A large number of actors both within and outside the UN family are engaged in advancing water-related sustainable development. Enjoy these stories about initiatives designed to tackle the water crisis.
Initiatives
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The future of freshwater biodiversity
October 13, 2021Freshwater ecosystems cover only 1% of our planet but they contain more than 10% of all species – and are essential to life on earth. Healthy rivers, ...
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High-Level Symposium on Water – Bridging SDG 6 and SDG 14
February 28, 2020A High-Level Symposium on Water will be hosted by the Government of Portugal with the support of UN-DESA and UN-Water, in Lisbon on 2 June 2020. The Symp...
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World Wildlife Fund freshwater initiatives brief
August 2, 2019With a new global strategy and range of innovative initiatives, World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) work on freshwater is undergoing a paradigm shift. With focus...
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United Nations University
March 27, 2019‘As water scarcity is increasing in many areas, triggered by both climate and social changes, amongst other drivers, it is important that we pay more ...
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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
September 18, 2018‘The Conference, held in June in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, offered a timely opportunity to discuss how to achieve the objectives of the Decade, and to sup...
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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
September 18, 2018“The International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” is a timely and significant initiative. This decade is expected to advanc...
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United Nations Development Programme
September 18, 2018“The Declaration is a forward-looking document that sets a clear pathway for the implementation of the International Decade of Action by Member States...
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The World Water Day
March 7, 2018World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to ma...
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High-level dialogues and meetings for water-related SDGs
March 7, 2018The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) acknowledges the integrated and indivisible nature of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ...
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World Water Forum
March 5, 2018The World Water Forum is a multi-stakeholder platform devoted to the advancement and resolution of key water issues, including those defined in Agenda 2030....
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The World Toilet Day
January 20, 2018World Toilet Day is about inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Today, 4.5 billion people live without a household toilet that safely dis...
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SDG 6 Synthesis Report 2018 on Water and Sanitation
January 20, 2018In 2015, UN Member States adopted the historic 2030 Agenda, setting universal and transformative goals and targets, and committing to working tirelessly for...
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The water, food, energy, ecosystem nexus
January 20, 2018Through the ‘Water, Food, Energy, Ecosystem Nexus Programme’, the Global Water Partnership (GWP) is exploring and understanding the linkages and conflic...
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Transfer of environmentally sound technologies
January 19, 2018The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) integrated TEST methodology constitutes an approach that introduces Cleaner Production Assess...
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Programme on flood management
January 19, 2018The Global Water Partnership (GWP) and World Metrological Organization’s (WMO) Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) works with over 30 expert p...
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The refugee response framework
January 19, 2018Through the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) program United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is encouraging governments to all...
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Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction
January 19, 2018The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) is a biennial global assessment of disaster risk reduction and a comprehensive review and anal...
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The inter-agency initiative, GEMI
January 19, 2018The inter-agency initiative, GEMI, was established in 2014 as an inter-agency initiative composed of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habi...
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Water and rural poverty, including migration
January 19, 2018A program by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) aims to reduce the vulnerability of small-scale farmers through multi sectora...
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The intersection of WASH
January 18, 2018Integration is a strategic aim in WaterAid’s new Global Strategy. Working in the intersection of WASH, the cornerstones of their programmes are health, ed...
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An alliance of global water operators
January 18, 2018Formally founded in 2009 and established as part of UN-Habitat, the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) is an international network ...
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Operationalising integrated water resources management
January 11, 2018The World Water Council (WWC) Task Force on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) works with governments and other partners to identify policy instru...
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Drought management programme
January 11, 2018The integrated Drought Management Program (IDMP) is co-hosted by the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and World Metrological Organization (WMO). The programme...
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WMO global conference
January 11, 2018The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Conference: Prosperity through Hydrological Services will be held from 7 to 9 May, 2018 in Geneva. The ge...
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The Sendai framework and related SDG targets
January 6, 2018A set of 38 indicators measure global progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Some of these key indicators have ...
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Cities: At the heart of growth
January 5, 2018In cooperation with its partners, the World Water Council has been supporting local and regional authorities on their water challenges. The 7th World Water ...
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A consortia of partners for hygiene practices
January 5, 2018The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) works on strengthened collaboration with a consortia of partners at global and national levels...
