2015 World Economic Forum – the SDC takes part in the Private Water Session

Article, 21.01.2015

The SDC has been promoting the equitable distribution of water, a vital resource, for more than three decades. As one of the few development agencies in this field, the SDC works with the private sector and took part in the development of the 2030 Water Resources Group.  It will be taking part in this year's World Economic Forum in events relating to the topic of water.

The SDC has been working on water-related issues for more than 30 years. © SDC

Water is a natural, vital resource that needs to be conserved. The 2015 edition of the WEF Global Risk report places water scarcity at the top of its list, making the topic of water one of the top three global risks in the report for three years running.

The SDC has been working on water-related issues for more than 30 years. Among its focal points are cooperation with the private sector and formulating a stand-alone "water goal" for the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the follow-up agenda to the Millennium Development Goals. The SDC is also active in helping the governments of developing countries in particular to create strategies that ensure the equitable distribution of water.

The SDC is taking part in this year's World Economic Forum in events relating to the topic of water and will participate in the private water session on Thursday 22 January. Switzerland is to take part in a panel discussion on the topic of water and the SDGs. SDC Director-General Manuel Sager will also be at this meeting as a member of the 2030 Water Resources Group steering committee.

The SDC's Global Water Initiatives Programme

Since 2008, the SDC has dedicated one of its four global programmes to the topic of water. The Global Water Initiatives Programme focuses on issues concerning freshwater usage throughout the world. Its goals are as follows:

  •  to exert influence on domestic and international sectoral policies, norms and standards
  •  to promote innovative approaches
  •  to manage and exchange knowledge

Public-private and international platforms for water-related issues

The SDC has been working with the WEF since 2008. Its primary aim is to promote cooperation with the private sector in the area of water which led to the creation of the 2030 Water Resources Group. The SDC funds the group and is a member of its management committee. 

The aim of the group is to provide a detailed analysis of water-related challenges – such as the status of water reserves, urgent problems and projections up to 2030 – in those countries where it is active, and to bring together players from both the public and private sectors. The group is also developing an implementation schedule for a policy designed to guarantee water conservation in the long term.

Economic boom in Mongolia impacts water supplies

An example of the group's work is its engagement in Mongolia, a country experiencing a rapid economic upswing that is testing the way in which it manages its water resources. After the challenges of democratisation, Mongolia's main problem today is its dwindling water supplies.

In 2014, the 2030 Water Resources Group published an analytical report on the water situation in Mongolia. It shows that the situation in the capital, Ulaanbataar, and in the Gobi desert is alarming, and that the mining industry has become the country's largest consumer of water.

A steering group composed of government officials, representatives from the private sector and civil society has been established and is working on concrete solutions.

Further information