The UN Water Work Programme 2022-2023 is a document that outlines the goals and strategies of UN Water, a coordination mechanism for the UN system’s work on water and sanitation. The programme is structured around three themes: (1) Leaving No One Behind, (2) Integrated Water Resources Management, and (3) Climate Resilience.
The programme sets out the key priorities, objectives, and activities that UN Water will undertake over the next two years, including enhancing the collection and sharing of water-related data, strengthening partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, and supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals related to water and sanitation.
Additionally, the programme highlights the importance of addressing emerging challenges in the water sector, such as the impacts of climate change, increasing water scarcity, and water-related conflicts, and outlines strategies for building resilience and adaptive capacity.
Result Areas
The four results areas outlined in the UN Water Work Programme 2022-2023:
Results Area 1: Informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues This area focuses on providing evidence-based information and analysis to inform water policy and decision-making at all levels, from local to global. It includes activities such as improving data collection and sharing, analyzing trends and patterns in water use and availability, and identifying emerging issues and challenges in the water sector. The goal is to ensure that water-related policies are based on the best available science and information, and that they address the most pressing issues facing the sector.
Results Area 2: Supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation This area is concerned with ensuring that progress towards water and sanitation goals is effectively monitored, measured, and reported on. This includes activities such as improving the quality and availability of water-related data, supporting national monitoring and reporting systems, and developing global monitoring frameworks to track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The goal is to ensure that there is a robust and reliable evidence base to inform decision-making and to hold governments and other stakeholders accountable for progress towards water and sanitation goals.
Results Area 3: Building knowledge and inspiring people to take action This area focuses on building public awareness and understanding of water-related issues and inspiring action to address them. This includes activities such as developing educational materials and campaigns, supporting community-based initiatives, and promoting innovative approaches to water management. The goal is to raise awareness of the importance of water as a vital resource, to foster a sense of collective responsibility for its sustainable management, and to inspire action at all levels to achieve this.
Results Area 4: Effective management of efforts aimed at improved coordination and coherence among UN-Water Members and Partners at all levels This area is concerned with improving the effectiveness of UN Water as a coordination mechanism for water-related work across the UN system and beyond. It includes activities such as strengthening partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders, improving communication and knowledge-sharing, and enhancing the coherence and effectiveness of UN Water’s work. The goal is to ensure that UN Water provides a platform for effective and coordinated action on water-related issues, and that it maximizes the impact of its members and partners in achieving sustainable and equitable water management.
Results Matrix
The UN Water Work Programme 2022-2023 includes a Results Matrix that outlines specific outcomes, outputs, activities, and indicators for each of the four results areas. Here is a summary of the matrix for each of the outcomes, outputs, and indicators in the matrix:
Results Area 1: Informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues
Outcome: Improved use of water-related data and information in policy processes and decision-making.
Output 1: Improved global water data monitoring and reporting system.
- Activities include developing standardized methods for data collection and reporting, establishing partnerships with national and regional water monitoring agencies, and providing technical assistance to improve water data management capacity.
- Indicators include the number of countries using standardized water data collection methods, the proportion of publicly available water monitoring data, and the number of policy decisions informed by water-related data.
Output 2: Enhanced capacity of national and regional water monitoring systems.
- Activities include providing technical assistance, training, and capacity building to strengthen water data management, analysis, and reporting at national and regional levels.
- Indicators include the number of national and regional water monitoring agencies with improved data management capacity, the quality and accuracy of water data reported, and the number of decision-makers using water data to inform policy.
Output 3: Improved understanding of emerging water-related issues and trends.
- Activities include conducting research, analysis, and scenario modeling to identify emerging water-related issues and trends, and disseminating this information to decision-makers and stakeholders.
- Indicators include the number of reports and publications on emerging water issues, the extent of media coverage of these issues, and the level of engagement and awareness among decision-makers.
Results Area 2: Supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation
Outcome: Improved monitoring and reporting on progress towards water and sanitation goals.
Output 1: Improved quality and availability of water-related data.
- Activities include developing and implementing data standards, improving data collection methods, and expanding coverage of water monitoring systems.
- Indicators include the number of countries with national water and sanitation monitoring systems in place, the proportion of water and sanitation data that meets quality standards, and the extent of geographic and sectoral coverage of water monitoring.
Output 2: Enhanced capacity of national monitoring and reporting systems.
- Activities include providing technical assistance, training, and capacity building to strengthen water and sanitation monitoring and reporting systems at the national level.
- Indicators include the number of national water and sanitation monitoring systems with improved capacity, the quality and accuracy of water and sanitation data reported, and the level of stakeholder engagement in monitoring and reporting processes.
Output 3: Improved global monitoring frameworks for water and sanitation.
- Activities include developing and implementing global monitoring frameworks, indicators, and targets to track progress towards water and sanitation goals.
- Indicators include the number of countries using the global monitoring frameworks, the level of alignment between national and global monitoring systems, and the level of progress towards water and sanitation goals.
Results Area 3: Building knowledge and inspiring people to take action
Outcome: Increased public awareness and engagement on water-related issues.
Output 1: Increased availability and accessibility of water-related educational materials.
- Activities include developing and disseminating educational materials, toolkits, and online resources on water-related issues.
- Indicators include the number of educational materials developed and disseminated, the extent of stakeholder engagement in educational activities, and the level of awareness and understanding of water-related issues among target audiences.
