The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with the UNEP-DHI Centre and Global Water partnership (GWP), have released the second global progress report on SDG indicator 6.5.1 on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) implementation. The main findings are:

• The global rate of IWRM implementation urgently needs to double to achieve target 6.5 by 2030.
• 107 countries are not on track to meet the target, but many have shown that real and rapid progress is possible.
• Strengthening political will for IWRM implementation – at all levels and across sectors – is critically needed to prioritize IWRM as an enabler for so many other SDGs.

Countries are encouraged to develop action plans to prioritize and coordinate efforts, and formalize their own pathways to make progress.

The report presents the key findings, based on reports from 186 countries across 2017 and 2020, identifies “success factors” for implementing various aspects of IWRM, and makes recommendations on next steps to a range of actors, including national and sub-national governments and stakeholders, regional organizations, investment banks, donors, and other partners in sustainable development.