Water management action

Supporting implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) at all levels.

Photos: funario/Pixabay (1), Lucian Petronel Potlog/Pexels (2)

UNEP-DHI Centre has been supporting implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) approaches in countries for nearly three decades.

Building on this experience, the Centre was instrumental in formulating SDG 6 on water and sanitation, and now has a leading role in supporting countries in their monitoring, reporting and implementation of SDG target 6.5 on IWRM.

UNEP-DHI Centre is supporting UNEP in the global reporting on SDG indicator 6.5.1 and co-hosts the global SDG 6 IWRM Support Programme, which involves developing and helping implement national action plans that adress the most challenging barriers to progress.

Relevant initiatives

Global Wetland Watch: mapping and monitoring changes to wetland ecosystems

The Global Wetland Watch supports countries to protect and restore the world’s wetland ecosystems by utilizing both satellite and in-situ data, and provide high resolution global map layers on wetlands. Facilitated by the UNEP-DHI Centre on Water and Environment, DHI will take the lead in the machine learning and system development, while UNEP will provide strategic leadership and secure political and institutional engagement from governments.

Reversing Ecosystem and Water Degradation in the Volta River Basin

UNEP-DHI is providing technical assistance to the Reversing Ecosystem and Water Degradation in the Volta River Basin (REWarD) project in 2023-2026. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNEP and IUCN, the five-year project is being implemented by the Volta Basin Authority (VBA) and the Global Water Partnership-West Africa (GWP-WA) between 2023-2028.

Strengthening water and ecosystem management in the UN’s work in Africa

Coordinating water, land, and ecosystem management to underpin social and economic development objectives within UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks in each country.

Rapid Integrated Water Assessment in 10 Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) Counties, Kenya

A multitude of natural and socioeconomic conditions impact the sustainable management of water resources. UNEP-DHI conducted a rapid assessment to identify challenges and opportunities to enhance water security in the ASAL regions of Kenya.

SECCCI project online decision support tools

Riparian countries worked together with UNEP towards improving the scientific understanding of the hydrological regimes and ecosystem services of the Omo-Turkana and D’aua-Juba-Shabelle basins, creating tools for decision support of sustainable management of the transboundary water resources.

Nature-based solutions supporting climate resilience in the Juba-Shabelle River basin

UNEP-DHI is supporting the National Flood and Drought Task Force of Somalia in researching the applicability of NbS for riverine and flash flood risk mitigation. The project focuses on the communities within the Juba-Shabelle River basin.

Sustainable development in Lake Turkana and its river basins and the D’aua-Juba-Shabelle basin

Improving the scientific understanding of the hydrological regimes and ecosystem services of Lake Turkana and its river basins will inform decision making on the sustainable management of the transboundary water resources.

Global assessment of macroplastic litter in freshwater ecosystems

The GPML risk and warning system for macroplastic litter in rivers provides insights on the problem of plastic litter in freshwater ecosystems. The system can help identify and map where the problem is, how it may change in the upcoming 9 months, where it originates, and how best to intervene.

SDG 6 IWRM Support Programme

The SDG 6 IWRM Support Programme assists governments in designing and implementing country-led responses to SDG indicator 6.5.1 — the degree of implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

Cross-border collaboration on sustainable ecosystem services in the Omo-Turkana basin

Promoting cross-border collaboration on sustainable ecosystems services in the Omo-Turkana basin along the Ethiopia-Kenya border.

Cross-border water management for peace and resilience in the Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa region faces numerous challenges with regard to water resources management. UNEP-DHI supported regional stakeholders to enhance collaboration for management of cross-border surface water and aquifers by mapping the situation and developing internal knowledge briefs.

Global monitoring and reporting on SDG 6.6.1

UNEP-DHI is contributing to the global monitoring and reporting on the SDG indicator 6.6.1 producing the first of kind global assessment of the status and change of water-related ecosystems, based on Earth Observation.

