Spring near pit latrine, UgandaWater resources management contributes to sustainable livelihoods and the alleviation of poverty through improved access to water to improve agriculture and achieve food security and safe water supply and sanitation.

The task force monitoring progress towards the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs) reported that the relationship between water and people living in poverty could be viewed in three dimensions: health, livelihoods and vulnerability.

The health of poor people is disproportionately affected by contaminated water and poor sanitation services. In rural areas, poor people’s livelihood systems depend upon ecosystem health. Contamination of common property resources such as lakes, rivers and coastal areas directly translates into less food, income and time. Vulnerability is a critical dimension of poverty, since poor people are particularly at risk from natural disasters, changes in rainfall patterns, shifting agricultural zones, and rising sea levels.

Our professionals assist major donors, governments and private sector organisations and local communities throughout the world to address these three areas. We have strong experience in:

• Integrated water resources management
• Irrigation, drainage and watershed management
• Dams reservoirs and hydraulic structures
• Rural institutions and water users’ groups
• Flood alleviation and river management
• Surface and groundwater pollution
• Remediation of groundwater
• Institutional development

Protected spring, UgandaAt Mott MacDonald, we have the capacity to work across sectors such as international health and education and to offer services in development economics, financial and budget management, monitoring and evaluation, gender equality, and stakeholder and community participation.

Adequate access to water for agriculture can boost crop yields and enable cultivation to meet the demands of the market as well as ensuring good nutrition.

Good access to water supply and awareness of sanitation reduces the threat from water-related diseases and reduces the burden of water carrying which particularly affects women and children.