New approaches to poverty reduction developed during the last decade are reflected in two new global initiatives - debt relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and development of Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSPs). These initiatives are especially relevant in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as 32 of the 41 countries initially identified for such support are in this region. This desk review, based on readily available secondary sources of information, provides the main findings for the water supply and sanitation (WSS) component in these Initiatives.