SDG 6 Data for All

Between now and the end of the SDG period, three global data collection exercises will be undertaken by IMI-SDG6 (2023, 2026/27 and 2028/29) with aims to obtain data on the eleven global indicators from all countries of the world, with particular focus on areas with the greatest need of support. IMI-SDG6 will also serve as an engine for leveraging data use in policy, investment, and planning action at different levels, and will be providing intensive support to approximately 50 countries to facilitate better monitoring, reporting and data use.

The work of IMI-SDG6 is expected to provide value in the following ways:

* More holistic policies: Water and sanitation policy needs to take into account a number of interrelated issues including supply, consumption, resource management, and environment, and to involve a wide range of sectors and stakeholders. A comprehensive data set allows for better informed policy and investment decisions that account for synergies and trade-offs between them.

* Stronger accountability: A holistic and regular supply of data enables greater transparency and reduces the incidence of waste and corruption.

* Leaving no one behind: Data disaggregation will help to identify the populations with unmet needs and higher levels of risk and to target policies and investments to reach those who most need it.

* Better learning across countries: A stronger global data set using common methodologies provides a common language for learning and sharing, and can serve as a platform for bringing together countries to discuss issues of water and sanitation implementation.

IMI-SDG6 aims to achieve universal coverage of all eleven SDG 6 global indicators in all countries, which will permit improved analysis of progress against both global and national water and sanitation targets and the identification of needs for acceleration. Already, analysis based on 2020 data has enabled UN-Water to conclude that in some cases we need to accelerate by a factor of four. This is a powerful message that has stimulated discussion and action.

IMI-SDG6 will also be able to use this data to identify past progress and to highlight achievements at the country level (Country Acceleration Snapshots) and to document and share lessons on the enabling conditions that led to that progress (Country Acceleration Case Studies). These will be powerful for inspiring action and enabling replication of good practices from one country to another.

SDG 6 on water and sanitation is one of the global goals with the highest potential for synergies with other SDGs. It has been shown that SDG 6 has interlinkages with a majority of the SDGs, with particularly strong links to agriculture [SDG 2], health [SDG 3], gender [SDG 5], energy [SDG 7], climate change and resilience [13], and the environment [SDG 14 and SDG 15].