Water Poverty and its Impact on Income Poverty and Health Status in Sudan: The Case of Gezira State (1993-2013)

Authors

Mutasim Abdelmawla, University of Gezira, Department of EconomicsFollow

Abstract

Water resource development can address poverty, improve well-being, and enhance people's opportunities in different fields of life. Even though water resources are available in Sudan, some parts of the country still continue to face significant water provision challenges. This research is aimed at measuring water poverty in Gezira State, Sudan over the period of 1993-2013 using the methodology of Sullivan et al. (2003). 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 the 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 this case, 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 because 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 the 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 the adoption of effective water regularity systems, and encouraging water awareness programs through the different types of media. Investing in water and sanitation is highly recommended to generate rapid returns.

Recommended Citation

Abdelmawla, Mutasim (2017) "Water Poverty and its Impact on Income Poverty and Health Status in Sudan: The Case of Gezira State (1993-2013)," International Journal of African Development: Vol. 4: Iss. 2, Article 9.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/ijad/vol4/iss2/9