Nairobi — Inadequate funding by governments has stalled water projects, says an advisor in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Governments are not setting aside the required 5 percent of their budgets to fund water activities, said ECA advisor Stephen Dunkor at a conference Monday, on Financing Water in Eastern Africa.

Mr Dunkor said governments in the region should now mobilise indigenous resources to avoid water shortages in most African nations.

A programme officer at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Henry Ndede said member states are required to contribute $1 000 to support implementation of the work programme.

This has been the case since the formation of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW).

He said inconsistent funding by member states would discourage external funding from multinational corporations.

The European Union Water Initiative provided approximately $3.7 million in 2006 to support the activities of the AMCOW Secretariat, relating to identified work programmes.

In South Africa in 2007/08 finacial year the Municipal Infrastructure Grant will receive R400 million to eradicate the dehumanising bucket system.

Tabling his Budget Speech in Parliament in February, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said the bucket system would be eradicated by the end of this year, in line with the pledge made by President Thabo Mbeki in the State of the Nation Address.

The finance minister said R1.4 billion would be spent on bulk water and sanitation infrastructure and an additional R590 million would be spent on the delivery of water and electricity to schools and clinics.