Coordinating the UN's work on water and sanitation

International Labour Office

The ILO promotes the inclusive governance of water supply and sanitation at the community level, with a focus on indigenous communities and women, through employment-intensive investment projects and capacity building for community water supply projects. 

Much of this work is done in alliance with other UN agencies. In addition, we promote social dialogue in the water sector, in order to provide voice to water workers in the management of water supply.  This work has impacted countries as diverse as Angola, Ecuador, Ghana, Haiti, Indonesia, Malawi, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Yemen and Zambia.

At the political level, the ILO promotes the integration of actions to promote SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 6, through events such as World Water Day/World Toilet Day 2016 and several practical publications which highlight subjects such as open defecation, water fetching and access to WASH in the workplace.

Estimated annual water and sanitation budget: $0-1 million USD
Current work on the Sustainable Development Goals
Examples of activities
Latest news from ILO
Representative(s) in UN-Water
Carlos R. Carrion-Crespo
Sectoral Specialist for public service and utilities
Maria Teresa Gutierrez S.