SIWI commits to support collective action on the Water Action Agenda, good governance, Water for Climate, Source-to-Sea and cooperation
Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)
(
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#SDGAction50772
Description
Multifaceted challenges call for integrated and cross-sectoral solutions for a just transition of societies towards a water and climate-secure future for all. SIWI will work with stakeholders at transnational, national, subnational, and local levels to implement cross-sectoral commitments, partner together for increased action on water and climate, and support implementation of the SDGs through holistic water-related solutions. We will advocate with others for strong commitments and collective action in support of the UN Water Action Decade 2018-2028, and for inclusive, holistic, and cross-sectoral water management to be placed at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the climate action agenda. SIWI is committed to empowering under-represented groups such as women, youth and Indigenous Peoples within water governance.
More specifically, SIWI will work with partners to support ongoing collective action by:
- Offering opportunities within World Water Week as an annual moment for participants to review, align and accelerate action on the commitments registered in the Water Action Agenda and to share solutions that can be upscaled;
- Continuing to develop and disseminate holistic water governance knowledge and good practices, and to foster learning across constituencies for increased impact;
- Supporting governance mechanisms for universal and sustainable water and sanitation services in countries where we work, directly, or with other partners;
- Offering, among other things, capacity development, development of new guidance/tools, support for new policies, national or local plans, coordination mechanisms, and for enhanced regulation and accountability measures;
- Creating space for all voices to be heard in different fora, such as advocating actively for gender equality, youth empowerment, Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives and values and a human rights-based approach that supports the most vulnerable or under-represented;
- Supporting and reinforcing countries’ capacities to develop and implement resilient water governance, management and services through ambitious and interconnected climate and water policies and strengthened NDCs and NAPs, in coherence with national development processes. Continue to drive action in cooperation with members of the Water for Climate Pavilion Collective;
- Championing the Source-to-Sea approach to address current and emerging governance and management challenges in a holistic, cross-sectoral manner, accounting for activities and impacts on land, freshwater, near shore, and in marine ecosystems, including in transboundary contexts. Continue to host the Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management (S2S Platform) as a mechanism to build a community of peers, establish an evidence base, strengthen commitments and get source-to-sea action on the ground for an ever-growing community of diverse actors that collectively contribute to the Water Action Agenda;
- Promoting cooperation of shared waters as a catalyst for peace and conflict prevention by providing support to governments, basin organizations, and all relevant stakeholders, with tailored capacity development and dialogue support. SIWI is further committed to support inclusive transboundary processes with knowledge development, including research on water cooperation, water diplomacy, and water governance. (See related commitments: Support of the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition; Adherence to the Finish expert opinion on the “Value of Water in Times of Armed Conflicts” issued September 2022).
Due to the transformative ambition of the SDGs, achieving its targets is inherently a collective action problem, one that needs to incentivize joint action by individuals and organizations in the pursuit of a common goal and where individual gain is dependent on collective gain through cooperation. This requires better organization and information sharing to build trust among the issue owners. This can be accomplished by providing a safe space where all concerned stakeholders can discuss diverse perspectives on how to advance towards a common outcome for which they feel equal ownership. Leadership is also key to driving processes that will encourage systems change.
Following the initial collection of commitments, the Water Action Agenda will need to evolve towards this type of ongoing collective action exercise, which will:
Inspire long-term transformation;
Challenge assumptions to enable creative systems thinking;
Deepen systemic and holistic understanding, including potential power dimensions and relationships that may need to be adjusted;
Facilitate partnerships and expert networks;
Encourage the convergence of similar initiatives;
Create simplicity within complexity (break down action into smaller, more manageable parts and share responsibility);
Be agile, yet robust, to accommodate adjustments from learning
Value accountability, transparency and focus
Both the Action Platform for Source to Sea Management and the Water for Climate Pavilion Collective have espoused these inclusive, multi-stakeholder approaches with demonstrated success in different arenas, such as the UN Ocean’s Conference or the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties. SIWI’s hope is to continue to grow these platforms that catalyze collective action in their domains, while offering the World Water Week as an additional annual platform for shared learning and collaborative planning processes. In this way, SIWI commits to addressing issues holistically, which will lead to more robust decisions, policies, and investments, effectively bridging silos and fostering cross-sectoral cooperation.
The World Water Week can provide opportunities to check in on the operationalization of the Water Action Agenda by:
showcasing commitments and reviewing their progress;
highlighting ways to overcome obstacles to their realization;
discussing how to upscale or replicate them;
facilitating partnerships.
In addition, SIWI is committed to providing specific support to countries and other parties to ensure good water governance and cooperation over shared water resources. Good water governance is essential to achieve water security, fairly allocate water resources for multiple purposes (health, energy, agriculture, nature...), and prevent disputes. It is a matter of determining who gets which water, when and how. It has social, economic, political, security, and environmental dimensions, all of which must be carefully considered, included and addressed, from scoping to decision-making. How societies choose to govern their water resources and services has a profound impact on people’s livelihoods and the sustainability of water resources, as well as on freshwater ecosystems. Ultimately, access to water and its sound management is a matter of survival and can, in many cases, help to break the circle of poverty. Improving water governance is, therefore, essential to alleviating global poverty and to the attainment of a broad range of SDGs, including, for example, health.