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Heineken’s water stewardship
January 5, 2018Under a business-as-usual scenario, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts that global water demand for manufacturing i...
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A global framework on water scarcity in agriculture
January 5, 2018The Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) has been designed to bring together key players across the globe and across sectors to tackle...
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The water and ocean governance program
January 5, 2018With an emphasis on governance, as a way to resolve root causes of water-related problems, the Water and Ocean Governance Program (WOGP) of the UNDP support...
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Groundwater consortium
January 5, 2018The Groundwater Solutions Initiative for Policy and Practice (GRIPP) is an independent open global consortium of partners set up to connect, strengthen, exp...
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Youth for water and climate
January 5, 2018Convinced that once youth are fully equipped to realize their potential, they can become creators, leaders, and entrepreneurs in addressing the challenges o...
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Hygiene behaviour change
January 4, 2018Hygiene is one of the key aims in WaterAid’s new global strategy (2015-2020) and in its 38 country programmes. WaterAid offers quality Hygiene Behavio...
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Remote sensing, information and communication technologies
January 4, 2018A Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) action framework, aims to provide workable solutions, available for stakeholders at differe...
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The water convention
January 3, 2018The Water Convention aims to promote the sustainable management of transboundary water resources through cooperation. The Convention, which was originally n...
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World Tsunami Awareness Day
January 2, 2018The impact of tsunamis can be truly devastating. From densely populated coastal cities to small islands, tsunamis wipe out decades of progress towards susta...
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The TIGER project
January 2, 2018Savannas are among Africa’s most productive landscapes, supporting livestock and rural livelihoods. Droughts and erratic rainfall patterns across larg...
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Financing water infrastructure
December 15, 2017Since 2003, the World Water Council (WWC) has continually identified finance and broader economic issues within its working priorities. Most recently, the W...
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The SDG knowledge hub
December 15, 2017The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) SDG Knowledge Hub is an online resource centre for news and commentary regarding the implemen...
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Swedish textile water initiative
December 15, 2017The Swedish Textile Water Initiative (STWI) is a collaboration between over 30 Swedish textile and leather brands and the Stockholm International Water Inst...
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The nexus observatory
December 15, 2017When looking at the nexus of water, energy, and food security, the question is which environmental resources have to be managed in an integrated way? For Un...
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World irrigation forums
December 15, 2017The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage hosts triennial World Irrigation Forums, providing a platform for agriculture water management stake...
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The World Water Development Report
December 15, 2017The World Water Development Report (WWDR) is an annual and thematic report that focuses on different strategic water issues each year and aims to provide de...
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Understanding groundwater in the Sahel
December 15, 2017This International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) programme aims to build capacity in isotope hydrology and enhance the existing capacities on hydro-chemical a...
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The water, climate and development programme
December 14, 2017Through its Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP), Global Water Partnership (GWP) supports countries on climate change adaptation, leading towar...
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International centre for water cooperation
December 12, 2017Cooperation over shared water resources is essential for securing water for future generations, and can in fact open new opportunities for riparian states t...
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The SDG 6 support programme
December 12, 2017The SDG 6 Support Programme (SDG6-SP) facilitates a coordinated approach to the monitoring and implementation of IWRM and leverages SDG-6.5 as an entry poin...
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Disaster risk reduction
December 12, 2017Recalling Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 targets for 2020 and 2030, one of the areas identified by Member States where technical sup...
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WWF: Global freshwater practice
December 11, 2017As part of the new World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) strategy, launched in February 2018, the organization will work together in a ‘freshwater practice&...
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Community of practice on sanitation and hygiene
December 11, 2017A Community of Practice on Sanitation and Hygiene in Developing Countries (CoP) was initiated in 2010. The aim of the CoP is to reinforce the global communi...
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The HydroHub – a global hydrometry support facility
December 10, 2017The HydroHub is a worldwide incubator for developing new approaches to hydrometry through technology scouting, co-design, piloting, proofing and compliance ...
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A protocol on water and health
December 10, 2017The regional framework – Protocol on Water and Health – support countries in in the pan-European region in their efforts to ensure adequate supp...
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An evidence programme on sanitation and hygiene
December 10, 2017The Evidence Programme on Sanitation and Hygiene (EPSH) stems from a strategic partnership between WSSCC and the International Initiative for Impact Evaluat...
