ANTICIPATE AND REDUCE CONFLICT AND FRAGILITY RELATED TO WATER

Over half of Water for the World High Priority Countries are in fragile settings. Conflict and fragility have a profound impact on water insecurity. In turn, water insecurity can create or exacerbate tensions that generate fragility within communities and countries and across borders.

For example:

• People in fragile settings are eight times more likely to lack access to safe water.
• Children under five living in conflict zones are up to 20 times more likely to die from diseases linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
• Women and girls are more likely than men to die in times of natural disasters, including droughts and floods.

As the world faces more frequent and intense conflicts, extreme weather events, and climate-related migration, USAID works in fragile contexts through a multifaceted approach that focuses on systems preparedness, emergency response when needed, conflict mitigation, and coherence across approaches. Given that conflict and disasters often reveal and reinforce systemic inequalities, USAID maintains a “do no harm” posture and focuses  on those marginalized populations that are at greatest risk.

USAID’s approach to anticipate and reduce conflict and fragility in the water sector focuses on four areas:

1. Strengthen capacity to predict, prepare for, and adapt to shocks impacting water and sanitation systems in fragile settings  
2. Address humanitarian water, sanitation, and hygiene needs
3. Strengthen cooperation and reduce conflict over water
4. Strengthen coherence across humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding approaches to water and sanitation programming

Read more under “Strategic Objective 4” in the U.S. Global Water Strategy.