What We Do

Inform Policies

We face complex challenges in ensuring everyone has access to sustainably-managed water and sanitation services. To meet this aim, UN-Water informs policy processes by identifying emerging issues and developing effective, collaborative responses. Landmark agreements in recent years on disaster risk reduction, financing, climate change, and the overarching 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have created a global framework that is intrinsically connected and mutually reinforcing.

Monitor and Report

One of UN-Water’s key objectives is to provide coherent and reliable data and information on key water trends and management issues. During past decades, several initiatives, mechanisms and programmes, both within and outside the United Nations family, have been collecting information on the various components of the water cycle.

Inspire Action

Every year, UN-Water coordinates the United Nations international observances on freshwater and sanitation. Depending on the official UN theme of the campaign, they are led by one or more UN-Water Members and Partners with a related mandate. On World Water Day, UN-Water releases the World Water Development Report focusing on the same topic as the campaign.

The SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework is a unifying initiative that involves all sectors of society to speed up progress by improving support to countries. By recording and sharing actions we can review progress and use the latest evidence on what works, learn quickly from failure and adapt to changing realities.