Water Supply, Sanitation, and Infrastructure

In the world, there are over 260 international rivers, which cover 45% of the land surface of the earth, and account for approximately 80% of global river flows. As populations and economies grow, these essential resources will be put under increasing pressure to meet the needs and fulfill the aspirations of the population who currently live in the countries sharing these rivers.

We work on a range of mechanisms and instruments to support the use of water as a catalyst for regional cooperation rather than a source of potential conflict.

Our team has worked on water resources projects at all stages, from concept and feasibility to design, implementation, and post-implementation evaluations. Our projects carefully accommodate and balance the existing and future uses of water resource and the changing needs of affected communities. We work closely with governments, donors and other key players to address all issues of concern.

Since water resources management is the integrating concept for a number of water sub-sectors such as hydropower, water supply and sanitation, irrigation and drainage, etc, we develop our skills and expertise so that we are able to provide integrated solutions in all aspects of water management. An integrated water resources perspective ensures that social, economic, environmental, participatory facets and technical dimensions are taken into account in the management and development of water resources.

One of UNICON’s major sub-sectors in water resources is the Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS), which is directly related to improved community health, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, private sector-led growth, participatory development, and good governance. We help developing countries to ensure that everyone has access to efficient, responsive, and sustainable water and sanitation services.

With 70 percent of the world’s poor living in rural areas, focusing on rural water supply, sanitation, and hygiene is necessary if we want to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Much has been learned over the last 25 years about how to make investments in urban / rural water supply and sanitation effective and sustainable and we use this knowledge in our solutions.

Our projects in dam and reservoir development improve water supply for irrigation and households, provide power, mitigate floods, and help manage the complex uses of water. They play an important role in the adoption of climate change parameters, for example; as a tool to help countries to adapt and reduce fossil fuel consumption and its associated environmental impacts through the adoption of hydropower where suitable. We emphasize the role of water resources infrastructure in building regional and international cooperation, increasing adaptability, and expanding design to support multi-purpose use.

Irrigated agriculture is another major field of our overall strategy. It accounts for nearly 20% of cultivated land and contributes 40% of the world's food production. It has been a main driver of increased world food security, agricultural growth, and rural development over the last 45 years. Today, irrigation is by far the largest user of water, accounting for more than 75% of all water use in developing countries. Increasing water scarcity, competing demands of other sectors, pressing environmental concerns, and high cost of investment pose challenges to the new generation of irrigation and drainage projects.

We help the irrigation and drainage sector to go through a modernization process including major policy and institutional changes to ensure higher crop per drop, equity in distribution, and sustainability of resources and investments. UNICON will continue to help transform the sector into one that is efficiently managed and highly productive.

The development of sustainable, efficient and equitable river basin management systems is fundamental to the well-being of people and economic growth. UNICON promotes the adoption of a comprehensive policy framework, the treatment of water as an economic good, combined with decentralized management and delivery structures and fuller participation by stakeholders.

We also assist Utilities in their capacity to be able to adopt to changes which are accompanied by changes and reform in the institutional framework in which they function. A sound institutional framework includes clear division of responsibilities and lines of accountability among sector and central institutions.

UNICON is capable of providing consulting services in the following broad fields:

• Water Distribution, Water Management and Drainage
• Small Scale and Small Dam irrigation projects/systems
• Control of groundwater pollution
• Water Supply Management
• Urban and Rural drinking water supply and sanitation
• Drip Irrigation
• Water management projects for rainfed agriculture and horticulture
• Evaluation and monitoring of water management projects
• Increasing irrigation/water use efficiency in irrigated and rainfed agriculture

As the world is becoming more urban and governments are decentralizing responsibility and authority for governance to localities, UNICON is closely working with cities and municipalities to address urban development.

Our services in urban development include:

• Housing & Land
• Municipal Finance
• Urban Services to the Poor
• Urban Solid Waste Management
• Local Economic Development
• Urban Environment
• Urban Poverty
• Hazard Risk Management