29 May 2014
GWP National Consultations Address Post-2015 Water Goal
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The Global Water Partnership (GWP) held a second series of national stakeholder consultations on water in the post-2015 development agenda from February and April 2014.

The consultations demonstrated “broad consensus” on the proposed goal of “Securing sustainable water for all” as fundamental for the post-2015 development agenda.

GWP Global logotype27 May 2014: The Global Water Partnership (GWP) held a second series of national stakeholder consultations on water in the post-2015 development agenda, from February and April 2014. The consultations demonstrated “broad consensus” that the proposed goal of “Securing sustainable water for all” is fundamental for the post-2015 development agenda.

The consultations generated broad support for five proposed targets under the water goal, including on: achieving universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); improving, by an agreed percentage, the sustainable use and development of water resources in countries; strengthening equitable, participatory and accountable water governance in all countries; reducing untreated wastewater, nutrient pollution and increasing wastewater reuse by set percentages; and reducing mortality and economic loss from natural and human induced water-related disasters by set percentages.

The consultations also highlighted support for a “dashboard” approach, which allows flexibility in development of national targets while providing clearly defined terms and indicators. Among other issues addressed at the meetings, challenges to implementing the targets were noted to include the need for: institutional strengthening and coordination; new infrastructure and new technology; a substantial increase in the scale of investments to meet the proposed targets; and an innovative and comprehensive monitoring system to measure progress.

The consultations were held in 29 countries and brought together 1,200 participants. They were jointly launched by the GWP and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a component of the Global Dialogue on Water Security and Sustainable Growth. The country consultations were targeted at countries with seats on the UN Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Each of the consultations produced country reports, which will be circulated to support formulation of the post-2015 development agenda, in particular the Task Force and the High Level Panel (HLP). A Summary of the consultations will be released in June 2014, and a report titled ‘Water Security and Sustainable Growth,’ which will present the final results of the Global Dialogue, will be launched at the 8th World Water Forum, in South Korea, in March 2015. [GWP Press Release] [GWP Press Release: Trinidad and Tobago] [GWP Press Release: Nicaragua] [GWP Press Release: Romania] [GWP Press Release: Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia] [GWP Press Release: Kazakhstan] [GWP Press Release: Tajikistan] [GWP Press Release: Nigeria]

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