Selection

Select here what should be displayed in the chart and in the table.

This table includes additional information to the above visualized indicators, i.e. a short definition of this indicator and a description of the politically determined target values as well as explaining the political intention behind selecting this indicator.

Definition

The indicators shows the number of people reached (in millions) who have received new or improved access to drinking water (6.2.a) and/or sanitation or, since 2022, basic sanitation or wastewater treatment (6.2.b) directly through German support (FC commitments) in the respective reporting year.
Intention

An inadequate supply of drinking water and sanitary facilities has far-reaching consequences for nutrition, human health and sustainable economic development in partner countries. As part of its international cooperation, the German government therefore supports projects that provide access to drinking water and sanitation.
Target

6.2.a: 6 million people per year by 2030
6.2.b: 4 million people per year by 2030
Type of target

6.2.a: Constant target for each year
6.2.b: Constant target for each year
Implemen­tation in weather symbol calculation

6.2.a: The number of people gaining access to a new or improved drinking water supply through German development cooperation should reach at least 6 million each year.
• An assessment of indicator 6.2.a is not possible. Too few data points.

6.2.b: The number of people gaining access to new or improved basic sanitation or wastewater treatment through German development cooperation should reach at least 4 million per year.
• An assessment of indicator 6.2.b is not possible. Too few data points.
Data state

17.01.2025

6.2.a, b Development cooperation for access to drinking water and sanitation

The two indicators relating to development cooperation in the areas of drinking water and sanitation are based on data provided by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). They reflect the number of people reached through KfW-funded projects, which are carried out under mandates from German federal ministries. Projects implemented by the KfW on behalf of, and financed by, the European Union (EU) or other countries are not included in this indicator, nor are the activities of other organisations – such as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Länder, or private actors.

Both indicators refer exclusively to the projected figures associated with new financial commitments (loan and financing agreements) for drinking water and sanitation projects at the time the contract is signed between the KfW and the partner country. The KfW estimates how many people will benefit in the future – that is, after the completion of construction – from new or improved access to drinking water and sanitation services, or from the capacities provided. However, whether these people are actually reached can only be reliably determined once the infrastructure is operational and is not reflected in the indicators themselves. Since a person may gain improved access to both drinking water and sanitation, there may be instances of double-counting between the two indicators and over time.

KfW commitments consist of grants and loans financed through the federal budget as well as funds raised on the capital market. The recipients of these funds are typically developing and emerging economies, thereby establishing a connection to indicator 17.1, which tracks the proportion of public development expenditure in relation to gross national income.

In 2019, the methodology and data basis of the indicators were revised. Whereas both directly and indirectly reached individuals were previously included (for example via household connections and sector reform programmes, respectively), since 2019 only directly reached individuals have been counted. To illustrate the difference: in 2017, a total of 28.6 million people were reached, of whom 19.1 million were reached directly. In 2018, the number of directly reached people was 15.2 million out of a total of 60.3 million.

Another methodological change relates to multilateral projects, in which the number of people reached is now weighted according to Germany’s financial share in the overall programme. Until 2018, the KfW’s projected figures for the number of people to gain access to drinking water and sanitation with German support consistently exceeded the politically defined target of 10 million people per year. Following the methodology update, the annual target for new or improved access to drinking water has been set at 6 million people.

With a projected figure of 10.2 million people in 2023, this target – as in the four previous years – has been significantly surpassed. The target for the number of people gaining new or improved basic sanitation services or wastewater treatment has been set at 4 million people per year since 2019. This target has only been exceeded in 2019 and 2022. For 2023, the corresponding projected figure stands at 3.0 million people.