Assessments of water resources and their management

15.

The development of the UN United Nations World Water Development (WWDR), coordinated by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), is a joint effort of the UN agencies and entities which make up UN-Water, working in partnership with governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders. The 2021 edition of the UN WWDR 2021 entitled ‘Valuing Water groups current methodologies and approaches to the valuation of water into five interrelated perspectives:

1. 1. Valuing water sources : in situ water resources and ecosystems;
2. 2. Valuing water infrastructure for water storage, use, reuse or supply augmentation;
3. 3. Valuing water services, mainly drinking water, sanitation and related human health aspects;
4. 4. Valuing water as an input to production and socio-economic activity, such as food and agriculture, energy and industry, business and employment;
5. 5. Other sociocultural values of water, including recreational, cultural and spiritual attributes.

These are complemented with experiences from different global regions; opportunities to reconcile multiple values of water through more integrated and holistic approaches to governance; approaches to financing; and methods to address knowledge, research and capacity needs.

The rationale for the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach was that managers, whether in the government or private sectors, have to make difficult decisions on water allocation. More and more they have to apportion diminishing supplies between ever-increasing demands. Drivers such as demographic and climatic changes further increase the stress on water resources. The traditional fragmented approach is no longer viable and a more holistic approach to water management is essential. This approach has now been accepted internationally as the way forward for efficient, equitable and sustainable development and management of the water resources.

The primary goal of the 'Water for Life' Decade 2005-2015²⁴ was to promote efforts to fulfil international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015. Focus was on furthering cooperation at all levels, so that the water-related goals of the Millennium Declaration, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit for Sustainable Development and of the Agenda 21 could be achieved.

The challenge was to focus attention on action-oriented activities and policies that ensure the long-term sustainable management of water resources, in terms of both quantity and quality, and include measures to improve sanitation. Achieving the goals required sustained commitment, cooperation and investment on the part of all stakeholders from 2005 to 2015 and far beyond. The United Nations, through its inter-agency coordination mechanism, UN-Water, was responsible for coordinating the project.

Build on the achievements of the previous “Water for Life” Decade, 2005-2015. the objectives of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028²⁵ have been defined as

• Advance sustainable development;
• Energize implementation of existing programmes and projects;
• Mobilize action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ²⁶.

There should also be a greater focus on:

• The sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for achievement of social, economic and environmental objectives;
• The implementation and promotion of related programmes and projects;
• The furtherance of cooperation and partnerships at all levels to achieve inter-nationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.