G20 Call to Action on Strengthening Drinking-water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services
Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene is a prerequisite tohealth and nutrition and is critical to sustainable development outcomes. Wereaffirm our commitment to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation. Withthe world experiencing climate change, environmental degradation,biodiversity loss, pollution, and disasters, achievement of the SDG 6 targetsof universal access to water and sanitation by 2030 is off track. Globally,achieving the targets requires a six-fold increase in current rates of progressfor safely managed drinking-water, a five-fold increase for safely managedsanitation and a three-fold increase for basic hygiene.1
Achieving universal access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) inmany fragile contexts requires even greater acceleration, and inequalities inaccess exist within and among countries. The importance of progress onWASH for achieving SDG 5, to realize gender equality and empower allwomen and girls in diverse situations and conditions 2 , is also widelyrecognized, while gender equality and women’s empowerment are essentialfor the realization of SDG 6 targets. Women and girls are often maderesponsible for water collection and provision, which can be time-consuminglabor, putting them at risk of injuries, threats and acts of violence andharassment, including gender-based violence, and negatively impact theireducation, employment and income-generation. Women and girls can also be disproportionately affected when health facilities and educationalinstitutions do not have WASH infrastructure.
Further, while taking into account the rural-urban continuum, servicedelivery for both sanitation and drinking-water is lower in rural areas, slums,and other underserved areas, with many countries facing challenges andlacking local capacity in extending services to rural areas and to people livingin poverty and in vulnerable situations, who are most at risk of being leftbehind.
We are therefore at a crucial moment whereby all countries should elevatewater, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) on their national developmentplanning and agendas, as well as in the international agenda, recognizingthere is a need not only to accelerate progress, but also to maketransformative changes to ensure that water and sanitation services are usedand managed in a sustainable and efficient manner. We commit to explicitactions to mainstream water and sanitation and hygiene services withindomestic and international cooperation policies and by reinforcing systems3 that deliver equitable, inclusive, integrated, sustainable, and climate,environment and disaster-resilient WASH services, benefiting bothdeveloped and developing countries and society as a whole. In this regard,mobilizing resources to build sustainable and resilient water and sanitationsystems is essential for a healthier and more equitable future for all.Achieving the SDG 6 targets alone is a whole of a government effort,together with other actors, that could save at least 1.4 million lives per year4 and provide a return of investment of $2.6-7.9 for every dollar invested inwater and sanitation5.
This Call to Action builds on recent actions to promote WASH, such as therecognition of water in the Political Declaration (78/1) of the SustainableDevelopment Goals Summit, where Member States committed to “addresswater scarcity and stress and drive transformation from a global water crisis to a world where water is a sustainable resource, ensuring the availabilityand sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” 6 , theresolution by the United Nations Environment Assembly on “Effective andinclusive solutions for strengthening water policies to achieve sustainabledevelopment in the context of climate change, biodiversity loss andpollution”,7 the UN General Assembly’s Resolution 78/130 on “Sustainable,safe, and universal water, sanitation, hygiene, waste and electricity servicesin health care facilities”, the UNGA 2023 resolution on “Water, Sanitation,Hygiene, Waste and Electricity in Health Care Facilities”, the Water ActionAgenda 8 voluntary commitments made during or further to the UNConference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementationof the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, “Water forSustainable Development”, 2018–2028, held in New York in March 2023,and its follow up resolution adopted by UNGA (A/RES/77/334), as well asrelevant G20 deliverables, such as G20 Roadmap for Stronger Recovery andResilience in Developing Countries, including Least Developed Countriesand Small Island Developing States.
The Call to Action complements the recent United Nations system-widestrategy for water and sanitation strategy9, the Heads of State Initiative forWater and Sanitation (HOSI) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework.Further, the Call to Action presents opportunities for Member States todemonstrate their commitment to WASH political prioritization andaccountability at forthcoming events including the Summit of the Future, andthe 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29); the 4th InternationalConference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the Sanitation and Waterfor All (SWA) Partnership Sector Ministers Meeting and COP30 in 2025;and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference to Accelerate theImplementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability andsustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
We therefore are committed to implement the four core areas of actions belowand further mainstream water, sanitation and hygiene in our respectivepolicies and actions to accelerate the implementation of SDG 6 targets by2030 and to engage relevant stakeholders. This requires a whole ofgovernment approach through integrated water resource management andthat involves all spheres of governance, national to local, and other actors,that is triggered at the highest political level with dedicated resourcestowards the achievement of universal access to WASH, in particular for thosewho are the hardest to reach.
CALL TO ACTION
a. We reaffirm our commitment to lead by example in building and strengthening WASH systems and raising the political prioritization to accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 6 by 2030, including to strengthen their resilience in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental and land degradation, as well as disasters. Strong WASH systems and improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene are essential for equitable, resilient and sustainable development of communities. An enabling WASH system comprises effective, accountable and inclusive governance and institutions, adequate and well-maintained infrastructure, including digital public infrastructure as applicable, diversified finance sources, voluntary monitoring and evaluation and capacity, as well as being inclusive and equitable. These domains, along with innovation and collection and use of data for development, are identified as requiring acceleration under the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework10 and should be approached in a manner similar to ‘systems strengthening’ in the health sector. An enabling WASH system should be complemented with sustainable consumption and production through mainstreaming Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE).
