The world is not on track to achieve SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, with significant challenges remaining in almost every country on earth. Addressing the alarming state of global water and sanitation was made even more urgent during the UN Water Conference in March 2023, resulting in the Water Action Agenda and more than 700 multi-sectoral commitments to support water action through financing, infrastructure, and policy development. Nearly 20 percent of commitments feature an element of education or capacity building. However, education and science play a larger role in the achievement of SDG 6 and all SDGs.

Recognizing that research, knowledge transfer, and community engagement are essential for the achievement of all of the Sustainable Development Goals, and that SDG 6 is under review at this year’s HLPF, the "How we know what we know about water: Community and partnership-based approaches to capacity building in the water sector" side event, which took place on July 18, 8am-9.30 ET, 2pm-3.30pm CEST  explored best practices in water sector capacity building from around the world, including a focus on partnerships (with educational institutions, local governments, NGOs, etc.) as an accelerator for action.

The event brought together experts from across the global networks of the International Association of Universities, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Global Water Partnership, representing higher education, policy, and practice, who presented and discussed innovative approaches to, and the remaining needs of, capacity building in the sector.

Watch the recording here.

More information on the concept note here.

Latest update: 30.10.2023