The United Nations World Water Development Report 2023 demonstrates how building partnerships and enhancing cooperation across all dimensions of sustainable development are essential to accelerating progress towards SDG 6 and realizing the human rights to water and sanitation.
Nearly every water-related intervention involves some kind of cooperation. Taking account of different interests and motivations (but with a consensus on actions required) helps to identify and maximize potential cross-benefits and mitigate negative impacts. Environmental co-benefits are among those most often highlighted in the report, along with data/information-sharing and co-financing.
Partnerships can facilitate and enhance data-gathering and information generation (e.g. joint monitoring) for the benefit of all parties. The report describes how an open and transparent exchange of data and information is integral to effective collaboration and builds trust between partners, including in transboundary settings where cooperation over shared basins and aquifers has been shown to deliver multiple benefits.
As the United Nations system’s principal authoritative report on water, the Report was launched at the UN 2023 Water Conference, serving as a basis for discussions throughout the event.