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Water plays so many roles in our lives that it is often hard to quantify them all, and we perceive water to be limitless and infinite. 70 percent of the Earth's surface is the ocean, and sixty percent of the land lies in cross-border surfaces and groundwater basins. Water is intrinsically linked to human survival, economic prosperity, and ecosystem health.
UNEP’s International Waters programme has been a leader in testing innovative approaches and policy tools that meet the needs of the wide range of stakeholders impacted by water and the challenges and opportunities it presents.
Most water systems on Earth are transboundary, necessitating coordination and cooperation between countries to mainstream sustainable use of these systems and preserve their ability to provide the valuable services upon which we all rely. The Global Environment Facility (GEF)’s International Waters focal area was developed to support countries in their joint management of water resources and UNEP is one of the original three implementing agencies of these initiatives.
For the last 30 years, UNEP has played a key role in establishing a range of strong, informed management approaches to transboundary water issues that reflect a solid understanding of the varied pressures that those shared ecosystems might face. Transboundary water ecosystems are complex, and must address a wide range of sectoral needs and themes despite not being constrained by political boundaries. UNEP is uniquely positioned to tackle all of the facets of a successful transboundary water management strategy. Like water, they are not bound by national governments, but can bring stakeholders together in cooperation and engagement.
Particularly as climate change and poor management continues to threaten global water security, it becomes increasingly important to capitalize on the UNEP International Water team’s experience and expertise in creating strong, data- driven solutions to protect water systems worldwide.
Over the years, the International Waters team at UNEP has developed an unmatched portfolio of partners and stakeholders, developing more than $4 billion in projects. With an exceptional understanding of progressive collaboration, our experts have built a highly effective international program. The innovative delivery in its thematic areas has enabled the UNEP International Waters team to help governments tackle significant water challenges, including water security, managing transboundary water resources, and improving the community experience of water.
UNEP has been at the forefront of the global water challenge for more than three decades. It has built partnerships with countries, organizations, and local communities on major water issues, including those resulting from climate change, sustainable development, and water-sensitive urban development. GEF IW works closely with governments, the private sector, civil society, and the scientific community to create conditions for the sustainable management of water.
UNEP's GEF-supported International Waters Portfolio tackles a wide range of issues, from Blue Economy Valuation to Ecosystem Restoration. Its projects address all seventeen of the Sustainable Development Goals, and intergovernmental agreements reached during the United Nations Environment Assembly.
