IHP-IX 4.6. Conducting and sharing assessments of ecosystem services and environmental flows to enhance integrated water resources management.

Undertaking and sharing assessment of ecosystem services and environmental flows in ecohydrology pilot sites by the scientific community supported, to improve integrated water resources management. 1. Support to Member States in assessing environmental flows and ecosystem services to inform their IWRM practices and to improve their monitoring and achievement of SDG 6. 2. Development/dissemination of case studies from current ecohydrology sites to improve the understanding of water-ecosystem-human interactions and highlight ecohydrology-NBS synergies. 3. Establishment and management of an internet-based platform on assessment of ecosystem services and environment flows through a category II center or international research institute. 4. Facilitation of scientific research on the relationships between ecosystem processes to better manage catchment landscapes and maintaining ecosystem health in an IWRM context.

Contributing Action Number

CA4.26

Primary Entry Point

4: Accelerate progress and transformational change

Additional Entry Point(s)

5: Account through joint review and learning

Output(s)

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 4.3: Institutional and human resources capacity development support that responds to national needs and priorities is provided by the UN system, contributing to a skilled water and sanitation workforce

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

Output 5.2: Progress on water-related goals and targets are reviewed through joint learning and exchange among all actors with support from the UN system

SDG 6 Target(s)

SDG target 6.4: Increase water-use efficiency and ensure freshwater supplies

SDG target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM)

SDG target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems

Water-related work on other SDGs

Type of Engagement

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

Data collection and analysis

Capacity development and technical assistance

Convening of stakeholders

Policy advice and thought leadership

Geographical Scope

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.