Transboundary River Basins Assessment (TWAP)

This project assessed the status and trends of the world’s 286 transboundary river basins, shared by 156 countries. The assessment included 15 key indicators on water quantity, water quality, ecosystems, governance and socioeconomics.

Africa Water Sector and Sanitation Monitoring and Reporting

UNEP-DHI supported AMCOW in developing the web-based monitoring and reporting system in Africa to enable AMCOW to report on the the state of water in Africa.

SDG 6 2023 Data Drive: Advancing water action and progress towards the goals of the 2030 Agenda

UN Water is coordinating the third round of global data compilation on SDG 6 indicators. UNEP is actively taking part in the 2023 data drive due to its role as the custodian agency of SDG indicators on IWRM, freshwater ecosystems, and ambient water quality. UNEP-DHI is supporting the implementation of the global 6.5.1 reporting exercise.

How nature can help address water-related challenges: freshwater ecosystems technical brief

The report highlights the potential of using freshwater ecosystems to implement nature-based solutions (NbS) to tackle the triple planetary crisis – climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution. It draws from lessons learned from the implementation of different projects in Afghanistan, Albania, El-Salvador, Haiti, Kenya, Morocco, and Tanzania.

Nature-based solutions for urban challenges

To showcase the potential and application of NbS towards adaptation to climate change in urban areas, UNEP has published a report, Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Challenges. The report is the 23rd edition of UNEP’s Foresight Briefs, which highlights emerging environmental issues, systemic insights, and possible policy solutions that can inform decision-making today.

Blending Water Management and Climate Change Adaptation Approaches

A new report from UNEP with contributions from UNEP-DHI Centre offers recommendations on how to combine water management and climate change adaptation approaches to mitigate the global water and climate change crises.

Nature-based solutions to emerging water challenges in the Asia Pacific region

This CTCN Knowledge Brief provides an illuminating and inspiring overview of the use of NbS technologies in adopting and implementing holistic solutions that exploit synergies wherever possible to tackle climate change and water management challenges in rural, urban and coastal areas.

2021 Status Report on the Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management in the Arab Region

This report assesses progress made on IWRM implementation in the Arab region based on country surveys submitted in 2017 and 2020. Through analyzing four fundamental dimensions of IWRM, the report identifies areas of progress and priority areas for accelerating full implementation.

UNEP Freshwater Strategic Priorities 2022-2025

UNEP-DHI contributed to UNEP’S latest strategic document on freshwater-related priorities. The document describes the crucial role of freshwater bodies in meeting water-related SDGs and in addressing the three interlinked planetary crises recognized in UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Progress on Integrated Water Resources Management: Global indicator 6.5.1 updates and Acceleration needs

The report contains the findings of the 2020 global reporting and monitoring exercise on SDG indicator 6.5.1 – the degree of implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM).

Progress on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Asia-Pacific Region 2021

This report assesses the progress made on IWRM implementation in the Asia-Pacific region since the baseline reporting round in 2017, based on the national consultations held last year to assess the implementation of SDG 6.5.1.

Status of the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management in Central America and the Dominican Republic in 2020

The report presents the status of IWRM implementation in Central America, based on the national reporting on SDG indicator 6.5.1 realized over the course of 2020.

Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management in the Arab Region

This report provides an Arab region baseline for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 6.5.1: Degree of integrated water resources management implementation.

Climate Change Adaptation and Integrated Water Resources Management

Water is the primary medium through which we suffer from the impacts of climate change, and IWRM can play a crucial role in how the world can adapt to climate change and reduce its effects

2018 Status Report on the Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management in Africa

This report is based on data submitted by 51 African countries responding to the global survey to on SDG indicator 6.5.1 on the degree of implementation of integrated water resources management

Progress on Integrated Water Resources Management. Global Baseline for SDG 6 Indicator 6.5.1: Degree of IWRM Implementation

This report presents the global baseline results on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 6.5.1, on the degree of implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM).