UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation
The first United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation (SWS), developed by UN-Water and launched in 2024, is an historical commitment by United Nations entities to uniting their efforts and maximizing the collective strength of the United Nations system to drive faster and greater progress on water and sanitation.
Mandated by United Nations Member States, the SWS provides a United Nations system-wide response to the outcomes from the UN 2023 Water Conference and Water Action Agenda, which elevated water as a central United Nations priority.
The goal of the SWS is to enhance United Nations system-wide coordination and delivery of water and sanitation priorities in support of countries to accelerate progress on national plans and priorities, internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, realization of human rights, and transformative solutions to current and future challenges for the benefit of people and the planet.
Collaborative Implementation Plan
The Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP), developed by UN-Water, guides the operationalization, localization, and monitoring of the SWS.
The CIP is designed to support United Nations system-wide action and prioritization for water and sanitation, including common areas of work, joint programming and programmes, and agreed progress indicators for SWS implementation.
Actions in support of the first CIP, 2025-2028, are grouped into two categories: Priority Collaborative Actions (PCAs) and Contributing Actions. Both sets of actions are integrated into the CIP Results Framework 2025-2028.
Priority Collaborative Actions
The Priority Collaborative Actions (PCAs) are high-impact activities that will be undertaken by the United Nations system to accelerate progress on water and sanitation.
Structured around six priority areas, the PCAs guide a more integrated, solution-orientated approach. Led by United Nations entities, the PCAs are designed to support countries to speed up their efforts towards national plans and priorities, and internationally agreed goals and targets on water and sanitation.
Contributing Actions
Contributing Actions are individual and joint actions taken by UN-Water Members and Partners that contribute towards the implementation of the SWS and that do not need active system-wide coordination.
Contact Us
Get in touch to learn more: unwater@un.org
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