Main content

Monitor and Report

UN-Water is a monitoring hub, providing coherent and reliable data and information on key water trends and management issues throughout the water cycle. Building on water cycle data collection efforts from within and outside the UN system, UN-Water established the UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 (IMI-SDG6) as the central data mechanism for all water-related issues.

Supporting countries to collect and report data on all SDG 6 global indicators

Countries are the main beneficiaries of high-quality data and the main entities responsible for collecting and sharing data on the SDG 6 indicators through their national statistical systems.

In response, UN-Water works through IMI-SDG6 to provide a range of technical and institutional capacity-building support to countries.

Supporting policy-and decision-makers at all levels to use SDG 6 data

Policy- and decision-makers need credible water sector data translated into actionable information in an accessible format. They also need data and information from across sectors, to see the whole picture and account for synergies and trade-offs between different social, economic, and environmental development objectives. 

Through IMI-SDG6, UN-Water makes regular reports on SDG 6 progress and provides all the data on the SDG 6 Data Portal. UN-Water also provides synthesized reporting on overall progress towards SDG 6, to support high-level follow-up and review of the goal.

Delivering the UN World Water Development Report

The United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) is UN-Water’s flagship report on water and sanitation issues. Each year, the report focuses on a different theme, providing decision-makers with knowledge and tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies. It also offers best practices and in-depth analyses to stimulate ideas and actions for better stewardship in the water sector and beyond. The report is published by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water, and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.