WASH systems should also contribute to the swift, full, and effectiveimplementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global BiodiversityFramework and the realization of the 2050 Vision of "Living inharmony with Nature". WASH systems strengthening is part of arecognition that sustainable and integrated, safely managed andclimate-resilient WASH services, serving people and communities inthe most vulnerable situations, cannot be realized with a project-oriented provision of infrastructure alone, while it remains an essentialaspect. We stress the importance of supportive political will andcoherent and enforced policies, regulations, vocational and othertraining, human resources, technology development and transfer oftechnology on voluntary and mutually agreed terms, and funding fromall sources which cover operations and maintenance in themanagement of water resources. It is essential that WASH solutionsare gender responsive and ensure the inherent dignity of all womenand girls in diverse situations and conditions, persons with disabilitiesand persons in vulnerable situations, including local communities aswell as Indigenous Peoples. We encourage women-led developmentand remain committed to enhancing women’s full, equal, effective,and meaningful participation as decision makers including in thedevelopment and implementation of national WASH policies, plansand strategies. In order to ensure WASH systems work is progressing,we encourage support for the Heads of State Initiative for Water andSanitation, the proposed World Bank Fast-Tracking Water Security forClimate Adaptation and Climate Mitigation, and Climate AdaptationGlobal Challenge and initiatives to support climate-resilient WASHsystems, including also by other MDBs.
b. We support increased mobilization of the financing, from all sources, for drinking-water and sanitation planning, programs and infrastructure. As part of this, we are committed to the mobilization of domestic resources and use of international sustainable financing mechanisms including public and private, and increase the effective and targeted use of existing funding. To significantly expand access to safe drinking-water and sanitation services we will build on and reinforce existing initiatives for improving WASH infrastructure, including taking into account the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, and services, for households, workplaces, schools and health care facilities tothose in vulnerable situations especially in rural and/or peri-urban areas.This includes fostering public-private partnerships, gender-responsivebudgeting, complemented by innovative financing mechanisms, such asblended finance, as well as facilitating investment in innovative water,sanitation, and hygiene solutions, including through enhanced waterefficiency and circular use, improved wastewater treatment andsustainable desalination, and promoting accessible, affordable as well asefficient use and management of water resources and systems. AchievingSDG 6 targets is crucial for reducing inequality and poverty,strengthening food security as well as achieving good health andwellbeing; therefore, making financial resources available and using andtargeting existing funding more effectively are essential actions todirectly benefit all women and girls in diverse situations and conditions,groups and individuals in vulnerable situations, including IndigenousPeoples and local communities, who are disproportionally impacted bythe effects of water scarcity, water related hazards (such as floods anddroughts) and inadequate water resources management and access to safedrinking water, sanitation and hygiene. In order to ensure that WASHfinancing is efficient and effective, we recommend the development ofcomprehensive national and regional ‘WASH Finance Plans’ based onevidence from all sources and informed by robust WASH monitoring. Wealso recommend the inclusion of WASH programs in the nationaldevelopment plans and programs, where appropriate, a review ofWASH11 and fiscal space analysis and other efficiency initiatives tooptimize existing funds available, taking into account nationalcircumstances.
c. We call for G20 Members to boost international technical cooperation for WASH services in the rural-urban continuum. International technical cooperation plays both a catalytic and sustaining role in promoting capacity building in developing countries, sustainability and resilience of communities, equity and inclusion in
relation to the use and management of water resources, impacts of climatechange, and other environmental, health and nutrition challenges, especially for children, such as water-borne and vector-borne diseasesarising due to inappropriate or inadequate WASH approaches and waterscarcity circumstances. We also highlight the role of internationaltechnical cooperation to combat water pollution, includingmicrobiological and chemical, such as from lead, mercury, arsenic andother heavy metals, from a range of sources including industrial andmunicipal waste and agricultural run offs, as well as marine litter, whichcan impact health, education and socio-economic development. It isimportant that countries work together to ensure equitable access to safelymanaged drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene for all people, regardlessof their geographic location, socioeconomic status or other status.Furthermore, it is necessary that integrated water resource managementis implemented including through transboundary cooperation asappropriate. G20 Members should promote the sharing of knowledge,experiences and best practices specifically in the context of technologicaldevelopment as well as transfer of technology on voluntary and mutuallyagreed terms. Members should also support building local capacity toinstall and maintain technological solutions as well as inclusivegovernance of water and sanitation services developing scalable andadaptable solutions, considering local geographical contexts encouragingsynergies with ongoing international platforms and global coalitions,including the G20 Dialogue on Water. For example, the BrazilianCooperation Agency (ABC) together with other partners provides amodel for promoting trilateral and south-south cooperation.12 We recommend efforts to increase capacity at all levels and professionalizeinstitutional capacities through existing or new training programs andspecifically through the development of capacities of local governmentrepresentatives,13 personnel, service providers in planning, operatingand maintaining sustainable, safe and affordable drinking-water supplyand sanitation systems in rural and/or peri-urban areas. This couldinclude the promotion of existing, easy-to-operate technological solutionsand management and maintenance models that allow for large scale, sustainable implementation of national WASH programs by theresponsible government entities. We support a Call to Action to scale upregulatory support to national and local water, health and environmentalinstitutions, small water suppliers and decentralized sanitation systemsin rural areas, such as through the UN Sanitation and Hygiene Fund,RegNet, the International Network of Drinking-water and SanitationRegulators supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Werecognize the WHO’s role in providing guidance on water quality andhealth through its guidelines, as well as convening platforms on water andhealth.
