Water and Environmental Sanitation: A Study of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Abstract

Abstract:The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) stands as one of the few nations globally and within Africa to possess significant reserves of freshwater resources. However, despite its abundant water resources, only a fraction of the population residing in the capital, Kinshasa, has access to potable water supply and sanitation services. The majority of water supply issues stem primarily from the multiplicity of ministries governing this sector, which frequently exhibit overlapping tasks and ill-defined responsibilities, often engendering conflicts of interest. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to analyze the country's water and sanitation management policies and instruments. Complementarily, the specific objectives sought to contribute to the expansion of knowledge on the subject, namely: to identify water management policies in the DRC; to identify sanitation management instruments; to identify water management policies in Kinshasa; and, finally, to identify sanitation management instruments in Kinshasa. To this end, the study was developed utilizing methodologies such as bibliographic, exploratory, and documentary research, in addition to the design and administration of a questionnaire to government bodies. Based on the data collected, it was identified that the country lacks a well-defined policy and clear strategies regarding water resource management, alongside a fragility concerning financing for investments in the sanitation sector. This scenario leads to the conclusion that without effective management and a concise strategy regarding issues such as water and sanitation, the attainment of the desired sustainable development will remain unfeasible.

Keywords: Water, Sanitation, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.