An application for funds from NORAD foreign aid program - Essay Example

Request for Funds of Soliciting Water from the Nile Southern Sudan is the newest in East Africa. Having gained independence from the north last year, the country has numerous challenges to address (Bubenzer, and Stern xxi). One of the main challenges the country faces is a lack of capacity to provide its people with clean water. The country lies in the sub-Saharan region where water scarcity has prevailed for a long time now. In addition, the country lacks financial capacity to run projects that can ensure that every individual has access to clean drinking water. This paper is an application for funds from the NORAD foreign aid program. It will begin by highlighting the background statistics of south Sudan and present reasons why the Government is seeking for this aid. Background Information According to the latest statistics, only 37% of the Sudanese population is lucky enough to access clean water. The rest of the population must trek for long distances in order to find a water source. Since the precious resource is very scarce, 63% of people living in south Sudan rely on water that does not meet the World Health Organization’s standards of clean drinking water (UNEP 197). These people result to using this water because they lack a choice. The fact that the water is unclean for human consumption presents new challenges for the country. The susceptibility of water-borne diseases has been increasing. Diseases such as cholera, guinea worm, and typhoid are becoming an every day case in south Sudan. Provision of clean and safe drinking water is a leading priority in the globe today. It is unfortunate that approximately 6 out of 10 people from south Sudan lack access to a basic resource. Women and girls have to make long treks before getting a reliable water source. The scarcity of water has led to numerous detrimental effects. As described above, the country must battle with multiple diseases that result from unsafe drinking water. These diseases cost the government a lot in the health sector. In addition, it increases the mortality rate among children and adults. In a globe that commits itself to reducing to increasing life expectancy, the low life expectancy in children is a sad irony for the country. Future prospects predict that the higher percentage of children born today will not live to see the next five years. Without access to water, sanitation deteriorates and the reality of this is evident in Sudan, where sanitation levels are very low. The world water statistics mentioned the sub-Saharan region as the worst affected by water scarcity and low standards of sanitation (UNEP 195). In addition, the same report indicates that the region registers high mortality rates. These statistics also highlight a leading cause of deaths in southern Sudan, diarrhea. South Sudan accounts for a great percentage of the 2.2 million deaths resulting from diarrhea. The cause of diarrhea is significantly due the use of unclean drinking water. Current Projects Currently, south Sudan has numerous projects under way in a bid to provide water for the people. Although south Sudan gained independence last year, it realizes the enormous challenges that lay ahead (Dagne 14). Despite the limited financial capacity, it has been making steps towards the provision of solutions to the water challenge. The government realizes that it cannot stand alone and has sought the financial and technological aid from other countries. Financial challenges have denied South Sudan the opportunity to provide water to its people. The government cannot afford the machinery necessary for the process. In addition, the country lacks trained personnel that would operate the machinery even if it were available. Therefore, the country can only rely on foreign machinery and personnel in most of its contracts. The ongoing projects have focused on drilling boreholes that have been the only available source of water for most of the people. In addition, these boreholes account for the 37% population mentioned as having a reliable water source. South Sudan has embarked on the projects with national objectives of eliminating the problem that has prevailed among the people for a long time. Although drilling boreholes has been proving expensive for the South Sudan government, it has not given up on its efforts to address the national water challenges. Contrary to giving up, the government has been making efforts and has adopted holistic approaches in addressing the problem. Majority of previous projects concentrated on digging boreholes that provided the rural areas with a source of water for their household use. However, current projects have taken note of the saddening statistics of water-borne diseases. Well aware of the World Health Organization statistics and recommendations, the south Sudan government is embarking on providing its people with safe drinking water. The holistic approaches also focus on intensive site survey before indulging into a project. In addition, other projects are focusing on training the people on sanitation (Adeolu et al 416). Moreover, the government embarks on training the people on the essence of effective water management. The issue came up after the realization that the people lacked expertise in managing the boreholes. In the past, poor management has often led to contamination of the water putting the life of the people at risk. The government works closely and appreciates aid from the international community and non-profit organizations. Oxfam international has been working in the ground to increase the availability of clean drinking water. Oxfam has provided humanitarian aid to South Sudan for a long time and the Sudanese people have appreciated the effort. In addition, Water Harvest International has been active in drilling wells and ensuring that the water that results is safe for drinking. In addition, Japan offered South Sudan financial aid to pursue its developmental goals. The greatest percentage of the funds received will go to the ministry of water. All these international communities have also focused on providing people with training on sanitation. The Arab world has also responded to South Sudan’s call for help. Future Prospects The independence of South Sudan presents it with new opportunities in the Nile politics. The Blue Nile finds its course in South Sudan. However, south Sudan has not had the opportunity to exploit the Nile resources. The Nile has great potential in solving the water scarcity problem in the future. Other solutions have not proved viable in the future as wells may dry up as climates undergo rapid changes. However, the Nile River