Integrated management and governance of water resources

Why it matters

Integrated water management is essential to address water scarcity, usage conflicts, and environmental degradation. Effective governance systems enable fair allocation, rational use, and protection of aquatic ecosystems. The integrated approach strengthens climate resilience, improves cross-sector coordination, and promotes evidence-based decision-making to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

In fragile contexts, safely managed drinking water coverage is 38 percentage points lower than in other countries, highlighting stark inequalities.