A report entitled 'A Matter of Survival' is on the table.
Launch of the final report of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace in Geneva. © Presence Switzerland FDFA

The SDC is working to ensure that the ‘water goal’ in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is implemented rapidly and that water is afforded greater prominence at the international level. Switzerland's actions are based on the firm belief and its own experience that the sustainable management of water resources is essential to promote social, economic and environmental development and to maintain global peace.

SDC Focus

International efforts have already given rise to major improvements, for example in relation to drinking water and sanitation services. However, the results are still insufficient. At present, 844 million people still lack access to clean water. Furthermore, one-third of the world's population is still living without adequate sanitation facilities.

The SDC is committed to strengthening the implementation of the ‘water goal’ enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Alongside a group of countries, the SDC is supporting global political dialogue to ensure that international obligations are met and specific activities undertaken that will help achieve this goal. With its many years of experience in water management, Switzerland is making a considerable contribution to identifying comprehensive transboundary solutions. Moreover, the SDC is strengthening the voice of young people in policy dialogue both regionally and globally, for they are the potential water specialists of the future.

Water management is a particularly complex issue and one which the international community is addressing: Switzerland possesses broad expertise in this field. As stretches of two major European rivers, the Rhône and the Rhine, flow through the country, and a number of lakes extend across its borders, Switzerland has long experience in transboundary water management and can assist in developing solutions for other parts of the world.

Background

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: a stand-alone ‘water goal’

Under the auspices of the SDC, Switzerland worked successfully together with a coalition of other countries to have water included as a stand-alone objective in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Goal 6 covers the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems as well as access to drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene. A further objective is to promote cross-border cooperation between states in order to ensure comprehensive water resources management that involves all users at all levels.

Water and human development

If a reliable supply of drinking water and access to adequate sanitation services are guaranteed, the population is more likely to remain in good health, thus reducing medical costs, while healthier children mean lower school absenteeism rates. Water points located close to human settlements help save precious time – time otherwise devoted to fetching water, a task often assigned to women and children.

Water is also essential to ensuring the livelihoods of people in rural areas, producing food and energy, and driving growth in industry and the services sector.

Furthermore, shortages of water can give rise to tension or even conflicts. 153 states share rivers, groundwater reserves or lakes with one or more neighbouring countries. Rivalries over water therefore have direct repercussions for peace and security. By contrast, commonly agreed, peaceful management fosters peace and stability.

Documents

Current projects

Object 61 – 72 of 104

Young People as Agents of Change in the Water Sector – Consolidation of SDC/GPW’s Pioneering Role

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2027

The project will facilitate the empowerment of young people in the water sector, which is essential to achieve the water-related SDG goals. The intervention will strengthen the current GPW/SDC portfolio, directly supports initiatives and projects, consolidate SDC’s institutional approach, and finally contribute to mainstream a young people approach into strategies and policies at all levels.


Rural Water and Sanitation Support Programme in Kosovo

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2022

Since 2005, the Swiss Rural Water and Sanitation Support Programme has provided better access to safe drinking water and sanitation to 474’000 people living in rural areas. By further strengthening the capacities of the water companies and their oversight bodies and with targeted infrastructure investments, the RWSSP exit phase will contribute to a sustainable and socially inclusive provision of high-quality water and sanitation services. For the first time the program will include the Northern municipalities of Kosovo.


Collaborative effort to address the global sanitation and hygiene challenge

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is a member-based organization committed to address the sanitation and hygiene challenge. This SDC contribution will further at the global level the knowledge exchange, advocacy and communication on these issues. Through the Global Sanitation Fund – the Council’s operational arm – 10-25 most sanitation needy countries will be supported in implementing their national sanitation plans and strategies benefiting millions of poor people in the next 3 years (until 2020).


Research for action

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2030

The 2017 Joint Monitoring Report, published in July, states that serious efforts have been made since the Millennium Development Goals to improve access to safe water and sanitation around the world. However, disparities remain, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and for the rural poor, more drastic for sanitation. This project aims to reduce this gap, by supporting applied research, transformative innovations, capacity development and networking, which will answer to the needs and requirements of the targeted population.


SDC Water Network RésEAU

01.01.2018 - 30.11.2021

The RésEAU is the main mechanism for knowledge management on water in SDC. In the International Development Cooperation the generation, organization, sharing and application of knowledge is crucial to be effective in promoting relevant development results. The 250 network members share information and knowledge, learn from each other and have access to the latest news, trends and knowledge in the water sector; regional banks, multilateral organisations as well as from academia and private sector.


Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership to achieve a water-secure world for all

01.12.2017 - 30.06.2021

The Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSP) of the World Bank Water Global Practice is a global partnership with the objective to address the water and sanitation challenge in an integrated manner, as set out in the global water goal (SDG 6). This SDC support will advance innovative global knowledge production and exchange as well as building capacity through country-level support across regions with a focus on the population excluded most from water investments and services.


Contribution to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

01.12.2017 - 31.12.2022

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving its member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region. The SDC support will contribute to climate resilient and inclusive development of vulnerable mountain communities through strengthening ICIMOD’s regional role and capacity in climate science and relevance in regional policy dialogue.


Gaza Vulnerable Communities Development- GVCD (Phase 1)

01.10.2017 - 31.12.2021

In the first phase of this project, SDC will support selected Municipalities in the Gaza Strip to improve the delivery of services through the Municipal Development and Lending Fund (MDLF): small-scale infrastructure projects targeting vulnerable communities and capacity development activities to enhance the participation of these communities in local decision-making processes will be implemented. This project is aligned with Palestine National Policy Agenda (2017-2022), and Swiss Cooperation Strategy for the oPt (2015-2018).


Partenariat scientifique entre 2iE Ouagadougou et institutions universitaires suisses

01.10.2017 - 31.12.2022

La maitrise de l’eau et l’accès à des sources d’énergie durables sont des facteurs nécessaires pour créer les conditions d’un développement humain durable en Afrique. Pour y parvenir la formation de cadres compétents et le développement de technologies et d’approches innovantes sont indispensables. Le partenariat avec 2IE y a contribué durant les années écoulées et les résultats atteints feront l’objet d’une capitalisation au cours de cette phase de désengagement qui est la dernière phase de ce partenariat.


Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership to achieve a water-secure world for all

01.09.2017 - 31.12.2030

The Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSP) of the World Bank Water Global Practice is a global partnership with the objective to address the water and sanitation challenge in an integrated manner, as set out by the Global Sustainable Development Goal 6. This SDC support will promote innovative global knowledge production and exchange, dialogue and partnerships, as well as country-level support across regions at global scale.


IRQ Oxfam – Integrated WASH and Protection response to conflict affected communities in Diyala governorate

01.09.2017 - 28.02.2020

A majority of people living in rural northern Diyala do not have access to potable water which results in communities utilizing unsafe sources like rivers and irrigation channels. The lack of solid waste management systems further aggravates the poor health conditions within this area. This project aims at reducing water and sanitation related risks and increasing access to clean water for IDPs, returnees and host communities living in the districts of Kifri and Khanaqin. It also helps particularly vulnerable families access protection services.


Sierra Leone Landslide: Contribution to IFRC Emergency Appeal

23.08.2017 - 24.08.2018

On the night of 13 August 2017, the city of Freetown in Sierra Leone and its outskirts experienced torrential rains and landslides. At least 400 people were killed following the collapse of a hillside. 600 people are still missing and 3’000 were displaced. Through this contribution, Switzerland will assist 9’600 victims and affected people in Freetown with emergency and recovery services to improve the condition of shelter, water sanitation and hygiene as well as health care.

Object 61 – 72 of 104