the dominant economic activity in Gezira State, for which water is of paramount importance for production, grazing, and agro-industries. Furthermore, the results reveal that water poverty significantly reduces life expectancy at birth. The elasticity of life expectancy at birth with respect to changes in WPI is estimated at (-0.11). The study recommends the adoption of better water use in various fields of development, besides solving the water supply problems, particularly in rural areas of the State, solving the environmental challenges that face water resources, enhancing institutional capacities for the water sector, improving the level of water management by adoption of effective water regularity systems, and encouraging water awareness programs through the different means of media. Investing in water and sanitation is highly recommended to generate rapid returns.
Keywords
Sudan, Gezira State, Water Poverty, Income Poverty, Health Status
Water Poverty and its Impact on Income Poverty and Health Status in Sudan: The Case of Gezira State (1993-2013)
Hall I
Water resource development can address poverty, improve well-being, and enhance People's opportunities in different fields of life. Despite the fact that water resources are available in Sudan, some parts of the country still continue to face significant water provision challenges. This research aimed at measuring water poverty in Gezira State, Sudan over the period (1993-2013), using the methodology of Sullivan et al (2003). Furthermore, the research investigates the impact of water poverty on income poverty and health status in Gezira State. The research employed data collected from the Central Bureau of Statistics, Khartoum, Sudan. Both descriptive and empirical approaches are used to analyze the data. The average incidence of water poverty index (WPI) over the period under consideration is estimated at 41.8 %, which is quite high given the fact that Gezira State is endowed with huge water resources and capacities. Environmental problems are found to be the main contributor to water poverty in the State. The results also assert that water poverty significantly increases income poverty. In particular, a 1% increase in water poverty is found to increase income poverty by 2.3%. It is worth noting that agriculture is the dominant economic activity in Gezira State, for which water is of paramount importance for production, grazing, and agro-industries. Furthermore, the results reveal that water poverty significantly reduces life expectancy at birth. The elasticity of life expectancy at birth with respect to changes in WPI is estimated at (-0.11). The study recommends the adoption of better water use in various fields of development, besides solving the water supply problems, particularly in rural areas of the State, solving the environmental challenges that face water resources, enhancing institutional capacities for the water sector, improving the level of water management by adoption of effective water regularity systems, and encouraging water awareness programs through the different means of media. Investing in water and sanitation is highly recommended to generate rapid returns.