World Water Week Partners: Grundfos foundation, Government of the Netherlands, Meta, Arup, Republic of Slovenia, Nestle, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.
Key collaborating partners: IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), GSMA, Imagine H₂O, Rare (Center for Behavior & the Environment),
Regional Coordinators: IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), Asia-Pacific Water Forum, The African Ministers’ Council on Water
Supported by: The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, City of Stockholm
Water for Climate Pavilion Core Partners: Governments of Egypt, Germany, The Netherlands, Tajikistan, UAE, the UK, State of Rio de Janeiro, African Development Bank, AGWA, American University of Cairo, Arup, Asian Development Bank, Asian Water Council, Australian Water Partnership, CARES, EcoPeace Middle East, Diageo, Environmental Defense Fund, FAO, French Water Partnership, GHD Australia Pty Ltd – Water for Women Fund, GWP, IC IFAS, INBO, IUCN, IWMI, IWRA, Pacific Institute/CEO Water Mandate, Sanitation and Water for All, SNV, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), TNC, UNESCO, UN-ESCWA, UNDRR, UN Habitat, UNICEF, Van Oord, WaterAid, Walton Family Foundation, Wetlands International, WHO, WRI, WWF
Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management Partners: AGWA, Alliance for Water Stewardship, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, Asia-Pacific Water Forum, Benguela Current Convention, Cap-Net, Clean Water Wave, COALMA, Commission on the Protection of Black Sea against Pollution, Conservation International, Delta Alliance, Deltares, DHI, FAO, GEF, GWP, IAHR, ICPDR, ISPRA, IWRA, IUCN, Office Francais de la Biodiversite, ORASCE, OSUNA, PEMSEA, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Race for the Baltic, Ramsar Convention, SEI, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), TNC, UNEP-DHI, UNDP, UNEP GPA, UNESCO-IHP, UNESCO IOC, University of Cyprus, Ocean Sewage Alliance, UNSW Sydney Global Water Institute, Water Culture Institute, Water Science Policy, Wetlands International, Xiamen University
Transboundary Water Cooperation (TWC) Coalition: The Governments of Chile, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Namibia, The Netherlands, Panama, Senegal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uganda; and organizations: UN ESCWA, European Union, GEF , Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB), Organization of American States (OAS), UNCDF, UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, UNESCO, World Bank , Centro Regional para la Gestión de Aguas Subteranneas de América Latina y el Caribe (CeReGAS), EcoPeace Middle East, Geneva Water Hub (GWH), Global Water Partnership (GWP), International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), IUCN, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), University of Kinshasa, Water Diplomacy Center/Jordan University of Science and Technology.
Other Partners supporting SIWI’s operations and programmes: EBRD, European Union, Governments of Sweden, Germany, Finland, The Netherlands and US, IDB, SIDA, Swiss Development Cooperation Agency, UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank
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 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
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
Goal 15
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
15.1
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
15.1.1
15.1.2
15.2
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
15.2.1
15.3
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
15.3.1
15.4
By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
15.4.1
15.4.2
15.5
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.5.1
15.6
Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed
15.6.1
15.7
Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
15.7.1
15.8
By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
15.8.1
15.9
By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
15.9.1
(a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting
15.a
Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
15.a.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.b
Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation
15.b.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.c
Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
15.c.1
Goal 17
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
17.1
Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection
17.1.1
17.1.2
17.2
Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries
17.2.1
17.3
Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.1
Additional financial resources mobilized for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.2
17.4
Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress
17.4.1
17.5
Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries
17.5.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including the least developed countries
17.6
Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism
17.6.1
Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed
17.7
Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed
17.7.1
Total amount of funding for developing countries to promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies
17.8
Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology
17.8.1
17.9
Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation
17.9.1
Dollar value of financial and technical assistance (including through North-South, South‑South and triangular cooperation) committed to developing countries
17.10
Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda
17.10.1
17.11
Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by 2020
17.11.1
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global exports
17.12
Realize timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World Trade Organization decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries are transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access
17.12.1
Weighted average tariffs faced by developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing States
17.13
Enhance global macroeconomic stability, including through policy coordination and policy coherence
17.13.1
17.14
Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
17.14.1
17.15
Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development
17.15.1
17.16
Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
17.16.1
Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
17.17
Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
17.17.1
Amount in United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships for infrastructure
17.18
By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
17.18.1
Statistical capacity indicators
17.18.2
17.18.3
Number of countries with a national statistical plan that is fully funded and under implementation, by source of funding
17.19
By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries
17.19.1
17.19.2
Proportion of countries that (a) have conducted at least one population and housing census in the last 10 years; and (b) have achieved 100 per cent birth registration and 80 per cent death registration
SDG 14 targets covered
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
Action Network
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Timeline
Entity
Region
- Africa
- Europe
- Asia and Pacific
- North America
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- West Asia
- Global
Other beneficiaries
SIWI operates in Sweden, South Africa and Colombia for a wide range of beneficiaries in countries throughout the world.
More information
Countries
Contact Information
Torgny, Executive Director