World Bank Group

At an implementation level, the Bank Group is committed to moving towards aligning the monitoring of results with ongoing discussion on water-related SDG indicators. The Bank is also committed to strengthening the results indicators in our lending operations to go beyond access alone and instead track service delivery outcomes (such as adequacy, reliability, quality, and affordability), as well as service provision to the poor. This approach will also go beyond SDG 6 and include other water-related SDGs. Given the country-driven approach of our operations, this means continued efforts to strengthen country capacity to collect the data required to measure the SDGs.
In partnership with the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Program, the custodian agency for SDG indicators 6.1 (on drinking water) and 6.2 (on sanitation and hygiene), the Bank is working with these actors and others to align the data collection efforts for compliance with the definitions for these indicators.
If we are to realize SDGs 6.1 and 6.2, then a strong emphasis on inclusion is needed. That’s why the World Bank is deepening its work on social inclusion in water through knowledge generation and curation, country engagements, learning, and partnerships. The recent World Bank report ‘The Rising Tide’ provides policymakers and practitioners with a new framework for thinking about the intersection between water and gender. And in Indonesia, the Bank is supporting around 200 villages to gain inclusive infrastructure that makes water and sanitation facilities accessible for persons with disabilities, by constructing handrails, non-slippery floors, and ramps.
In 2016, the World Bank co-convened the High Level Panel on Water (HLPW) with the United Nations which included the highest level of government leadership—11 heads of state and a special advisor.
The HLPW has engaged in robust study and analysis to solve the challenge of ensuring the availability and sustainability of water (SDG 6 and other water-related SDGs). The Water Global Practice has been closely involved in the entire process, providing both intellectual leadership and support to the HLPW. The World Bank will continue to leverage the high level partnerships with ongoing work in a number of areas including finance, innovation, valuing water and a number of new Bank-funded programs in our client countries addressing the broader water agenda. But perhaps the Panel’s biggest legacy is how it has furthered our collective partnership and exemplifies the spirit of collaboration. The HLPW mandate ended with the release of their outcome package consisting of an open letter to fellow leaders, an outcome document, and short summaries of key initiatives undertaken by the Panel. The outcome report articulated an agenda and key recommendations at three levels: a foundation for action; leading an integrated agenda at the local, country and regional levels; and catalyzing change, building partnerships and international cooperation at the global level.