has a steady flow all year round. Relying on the Nile to provide south Sudan with water will ensure a sustainability since it never runs dry. The potential presented by the White Nile in solving south Sudan’s water problem is the reason why the south Sudan ministry of water is sending this application. The government recognizes and appreciates the efforts of the Norwegian government in providing financial aid to the developing world. The south Sudanese government considers NORAD as potential donor, considering the previous records of philanthropy. As a government, South Sudan appreciates NORAD’s commitment to fight poverty in third world countries. As described above, the government falls short of the financial potential of tackling water scarcity challenges. Consequently, the government is requesting for 50 million USD from the NORAD foreign aid program. The statuses of sanitation and health implications described above depict a situation that is wanting. The government realizes the urgency with which these issues need addressing. The government has already declared its interest in the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). The driving force of intending to join the NBI remains to be the intention of inclusion in the Nile resource allocations. The government has designed viable projects that seek to exploit the Nile to gain capacity to attain social and economic growth. However, the government experiences pressure from the outcry of the people demanding provision of necessities. The south Sudan government’s ability to stand on its own after the many years of struggle for independence is under test. A great percentage of the population is in dire need for humanitarian aid and the government and the government falls short of capacity to address the issue. Water and sanitation are posing the greatest of the challenges. These situations compel the government to request for support. If granted, the aid will help make one of the nation’s dreams true. The aid will enable the government to ensure that the entire population has access to clean water. It will be a dream come true for the country to rise above the present challenges and shift to an ear where south Sudan no longer posts the leading mortality rates in the sub-Saharan region from diarrhea as is the case now (Adeolu et al 416). It is only after the south Sudan government overcomes the challenge of providing the necessities for life to its people that it can concentrate on other developmental goals. The situations in South Sudan make it a deserving beneficiary of the NORAD philanthropy and commitment to help the poor nations rise above the slavery that poverty presents. The country is poor in terms of capacity, but it has a zeal and national commitment to improve economically and socially. Being the youngest country in an era when economic times are getting harder each day, the country cannot stand without the support of well-wishers. With the acknowledgement that NORAD commits to give aid to countries that genuinely deserve support, the government is presenting its case (Barratt 196). Soliciting clean water for the South Sudan people from the Nile will not be an easy venture. It will cost the government in terms of logistics, labor, equipment, and machinery. The government realizes that the project requires effective planning and implementation in order to become a success. The government is relying on experts for advice on planning and establishing time lines for the project. There is a vivid realization that the project can take place in bits in order to turn out successful in the end. Consequently, the government is preparing to launch a pilot project as a practical confirmation of the project’s feasibility. The pilot project is a critical part of the entire project because it will provide practical evidence to the intensive research that the government has embarked on for some time on the sustainability of the project. Research has proved that the project will provide the people with a sustainable source of water and has the sustainability can stretch into the future. This application comes with the understanding that the NORAD expects accountability and proper management of funds. The ministry of water, vested with the responsibility of making this request, operates under a commitment to remain accountable and transparent in all dealings. The ministry of water promises to register a high level of accountability if NORAD accepts this request (Dagne 17). Consideration and acceptance of this request by NORAD will present the South Sudan government with a stepping-stone for achieving one of its most urgent objectives. The aid will provide water to the entire population and it will save lives. Solving the problem of water will present the government with the capacity to focus on other developmental goals. As long as people lack basics like water, education remains impossibility for the people (World Bank 51). If the trend of trekking for long distances in search of water must continue, the South Sudan girl child will lose her future in this venture. Availability of water to every household will give them space to focus on agriculture and education. Agriculture has deteriorated greatly in the recent past because of the prevailing scarcity of water. If the people of South Sudan lack time for agriculture in the search of water, the livelihood of 97% of them is under compromise. The situations and challenges in South Sudan are exactly as enumerated above. The country needs to establish a long-term solution for the prevailing scarcity of water. The government is making efforts in collaboration with other international organizations to drill wells and boreholes. However, research indicates that the government requires more sustainable approaches in the future. The government is hoping that NORAD will consider this application and support the project described. Work Cited Adeolu, Alabi et al. Africa and the Global Financial Crisis - Impact on Economic Reform Processes. Münster, Westf: LIT, 2011. Print. Africa Water Atlas. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Program, 2010. Print. Baratt, Bethany. Human Rights and Foreign Aid: For Love or Money? London: Routledge, 2007, Print. Bubenzer, Friederike, and Orly Stern. Hope, Pain & Patience: The Lives of Women in South Sudan. Auckland Park, South Africa: Jacana Media, 2011. Print. Dagne, Ted. Republic of South Sudan: Opportunities and Challenges for Africa’s Newest Country. Pennsyslvania: DIANE Publishing, 2012. Print. Education in the Republic of South Sudan: Status and Challenges for a New System. Washington, DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank, 2012. Print. Read More