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Understanding water quality indicators
December 9, 2017An UNU-FLORES project aims to support practitioners, academics and entities in addressing monitoring issues in the field of water quality indicators and ind...
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Dresden Nexus Conference
December 9, 2017When looking at the before mentioned nexus of water, energy, and food security, the question arises which environmental resources have to be managed in an i...
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Water pollution from and to agriculture
December 9, 2017Water quality in agriculture, in other words water pollution from and to agriculture, is a focus area for Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Na...
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The science of hydrogeology
December 4, 2017Developing the science of hydrogeology is a core part of the International Association of Hydrogeologists’s (IAH) mission. Better science will lead to...
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Emphasis on governance
December 3, 2017The UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility (WGF) is a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Stockholm International Water...
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Gender fora
November 30, 2017Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) is a worldwide strategic alliance of local, national and international women’s organisations and networks, active in th...
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Platforms on disaster risk reduction
November 30, 2017The Global Platform and the Regional Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction are the main forums at global and regional level for knowledge and practice shari...
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Socio-economic development in African countries
November 30, 2017African economies depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture and population majority depend on wood as fuel. Several countries are now investing in hydropower w...
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The water for cities programme
November 30, 2017Goal 6 within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is complemented by the New Urban Agenda (NUA) which was recently adopted at the Habitat III Confer...
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Training and capacity development
November 30, 2017The international network for capacity development in sustainable water management, Cap-Net, was established already in 2002. Cap-Net is currently composed ...
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WASH services in refugee situations
November 30, 2017When people flee their homes, they often struggle to safely and easily access adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, endangering their h...
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The 2018-2021 UNICEF strategic plan
November 30, 2017Globally, child mortality has declined from 12.7 million per year to around 6 million since 1990. However, many challenges remain, particularly for the most...
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An urban water initiative
November 30, 2017A research project titled The Water and Urban Initiative (WUI) uses simulation scenarios to study anticipated changes in climate, population and land use. F...
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The water governance facility
November 27, 2017A partnership between United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) was established in 2005 to advance wate...
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Unconventional sources of water supply
November 27, 2017Unconventional water resources may either be generated as a product of specialized processes such as desalination, need suitable pre-use treatment, and/or p...
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Swedish Water House
November 20, 2017The Swedish Water House (SWH) was established in 2003. It connects Swedish water stakeholders from different sectors with each other and with international ...
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“Panta Rhei – Everything Flows”
November 20, 2017The new scientific decade 2013–2022 of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), entitled “Panta Rhei – Everything Flows”, is d...
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Thematic discussion on sanitation and hygiene behaviour
November 19, 2017The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council Community of Practice on Sanitation and Hygiene in Developing Countries (WSSCC CoP) and the global Sus...
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The nexus tools platform
November 18, 2017When looking at the before mentioned nexus of water, energy, and food security, the question arises which environmental resources have to be managed in an i...
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WaterAid: Sustainable services
November 18, 2017As a member of the global initiative known as Agenda for Change, WaterAid has the ambition of promoting the collaborative behaviours required by all actors ...
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Mapping human rights to water and sanitation
November 16, 2017The understanding and mapping of the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (HRWS) in a region, country or river basin can be used as a tool to help develop a...
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The SDG policy support system
November 16, 2017National policy makers responsible for water from environmental, socio-economic perspectives have the challenge of putting Sustainable Development Goal 6 in...
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Managing water-related risks
November 16, 2017Water related disasters, like floods and droughts, are a major impediment for development. Annual economic losses from water-related disasters are comparabl...
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World Water Week in Stockholm
November 15, 2017World Water Week (WWW) is an annual global event for concretely addressing the planet’s water issues and related concerns of international development...
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Gender and the Decade
November 15, 2017The 2015-2020 Gender Plan of Action of the Convention on Biological Diversity is focused on four objectives, which include mainstreaming a gender perspectiv...
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The water and irrigation challenge
November 14, 2017While the world population grew from 2.5 billion in 1950 to over 7.5 billion today, the irrigated area doubled and water withdrawals tripled. Agricultural p...
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An international hydrological programme
November 13, 2017The UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) is the only intergovernmental programme of the UN system devoted to water research, water resources ma...
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