A/66/255 financing. 35 In order to employ the maximum available resources in compliance with the principle of progressive realization, countries have an obligation to turn to international support when necessary. 36 In turn, countries in a position to assist have an obligation to provide support in a manner consistent with human rights principles. 37 This obligation of international cooperation applies to States parties to relevant human rights treaties in general and does not pertain to any particular State (E/CN.4/2006/WG.23/2, para. 50). 31. While there has been a trend towards greater domestic financing over the past decade, international aid remains the primary source of funding for the water and sanitation sector in many developing countries and for some countries in transition. 38 Meanwhile, the share of international aid going to water and sanitation has decreased over the past decade 39 and deserves higher priority in funding given the significant benefits brought by enhanced access (see below). 32. In the current economic climate, States relying heavily on international aid to support the realization of the rights to water and sanitation should push for the prioritization of funding for water and sanitation within existing aid allocations, while also adopting measures to sustain progress towards realization of those rights even without significant increases in funding. 33. This process begins with strong sectoral planning, including the articulation of both a uniform, sector-wide policy and specific targets. Evidence shows that without a clear national policy framework, effective and efficient service delivery is particularly difficult to achieve. 40 Moreover, when international donors consider which sectors to prioritize they regularly cite the existence of strong sectoral plans as a crucial factor influencing their decision-making. 41 Sectoral planning, meanwhile, should begin with a comprehensive assessment of available resources and the current status of the realization of the rights to water and sanitation, both in terms of overall access as well as affordability, acceptability and quality. 42 34. If developing countries are obliged to take steps to ensure that international aid allocations for the water and sanitation sectors are sustainable and support progressive realization, international donors have a corresponding obligation to facilitate this process. International aid should adhere to the principles articulated in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action, ensuring that aid agreements are consistent with international human rights law and __________________ 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 12 World Water Council, Third World Water Forum and Global Water Partnership, Financing Water for All, p. 2. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 2, para. 1, and General Comment No. 3 (1990) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, para. 13. Charter of the United Nations, Arts. 55 and 56; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 11; General Comment No. 3 (1990) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, paras. 13 and 14. UN-Water Global Annual Assessment, p. 46. Ibid., p. 15. Ibid., p. 38. Ibid., p. 22. For more information on national planning from a human rights perspective, see the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur to the Human Rights Council at its eighteenth session (A/HRC/18/33). 11-44364