Output 2: Increased support for community-based water management initiatives.
- Activities include providing technical assistance, training, and funding to support community-based water management initiatives.
- Indicators include the number of community-based water management initiatives supported, the level of community engagement and ownership in water management, and the level of impact and sustainability of these initiatives.
Output 3: Increased use of innovative approaches to water management and conservation
- Activities include promoting and supporting the use of innovative technologies, approaches, and practices for water management and conservation.
- Indicators include the number of innovative technologies and approaches promoted and adopted, the level of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in promoting these approaches, and the level of impact and sustainability of these approaches.
Results Area 4: Effective management of efforts aimed at improved coordination and coherence among UN-Water Members and Partners at all levels
Outcome: Enhanced coordination and coherence among UN-Water Members and Partners.
Output 1: Strengthened collaboration and partnerships among UN-Water Members and Partners.
- Activities include strengthening collaboration and partnerships through joint programming, resource mobilization, and knowledge sharing.
- Indicators include the number of joint initiatives and partnerships among UN-Water Members and Partners, the level of engagement and participation of Members and Partners in joint initiatives, and the level of resource mobilization for joint initiatives.
Output 2: Improved monitoring and reporting on UN-Water activities.
- Activities include developing and implementing monitoring and reporting systems for UN-Water activities, and improving communication and information sharing among Members and Partners.
- Indicators include the number of UN-Water activities monitored and reported, the level of engagement and participation of Members and Partners in monitoring and reporting activities, and the level of alignment between national and global monitoring and reporting systems.
Output 3: Enhanced capacity of UN-Water Members and Partners to collaborate and coordinate.
- Activities include providing technical assistance, training, and capacity building to strengthen the capacity of UN-Water Members and Partners to collaborate and coordinate effectively.
- Indicators include the level of participation and engagement of Members and Partners in capacity building activities, the level of knowledge and skills acquired through capacity building activities, and the level of impact and sustainability of capacity building activities.
Mapping Indian Policies to Key Outputs and Result Areas
Indian policies and schemes that are relevant to each of the result areas and outputs within the UN-Water Work Programme 2022-23:
Results Area 1: Informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues
Output 1: Improved availability and use of water-related data and information.
- The National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti is responsible for collecting, processing, and disseminating water-related data in India. The NWIC is working to improve the availability and use of this data through the development of new tools and platforms, such as the Water Information Management System (WIMS) and the National Hydrology Project (NHP).
Output 2: Increased awareness and understanding of water-related issues.
- The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a national campaign launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to raise awareness of water-related issues and encourage public participation in water conservation efforts. The campaign focuses on five key areas: water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional water bodies, reuse of wastewater, water conservation in agriculture, and afforestation.
Results Area 2: Supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation
Output 1: Strengthened national monitoring and reporting systems for water and sanitation.
- The Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G) is a national program launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to improve sanitation in rural areas. The program includes a strong focus on monitoring and reporting, with regular surveys and evaluations conducted to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
Output 2: Increased availability and use of water and sanitation data and information.
- The Jal Jeevan Mission is a national program launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to provide tap water connections to all rural households in India by 2024. The program includes a strong focus on data collection and management, with the development of a National Integrated Management Information System (NIMIS) to track progress and monitor performance.
Results Area 3: Building knowledge and inspiring people to take action
Output 1: Enhanced knowledge and capacity of water professionals.
- The National Water Academy (NWA) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti is responsible for building the knowledge and capacity of water professionals in India. The NWA offers a range of training programs and courses on topics such as water governance, water conservation, and integrated water resources management.
Output 2: Increased awareness and understanding of water-related issues among decision-makers and the general public.
- In addition to the Jal Shakti Abhiyan mentioned earlier, the Ministry of Jal Shakti also runs a national awareness campaign called “Catch the Rain” to promote rainwater harvesting and water conservation. The campaign includes a range of activities and events to engage decision-makers and the general public, such as awareness workshops, essay competitions, and street plays.
Results Area 4: Effective management of efforts aimed at improved coordination and coherence among UN-Water Members and Partners at all levels
Output 1: Strengthened collaboration and partnerships among UN-Water Members and Partners.
- India is a member of UN-Water and participates in a range of international water-related forums and partnerships, such as the High Level Panel on Water (HLPW) and the South Asia Water Governance Program (SAWGP).
Output 2: Improved monitoring and reporting on UN-Water activities.
- The Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for coordinating India’s engagement with UN-Water and ensuring effective monitoring and reporting of UN-Water activities. The ministry works closely with other government agencies and civil society organizations to ensure that India’s water-related priorities are well represented within UN-Water.
Output 3: Enhanced capacity of UN-Water Members and Partners to collaborate and coordinate.
- India is an activeparticipant in a range of international water-related networks and partnerships, such as the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Through these partnerships, India is able to share knowledge and best practices with other countries and organizations, and enhance its own capacity to collaborate and coordinate with UN-Water Members and Partners.
References
UN-Water. “UN-Water Work Programme 2022-23.” UN-Water, 2022, https://www.unwater.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/un-water_work_programme_2022-23_hq.pdf.
Jal Jeevan Mission. Government of India, Ministry of Jal Shakti, https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in/.
Swachh Bharat Mission. Government of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, https://swachhbharatmission.gov.in/sbmcms/index.htm.
