1 October 2013: UN-Water has published its ‘Annual Report 2012’ and ‘Work Programme 2012-2013,’ which highlight UN-Water’s activities, outline its strategic objectives, and provide an overview of its governance and budget.

The Work Programme 2012-2013 includes sections on: strategic outlook; UN-Water result areas 2012-2013; and overview of UN-Water and its governance. The Programme highlights strategic directions for UN-Water and actions and activities taken under the post-2015 development agenda process, the International Year of Water Cooperation 2013, and the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015.

Key objectives through 2015 include: the consolidation of UN recommendations for issues related to the possible establishment of a water-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG); establishment of a monitoring system for the possible SDG; and support for the UN Secretary General’s UN-wide initiative to provide universal access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation globally.

The Annual Report 2012 highlights UN-Water activities and governance and financial issues. Among UN-Water’s accomplishments the report identifies: helping ensure water was central to the debate at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20); improving the knowledge base for informed decision-making through the release of a number of publications; raising awareness on water and food security through World Water Day 2012 addressing that theme; expanding UN-Water’s membership and partners; and bringing the gender dimension into water policy debates. [UN-Water Website] [Publication: Annual Report 2012] [Publication: Work Programme 2012-2013]