City Water Resilience Approach (CWRA)
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Partnership
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#SDGAction43868
Description
City Water Resilience Approach (CWRA) enables cities, regions, and water companies to take a holistic view of their water systems, inform decision-makers of a strategy to take forward, and collaboratively build resilience to local water challenges. It provides a detailed step-wise methodology coupled with tools and resources that guide cities to bring a wide range of stakeholders together to share their perspectives; diagnosing what helps and hinders the water system to function when faced with shocks and stresses, and collaboratively develop and implement a water resilience action plan. CWRA establishes a process for us all to shape a better world where we are improving public health, enhancing communities’ resilience to climate change and other water-related risks, and creating natural and social value through water that results in a more inclusive and sustainable society. It provides a holistic lens that prompts stakeholders to consider the hydrological context, including the basins, the built infrastructure, and the socio-political and economical context as well as risks and resilience goals of their water system. In addition to ‘hard engineering’ infrastructure projects, the CWRA promotes nature-based solutions to manage water challenges and supports a range of ‘soft’ solutions, including improvements to system governance (planning, policy, coordination, finance, regulation, monitoring, management arrangements, and service delivery, monitoring), improved communication and demand management. The approach is designed for broad public use and to publicize resilience concepts, measures, design approaches, and investment guidance.
The approach was initially based on research in eight cities, engaging with 700 stakeholders. There are two key tools that help facilitate the transition from one step to the other:
1) CWRA's OurWater is a digital tool that improves governance and knowledge-sharing between stakeholders in the city water system. It helps to improve water governance through coordination and knowledge sharing between actors working in the water system.
2) CWRA through its assessment and planning tool, the City Water Resilience Framework (CWRF), supports city stakeholders to gather information in a structured way and assess current practices, providing cities with a comprehensive, credible, and technically robust means to assess and monitor their water resilience to inform decision-making. This framework will help structure cities’ thinking around water resilience, by guiding assessment across four critical areas of building water resilience, which is ‘Leadership & Strategy’, ‘Planning and Finance’, ‘Infrastructure and Ecosystem’ and ‘Health and Well-being with twelve clearly defined goals, 62 qualitative and 40 quantitative indicators.
The CWRA is built around five key principles:
• Inclusive and transparent: The workshops bring together diverse stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of the resilience challenge and innovative projects with multiple benefits.
• Systems-based: The system mapping allows cities to take account of the cascading failures through infrastructure systems and with other systems.
• Holistic: The City Water Resilience Framework includes leadership and strategy, planning and finance, infrastructure and ecosystems, and personal, household, and community resilience
• Action-orientated: The workshops build consensus and support to sustain long-term buy-in and implementation.
• Scalable and global: The Approach is scalable from towns through to megacities.
Water crises - too much, too little, and polluted water are already affecting people’s health and wellbeing, devastating economies, and threatening lives and livelihoods in many countries around the world. Due to the combined impact of climate change, human action, and population growth, a recent UN-endorsed project estimates that global demand for freshwater will exceed supply by 40% in 2030 and many cities. Urban water resilience is fundamental to address the water challenges at the local level. It will further help achieve several SDGs, for example, SDG 6, 11, and 13. CWRA guides cities to monitor and make better planning, investments decision in the sector, contributing to improved WASH services (targets 6.1, 6.2) linked to ensuring access to basic services (11.1), municipal and waste management (11.6), protecting the health of people, reducing the risk of water-borne diseases (3.1 to 3.9); addressing water scarcity (6.4) linked to reduced impact of water-related disasters (11.5), promote green and public spaces (11.7), ecosystem protection (6.6), support resilience through the flood, and drought protection (11.5, 13.1); and improved capacity on adaptation, impact reduction and early warning (13.3). These are a few interlinkages among the SDGs, among others. CWRF assessment provides a comprehensive picture of a wide range of factors that impact water management and service provision in cities. Cape Town explored the key themes first presented in its new Water Strategy, which makes a firm commitment to be a water-sensitive city by 2040. Action developed through CWRF provides a pathway for the city stakeholders to achieve these goals. In Miami, it has helped strengthen its Resilient305 Strategy, particularly the water dimension. Currently, the tool is being adapted to implement through Training of local implementing agencies, remote support, working post-Covid pandemic. Exploration to implement widely in Low-medium income countries (LMIC) as well as different geographic challenges (conflict zone, fragile contexts, resource challenges, topography, etc.). CWRA is included in the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) Water Action Track, which calls for a resilience approach to tackle climate disaster in cities. Under this initiative, CWRA will be applied in three African cities in 2021. These efforts are also part of the 1000 CAN initiative (Accelerating Climate Adaptation in Cities by GCA, WRI, R-Cities, and UN-Habitat) announced at the Climate Adaptation Summit in January 2021.
Arup, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Resilient Cities Network (RCN), with support from World Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, Resilience Shift, University of Massachusetts, OECD, Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, World Resources Institute and engagement with eight partner cities: Cape Town, Mexico City, Miami, Amman, Thessaloniki, Manchester, Hull and Rotterdam.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
Goal 11
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
11.1
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
11.1.1
Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing
11.2
11.2.1
Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.3
11.3.1
Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
11.3.2
Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically
11.4
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
11.4.1
Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)
11.5
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
11.5.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
11.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global domestic product (GDP)
11.5.3
(a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters
11.6
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
11.6.1
Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities
11.6.2
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)
11.7
11.7.1
Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.7.2
Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months
11.a
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
11.a.1
Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space
11.b
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
11.b.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
11.b.2
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
11.c
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
Goal 3
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
3.1
3.1.1
Maternal mortality ratio
3.1.2
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
3.2
3.2.1
Under-five mortality rate
3.2.2
Neonatal mortality rate
3.3
By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases
3.3.1
Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations
3.3.2
Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population
3.3.3
Malaria incidence per 1,000 population
3.3.4
Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population
3.3.5
Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases
3.4
3.4.1
Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease
3.4.2
Suicide mortality rate
3.5
Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
3.5.1
Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders
3.5.2
Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol
3.6
3.6.1
Death rate due to road traffic injuries
3.7
By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
3.7.1
Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods
3.7.2
Adolescent birth rate (aged 10-14 years; aged 15-19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group
3.8
Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
3.8.1
Coverage of essential health services
3.8.2
Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income
3.9
3.9.1
Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution
3.9.2
Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)
3.9.3
Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning
3.a
3.a.1
Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older
3.b
Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all
3.b.1
Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme
3.b.2
3.b.3
Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basis
3.c
3.c.1
Health worker density and distribution
3.d
Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
3.d.1
International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness
3.d.2
Percentage of bloodstream infections due to selected antimicrobial-resistant organisms
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
Co-creation of CWRA through fieldwork in five cities (Cape Town, Mexico City, Miami, Amman), remote engagement with three cities (Thessaloniki, Manchester, and Rotterdam); Literature review of water and urban resilience elements and approaches and tools
Literature review on governance and water resilience, Analysis of data and qualitative and quantitative indicators developed, CWRA User guide / methodology development, Facilitation guides and workshop methodology
Validation Workshop with cities and global experts at the Global Knowledge Exchange, London
Piloting of CWRA in Cape Town and Miami
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
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Region
- Global
Geographical coverage
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Contact Information
Alejandro Jiménez, Programme Director, Water and Sanitation, SIWI