ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL1.CCS/2023/1
Country: Arab region, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Bahrain, Union of the Comoros, Republic of Djibouti, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, State of Kuwait, Lebanese Republic, State of Libya, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Kingdom of Morocco, Sultanate of Oman, State of Palestine, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Yemen
Publication Type: Flagship publications
Publication Subject: ESCWA Water Development Report
Cluster: Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability
Focus Area: Natural resource sustainability
Initiatives: Water Action Decade
SDGs: Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 13: Climate Action
Keywords: Agriculture, Aquifers, Algeria, Arab countries, Armed conflicts, Artificial intelligence, Bahrain, Capacity building, Climate change, Comoros, Open data, Decision-making, Desalination, Development assistance, Djibouti, Drinking water, Egypt, Financing, Food security, Governance, Groundwater, Information networks, Innovations, International decades, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Microcredit, Morocco, Oman, Private sector, Public sector, Qatar, Recommendations, Resilience, Sanitation services, Saudi arabia, Schools, Shared water resources, Somalia, State of palestine, Sudan, Sustainable development, Syrian arab republic, Tariffs, Tunisia, Urbanization, Water pollution, Water resources development, Water reuse, Water rights, Water supply, Women in development, Yemen
ESCWA Water Development Report 10: The Water Action Decade (2018-2028): Midterm Review in the Arab Region
February 2025
The importance of water for sustainable development was brought front and centre by the global community when it launched the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018-2028, also referred to as the Water Action Decade. In the Arab region, water scarcity and ever-increasing stresses on dwindling freshwater resources necessitate a focus on how to accelerate the achievement of the Water Action Decade to ensure water security for all. Between 2000 and 2022, the percentage of the population in the Arab region with access to basic drinking water and basic sanitation services has increased. More domestic wastewater is being treated and the degree of integrated water resource management has also increased. Awareness on the centrality of water for sustainable development has improved, as evidenced by policymakers including water security priorities in national policies and plans. International partnerships for collaborative research and innovation have been strengthened, with investments in water infrastructure improving water availability and quality in many parts of the region. However, despite these achievements, the Arab region still faces pronounced challenges, including climate change and conflict impacts on the water sector. Only five Arab countries are on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation for All - by 2030.
With the Water Action Decade serving as an inflection point where Arab countries can reflect, this tenth-anniversary edition of the ESCWA Water Development Report highlights progress in addressing strategic water issues. It presents a midterm review of the progress made and challenges being faced by Arab countries in achieving the goals set forth in the Water Action Decade, including the water-related SDGs articulated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report’s analysis and recommendations aim to guide countries towards effective water management, ensuring equitable access, and fostering resilience in the face of climate and socio-political challenges. By focusing on five key areas of intervention (water governance and cooperation across sectors and boundaries, financing water security, innovation for improved water security, data and information for improve decision-making, and capacity development) the Arab region can accelerate progress towards the goals and targets outlined in the Water Action Decade to achieve water security for all.
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Natural resource sustainability
The importance of water for sustainable development was brought front and centre by the global community when it launched the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018-2028, also referred to as the Water Action Decade. In the Arab region, water scarcity and ever-increasing stresses on dwindling freshwater resources necessitate a focus on how to accelerate the achievement of the Water Action Decade to ensure water security for all. Between 2000 and 2022, the percentage of the population in the Arab region with access to basic drinking water and basic sanitation services has increased. More domestic wastewater is being treated and the degree of integrated water resource management has also increased. Awareness on the centrality of water for sustainable development has improved, as evidenced by policymakers including water security priorities in national policies and plans. International partnerships for collaborative research and innovation have been strengthened, with investments in water infrastructure improving water availability and quality in many parts of the region. However, despite these achievements, the Arab region still faces pronounced challenges, including climate change and conflict impacts on the water sector. Only five Arab countries are on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation for All - by 2030.
With the Water Action Decade serving as an inflection point where Arab countries can reflect, this tenth-anniversary edition of the ESCWA Water Development Report highlights progress in addressing strategic water issues. It presents a midterm review of the progress made and challenges being faced by Arab countries in achieving the goals set forth in the Water Action Decade, including the water-related SDGs articulated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report’s analysis and recommendations aim to guide countries towards effective water management, ensuring equitable access, and fostering resilience in the face of climate and socio-political challenges. By focusing on five key areas of intervention (water governance and cooperation across sectors and boundaries, financing water security, innovation for improved water security, data and information for improve decision-making, and capacity development) the Arab region can accelerate progress towards the goals and targets outlined in the Water Action Decade to achieve water security for all.
