Public Group on Water and Sanitation

Introduction

EU development cooperation with Cuba restarted following the Council Conclusions of June 2008. Since then, the EU has made available over EUR 86 million for cooperation programmes in Cuba

It is proposed to concentrate EU cooperation with Cuba in the upcoming period on three sectors, namely: 1) Sustainable agriculture and food security, 2) Environment: Support for a better use of key natural resources for sustainable development 3) Support to economic and social modernisation (The full  NIP can be found here). The choice of a limited number of sectors is fully in line with the principles outlined in the Agenda for Change.

Focus Sectors budget

Water

Overall objectives

Improving water management is one of the results expected from the environment and climate change: support for a better use of key natural resources for sustainable development sector. The overall objective of this sector is to contribute to Cuba’s sustainable socio-economic development.

Country Context

Water constitutes a limited natural resource and is unequally distributed throughout the archipelago. Access to and a greater availability of water are restrained by various factors, including pollution, inefficient management, planning and use of water sources and reserves, salinity, the use of inadequate technologies, the deteriorated state of hydraulic networks (almost 60% of the water distributed nationwide via pipes gets lost in the way, representing a loss of over 1500 million m3 yearly) as well as sewerage facilities, and a very limited recycling and re-use of water.

The water policy and environment strategy tackles these challenges in view of improving food security, human health and the environment. Yet support is required to implement them at national and local levels, starting with rigorous feasibility studies and further case studies or pilot projects with the view to feed policy and decision-making, find the most appropriate technological solutions according to the local problems and attract the adequate investments, as well as to further enhance the capacity and knowledge of specialists as to the technology and techniques globally available, which could match Cuba's economic and social specificities. A much greater effort to educate the public and influence decision-makers is also called for.

Specific objectives and the main expected results

SO1 -The specific objective is to support the Cuban government in the efficient and sustainable management of its natural resources, in particular water and energy resources, for an equitable access.

• R.3. Improving water management in agriculture and increasing the use of renewable energies for agricultural production.