Sustainable development is more likely to occur if each of the key participants recognizes and assumes its appropriate role and shoulders it share of responsibility (Lessons Learned from the WASH Project: Ten Years of Water and Sanitation Experience in Developing Countries). This is the responsibility of the project manager, the team, the national government, nongovernmental organizations and the community. Whether it be a financial responsibility, a responsibility to plan, a responsibility to build or a responsibility to maintain the project, all commitments must be followed through. From a financial donor they must be flexible with where their money is spent. Project managers and their teams have to be flexible with their time. The community has to be flexible with the learning process. If everyone does their part and follows the set guidelines the project will be a …show more content…
However, in developing countries, the lack of a clean and accessible water supply and sanitation is an everyday issue. According to “Global WASH Fast Facts” 780 million people worldwide do not have access to an improved water source. As a result nearly one out of every five deaths under the age of five worldwide is due to a water-related disease (Facts and Statistics about Water and Its Effects). As of 2015, water crisis is the number one global risk based on impact to society as a measure of devastation (Water Facts and Sanitation Facts). These are horrendous statistics, but since 1990 almost 1.9 billion people gained access to an improved sanitation facility (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)). Another 2.3 billion people gained access to improved drinking-water from 1990 to 2012 (Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Development). The number of children dying from diarrheal diseases, which are strongly associated with poor water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, have steadily fallen over the two last decades from approximately 1.5 million deaths in 1990 to just above 600,000 in 2012 (Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene