COPENHAGEN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Danish government and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have signed an agreement to help solve global problems with clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, said the UN body on Tuesday.
By creating an innovation hub for sustainable access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in the capital city of Copenhagen, the initiative aims to tackle such global challenges, according to a press release from the UN body on Tuesday.
The WASH hub will be the focal point and catalyst for research, investment, development and innovation, which will, among other things, provide the opportunity to develop, test and scale completely new solutions, said the release.
"I am convinced that the new innovation hub in Copenhagen will give UNICEF unique opportunities to draw on the already strong Danish solutions and know-how within the WASH area," said Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Nordic Cooperation Flemming Moller Mortensen.
"In this way, we will create some prerequisites for innovative partnerships and solutions that can contribute to tackling the water crisis for the benefit of children and families all over the world." He added.
The Copenhagen innovation hub is expected to be located in the UN City in Copenhagen, where the UNICEF will lead the effort to accelerate child-friendly WASH solutions in collaboration with, among other things, international experts, researchers, companies and foundations, said the release.
According to the press release, the collaboration has come at a time when complete new solutions need to be devised if the UN's Sustainable Development Goals on access to clean water and sanitation is to be met by 2030.
"I, therefore, look forward to UNICEF, together with both new and existing partners and experts, getting opportunities to develop and scale new solutions that can have a decisive impact on the world's children," said Executive Director of UNICEF Denmark Susanne Dahl in the press release.
According to the latest estimates from WHO and UNICEF, around one in four people still lack safely managed drinking water; nearly half the world's population do not have safely managed sanitation; and three in 10 people worldwide do not have a place to wash their hands with soap and water at home. ■