d. We will promote and invest in WASH services, in the health, and education sectors and in workplaces and encourage further inclusive community engagement. WASH is a key component of quality of health care and quality of learning environments. SDG 6 is also closely connected to SDG 3 and SDG 4. Many schools and health facilities lack WASH, compromising the quality of education and health care, including safe birth. Strong public health systems, including primary health systems
and public health emergency response and management systems, areessential to safety and health for all. The continuing support of sanitationand hygiene promotion including menstrual health and hygiene, incommunities, schools, and health care facilities and communityengagement in sanitation actions can encourage all relevant stakeholders’and sectors’ commitment to improving people’s living conditions andwhere it raises awareness of the importance of basic sanitation for publichealth and the environment. This may encourage further personal andhousehold and community hygiene behaviors, including menstrual healthmanagement while paying special attention to the needs of all women andgirls in diverse situations and conditions and those in vulnerablesituations14, and fosters community participation in professional localmanagement of drinking-water and sanitation services, infrastructure andfacilities, especially in rural areas, promoting social cohesion and project sustainability. We recommend to systematically foster inter-sectorialcollaboration with the health and education sector to accelerate actionto assess WASH in health facilities and school and to support to theintegration of WASH within health care facilities, schools, workplace andcommunity centers, which is fully in line with the Primary Health Careapproach, a necessary precondition to achieving Universal HealthCoverage and boosting maternal, newborn and child health. WASH inhealth care facilities is also central to the WHO Health EmergencyPreparedness and Response (HEPR) framework while also taking note ofthe ongoing negotiations for a WHO convention, agreement or otherinternational instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness andresponse. This will enable communities to be fully equipped to respondeffectively to the spread of antimicrobial resistance and combat infectiousdiseases of all scales including the burden of neglected diseases, and notlimited to global outbreaks also encompassing malnutrition andincluding epidemics. Specifically, we recommend that WASH in schools,workplace, in health care facilities and in other public places upholdsrecommended standards and fosters community-level readiness topromote health taking into account the local circumstances. Werecommend support to the integration of WASH within health carefacilities, schools, the workplace and community settings, which is fullyin line with the Primary Health Care approach, a necessary preconditionto achieving Universal Health Coverage and central to the WHO HealthEmergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) framework. This willensure that communities are fully equipped to respond effectively toemergencies of all scales, including at the local level, not limited to globaloutbreaks. Specifically, we recommend that WASH in communities’schools, in health care facilities and workplaces, and in other publicplaces upholds recommended standards and fosters community-levelreadiness to promote health, taking into account the local context andcircumstances as well as capabilities.
This Call to Action is a declaration of intent and a commitment to achievingtransformative progress in WASH access by all as well as sustainable andintegrated resource management at all levels. G20 members and partners are encouraged to integrate these priorities into national policies aligned withapproaches that promote progressive improvement in WASH services for all,ensure that actions are sustainable, climate-resilient and inclusive. Weencourage the implementation of this Call to Action and we will advancethese commitments in relevant international processes. We take note of theOne Water Summit in 2024, Sanitation and Water for All ministerial meetingin 2025, and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, to Accelerate theImplementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability andsustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
[1] Lack of access to hygiene also disproportionately affects women and girls. Progress onhousehold drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene 2000–2022: special focus on gender. New York:United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), 2023.
[2] Throughout this document women and girls may be read in conjunction with "irrespective of age,disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
[3] Accelerated action needed to ensure safe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
[4] Improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene can save 1.4 million lives per year.
[5] Hutton G. Global Benefits and Costs of Achieving Universal Coverage of Basic Water andSanitation Services as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In: Lomborg B,ed. Prioritizing Development: A Cost Benefit Analysis of the United Nations’ SustainableDevelopment Goals. Cambridge University Press; 2018:422-445.
[6] A/RES/78/1 General Assembly.
[7] UNEP/EA.6/RES.13 .
[8] Water Action Agenda.
[9] United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation.
[10] Recent documents reflecting recommendations aligned with the SDG 6 Global AccelerationFramework include the UN 2023 Water Conference interactive dialogue paper titled Water forHealth, prepared by WHO and UNICEF; State of the World’s Drinking-Water (2022); State ofthe World’s Hand Hygiene (2021); and State of the World’s Sanitation (2020).
[11] WASH accounts.
[12] ABC - Manual of South-South Technical Cooperation Management.
[13] Missing from the original document.
[14] Menstrual health is linked to SDG target 6.2 which aims to achieve ‘access to adequatesanitation and hygiene for all… paying special attention to the needs of women and girls’.