IHP-IX 1.8. Science for improving water quality and reducing water pollution.

Development and sharing of knowledge and innovative solutions on improving water quality and reducing water pollution by the scientific community supported and communicated to support science-based decision-making, improve knowledge, services and reduce health related risks. 1. Thematic assessments of water quality at the basin, city, national, regional and global scales to identify key water quality and pollution challenges. 2. Promotion of innovative tools and policies and capacity building for water quality management and pollution control, by identifying and disseminating innovative, best technological solutions, nature-based solutions and policies for different stakeholders. 3. Development of science-based decision-making guidance on ecohydrological and ecosystem-based approaches to water quality management, with reference to nature-based and hybrid grey-green solutions and cross-cutting outputs. 4. Knowledge generation and science-based advice for decision-making, including through conferences and science-policy briefs, on the impact of global change, and climate change, on water quality in river, lake and reservoir basins, groundwater and coastal areas, in cooperation with UNEP and other partners.

Collaborating Entity(ies)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Contributing Action Number

CA4.15

Primary Entry Point

4: Accelerate progress and transformational change

Additional Entry Point(s)

1: Lead and inspire collective action

2: Engage better for countries

3: Align UN system support for integration

Output(s)

Output 1.1: Water and sanitation issues are a strategic leadership priority for the UN System

Output 1.2: Action is inspired by compelling and unified UN system communications and messaging on water

Output 2.1: Expertise and resources are fully leveraged by the UN system to support countries, with emphasis on the water and sanitation needs of developing countries

Output 2.2: Diverse stakeholders and partnerships are mobilized by the UN system to support countries’ progress on water and sanitation

Output 3.3: Mainstreaming of water and sanitation-related issues into Member States-led intergovernmental processes is supported by the UN system

Output 4.2: High-quality, disaggregated water and sanitation data and information are available and shared transparently through strengthened national and sub-national monitoring systems and regional and global platforms with support from the UN system

Output 4.4: Enabling environments for water and sanitation innovation are supported by the UN system, including policies, partnerships, and transfer of technology to remove barriers, with emphasis on technology transfer needs of developing countries

SDG 6 Target(s)

Cross-cutting work on SDG 6

SDG target 6.1: Achieve safe and affordable drinking water

SDG target 6.3: Improve water quality, wastewater and safe reuse

SDG target 6.A: Expand international cooperation and capacity-building

SDG target 6.B: Support stakeholder participation

Water-related work on other SDGs

Type of Engagement

Normative support (e.g. development of normative guidance, guidelines and standards)

Data collection and analysis

Implementation (e.g. direct support and service delivery, pilot or larger scale)

Capacity development and technical assistance

Policy advice and thought leadership

Geographical Scope

Global level

Regional, transboundary and sub-regional (multi-country) level

Country-level (national, subnational and local)

More information

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384615

Leading Entity

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

The Contributing Actions are key initiatives supporting the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, aligning individual and joint efforts across UN entities and partnering organizations to advance global water and sanitation goals. These actions are integrated into the Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP) Results Framework 2025-2028, which provides a structured approach to achieving system-wide impact through coordinated UN efforts.
The Priority Collaborative Actions outlined in the framework focus on enhancing water security, improving governance, strengthening climate resilience, and accelerating progress on sanitation and hygiene. By fostering system-wide collaboration among UN agencies, these actions help drive policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing water challenges.