Investing in UN-Water: accelerating progress on SDG 6


UN-Water is the ‘one voice’ of the UN system on all water and sanitation related issues. It is responsible for the monitoring and reporting of SDG 6 and strengthens the global water agenda. By maintaining its support to UN-Water, the SDC helps to reduce the fragmentation of the water sector and contributes to accelerating the achievement of SDG 6, thus keeping its global commitment towards the 2030 Agenda. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Water
Water sector policy
Water resources conservation
Water sanitation
01.02.2021 - 31.12.2025
CHF  2’500’000
Background SDG 6 is alarmingly off track. Water scarcity is affecting more than 40% of the global population and is projected to rise. Billions of people are still denied of their basic human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation services and 40% of the world’s population lack access to basic hand-washing facilities and soap in their homes. In preventing and combatting COVID-19 and strengthening resilience in countries, these conditions present a constant source of stress and disease, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities. The next few years are critical for the success of the SDGs in general and of SDG 6 in particular. Unless progress on SDG 6 accelerates, the world will not reach the SDG 6 targets by 2030.
Objectives Consolidate the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework and continue strengthening the global water architecture to ensure the successful implementation and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda.
Target groups

UN-Water Members and Partners

 Water sector in its diversity, i.e. civil society. private sector, public sector, multilateral organizations, international finance institutions

UN Member States

General Public

Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Emerging issues related to water and sanitation are effectively addressed and policy processes are timely informed.

Outcome 2: Coherent and comprehensive monitoring and reporting systems are in place, providing a sound basis for decision-making at the global, regional and national levels.

Outcome 3: Civil society, the private sector and Member States are inspired and capacitated to take action and necessary knowledge is built on water and sanitation.

Outcome 4: Improved coordination and coherence among UN-Water Members and Partners at all levels is contributing to the positive impact of United Nations family operations on water-related issues.

Results

Expected results:  

·  Data collection and analysis for the SDG 6
   Integrated Monitoring Initiative

·  Technical assistance to UN Country Teams

·  Coordination of Decade Action Plan
   implementation (Acceleration Framework)

·  Input to SDG reviews, UN summits, conferences
  , and processes

·  Technical assistance to UN Country Teams
   and strengthened regional coordination.


Results from previous phases:   UN-Water played a crucial role in the process of crafting the 2030 Agenda and has since continuously provided support to Member States and the international community on all aspects Iinked to freshwater and sanitation. It informs and engages stakeholders through the World Water Development Report, the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water report (GLAAS), as well as through global campaigns such as World Water Day and World Toilet Day. In a major achievement, UN-Water launched in 2018 the SDG 6 Data Portal as the flagship product of its Integrated Monitoring Initiative. In 2019, it published the UN-Water Inventory, increasing transparency and aiding coordination and collaboration to harness synergies and accelerate progress on SDG 6. UN-Water has proven to be a driving force in the promotion of the water agenda and in mainstreaming water in the broader sustainable development agenda. In 2020, UN-Water coordinated the development of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework to unify the international community around sustainable water and sanitation for all.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)


Coordination with other projects and actors IMI–SDG 6, GEMI, JMP/GLASS; SDC GPW projects related to UN-Water partners (Global Water Partnership, SWA, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, IUCN).
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’000’000