UNDP Announces International Platform for Global Water Solidarity

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the Global Water Solidarity Platform, which is aimed at promoting decentralized cooperation in the water and sanitation field. It provides a space for local authorities and organizations to cooperate in actions to solve water and sanitation challenges, for example, by developed country municipal water authorities contributing 1% of the revenue or budgets of developing country municipalities, to support the improvement of water and sanitation services in the municipalities.

The initiative, supported by France and Switzerland, connects local authorities and organizations to take action to solve water and sanitation challenges. It was presented at the 6th World Water Forum held in Marseille, France, from 12-17 March, where 20,000 participants gathered to address the water crisis. The development of the Platform involved a group of 25 institutions including local, regional and national authorities, international and multilateral organizations, water operators, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, and prominent public figures.

Speaking at the launch event, Jean-Philippe Bayon, senior water expert at UNDP, highlighted that sub-national institutions are key in the provision of water and sanitation services, and are well placed to identify efficient solutions and accumulate best practices to overcome technical, political or financial obstacles, in order to ensure availability, quality, acceptability, accessibility, affordability, inclusiveness and sustainability of their water and sanitation services.