A/HRC/42/47/Add.5 A. Recommendation on maximum available resources RECOMMENDATION 4: “Increase the budget to the maximum available level to progressively realize the human rights to water and sanitation and target underdeveloped areas, such as rural areas and new settlements, to ensure equality.” (A/HRC/33/49/Add.3, para. 72(k)) 21. The achievement of the progressive realization of the rights to water and sanitation requires that States utilise the maximum of their available resources when implementing their water and sanitation policies and programmes. The mission report of the Special Rapporteur identified that Botswana was badly lagging behind with regards to its water and sanitation investment and therefore could not be deemed to be utilising the maximum of its available resources in achieving the rights (A/HRC/33/49/Add.3, para. 49-53). 22. In response to this recommendation, the Government indicated that it accepted it should allocate greater resources to water and sanitation projects, and stated that the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources undertakes continuous engagement with development actors to maximise the resources available to it. This is supported by the third cycle review of Botswana under the Universal Periodic Review (29th session of Universal Periodic Review Working Group in January 2018), wherein it was reported that “Botswana is faced with challenges of scarcity of water, delayed infrastructure development, and limited funding. In this regard, the country is sourcing funding for infrastructure development from its development partners.” (A/HRC/WG.6/29/BWA/1, para. 132). 23. The Government further commented in its response to the Special Rapporteur’s follow-up questionnaire that “[t]hrough National Development Plan 11, the Botswana Government has approved budget for water and sanitation projects for development of water and sanitation infrastructure in areas that were initially not covered, to ensure that drinking water reaches those communities and there is safe disposal of human excreta. The budget also caters for transfer schemes to enhance efficiency of water supply.” The National Development Plan 11 [2017 to 2023] expenditure (inclusive of the Economic Stimulus Programme) is over P101.406 billion [USD $9,481 billion as of 1 November 2018]; the bulk of which will be used to fund various infrastructure projects in areas such as water. 6 24. Data from the Ministry of Finance shows that the Government has increased the budget allocation of the Ministry in charge of water provision. Of Botswana’s Development Budget for the 2017/2018 financial year (P16.52 billion), the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation was afforded with the second largest share, at 17.0 per cent, or P2.80 billion.7 This amount was to be used for water projects including the North-South Carrier II to increase the supply of water to the south of the country as well as installation of water pipes from the Thune Dam to local villages.8 As of 2018/2019 the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation had been afforded the largest share of the development budget, with its funding increased to P3.29 billion, although this remained the same as the previous financial year in percentage terms. 9 25. The Special Rapporteur is encouraged that the Government has allocated a larger portion of budget to the development of water infrastructure. It is vital that the Government continues to ensure a significant proportion of the development budget is allocated to the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation so as to enable it to continue increasing 6 7 8 9 6 Republic of Botswana, National Development 11: April 2017 – March 2023 (Draft). Volume 1, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, September 2016. Consulted 4 Sep. 2018, http://www.ncongo.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/NDP-11.pdf. Republic of Botswana, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, ‘The 2017/18 Budget-inBrief’ available at, https://www.cabrisbo.org/uploads/bia/botswana_2017_approval_external_enacted_budget_ministry_ of_financesadc_english_1.pdf, page 10. ibid Republic of Botswana, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, ‘The 2018/19 Budget-inBrief’ available at, http://www.gov.bw/contentassets/1c5907f150d144fa81fef3f1cbb72b8d/budgetinbrief20180201.pdf, page 8.