The United Nations Will be Promoting Collective Action at the World Water Forum 2024

Water fuels life on this planet—it is essential for our bodies, nourishes biodiversity, and powers our economy. However, while some of us turn on taps without a second thought, millions around the globe still struggle to access safe water, highlighting the disparity in water availability. 

As the world faces challenges in securing safe water amidst booming population and industrial growth, the need for sustainable water resource management has never been more critical. The world is seriously off track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6: To ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. To achieve this critical goal, the United Nations system, international community, and national governments must work much faster and smarter, maximizing synergies and giving countries more effective support. There is no single United Nations Agency, Fund or Programme dedicated exclusively to water issues. In fact, over 30 United Nations organizations carry out water and sanitation programmes and there is a long history of collaboration– especially through UN-Water, the UN’s inter-agency coordination mechanism on water and sanitation.

Following the UN 2023 Water Conference last year, there's a growing recognition that ensuring access to safe water as sanitation is not only basic human rights but also crucial for sustainable development. From local communities to international organizations, cooperative efforts are underway to prioritize and address the pressing challenges worldwide. This is also reflected in the forthcoming launch of the first ever UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation.

Indonesia is set to host the 10th World Water Forum in Bali from 18 to 25 May 2024 in partnership with the World Water Council (WWC). The World Water Forum (WWF) is the largest international meeting in the water sector, held every three years since 1997 and involving various stakeholders. With the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity," this forum presents a unique opportunity to rally nations towards integrated strategies ensuring water prosperity for all.

At the World Water Forum, leaders, experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, and policymakers will gather to share insights, experiences, and best practices on a spectrum of water-related topics. There are six sub-themes that will be discussed at the World Water Forum:

1. Water for Humans and Nature
2. Water Security and Prosperity
3. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
4. Cooperation and Hydro Diplomacy
5. Water and Innovative Finance
6. Knowledge and Technologies

The United Nations, playing a pivotal role in addressing these global challenges, will be actively participating, bringing its experts to conduct discussions needed to mobilize collective action and foster international cooperation. Our involvement underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder gatherings in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN organizations who will be present at the Forum are UN ESCAP, FAO, UNEP, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIDO, and WMO.

To facilitate your engagement and ensure you have all the necessary information regarding the involvement of the United Nations in the World Water Forum 2024, a dedicated microsite has been launched. It is packed with essential information and handy links for easy access to everything you need to know about the sessions hosted by the United Nations at the 10th World Water Forum. Explore the microsite and make the most of the valuable resources it offers: https://indonesia.un.org/en/267868-united-nations-world-water-forum-2024