USAID’s Acting Administrator John Barsa signed SWA’s ‘call to action’ at the end of May, a move which the organisation said reinforced the US Government’s ‘long-standing commitment to water security and sanitation as a foreign policy priority’.

In an accompanying statement, signed by USAID’s Global Water Coordinator, Jennifer Mack, the organisation said that access to water and sanitation services is a critical piece of USAID’s response to COVID-19 and to the world’s long-term recovery efforts. “We must keep services going and expand them to meet the full scope of this challenge,” said Ms Mack. “We encourage our partners and stakeholders to share the call to action, as we face this global pandemic together.”