Inefficient water use, limited integration across the water-energy-food nexus, insufficient wastewater treatment, underinvestment in sustainable infrastructure, and weak governance. Prioritizing these gaps is critical to advance integrated water management and inclusive economic development by 2026.

We leverage technology and innovation to advance SDG 6, including smart irrigation, digital water monitoring, wastewater recycling, and data-driven decision-making. Through tech-enabled partnerships and capacity building, we enhance efficiency, sustainability, and cross-sectoral water management.

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) demonstrates innovative water governance through multi-stakeholder collaboration. Facilitated by the World Bank, it established the Permanent Indus Commission for dialogue, technical exchange, and dispute resolution, enabling irrigation and hydropower for millions, advancing SDG 6 via institutional capacity, partnerships, and data-driven management.

By 2030, governments, with private sector and international partners, must adopt integrated Water-Energy-Food nexus strategies using innovative technologies, efficient resource management, and cross-sector collaboration. This will enhance sustainability, boost economic development, and accelerate SDG 6 implementation globally.

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Water Quality and Health
What standards protect public health while enabling reuse and industrial needs?
How do pollution, salinity, or emerging contaminants impact prosperity?
Markers of progress: Strong regulatory standards, effective treatment, and monitoring.

Technology Adoption and Data
Which technologies deliver the biggest impact per dollar (smart metering, AI for demand forecasting, advanced treatment)?
How do we address data gaps, interoperability, and cybersecurity?
Markers of progress: Pilot-to-scale tech adoption, data sharing agreements, real-time dashboards.

Nutrient Cycles, Energy, and Economic Linkage How can nutrient recovery and energy

Clean Climate and Environment Campaign Initiative

Localizing SDG 6: Led by Global Water Operator Partnerships' Alliance (GWOPA) and UN-Habitat, this initiative strengthens the capacity of local water operators to improve access to water and sanitation services for an estimated 100 million people.

Association Santé Meilleure Vie Meilleure SM-VM

Fragmented water governance, inefficient water use across agriculture and industry, limited integration of the Water-Energy-Food nexus, insufficient wastewater treatment, and lack of investment hinder sustainable management and equitable economic benefits

SM-VM promotes integrated community water projects, efficient water-use practices in agriculture, wastewater reuse initiatives, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to enhance monitoring, resource efficiency, and equitable progress toward SDG 6 and related SDGs

SM-VM’s ‘Smart Water Monitoring’ project uses low-cost sensors and mobile reporting with communities and local authorities, enabling real-time tracking of water use and efficiency, reducing waste, and supporting evidence-based decisions for SDG 6 progress

A transformative action is establishing integrated Water-Energy-Food governance platforms, led by governments with civil society and private sector support, to optimize resource use, promote wastewater reuse, and ensure equitable access, driving sustainable economic and social development by 2030

Women Environmental Programme

Progress is blocked by policy silos, limited cross-sectoral planning, financing shortfalls, climate-induced stress, poor wastewater management, and weak recognition of water’s value in sustaining prosperity post-2023.

WEP champions inclusive, rights-based water management by empowering marginalized groups, linking WASH with food and energy security, and scaling innovative wastewater reuse and efficiency practices for SDG 6 and beyond.

WEP’s Inclusive Water Governance Platform unites CSOs, regulators, and communities to mainstream gender in integrated water management. Outcomes: policy uptake in 2 states, efficient irrigation pilots, and improved access for vulnerable groups.

Governments must institutionalize integrated Water-Energy-Food governance with gender-responsive policies, financing for wastewater reuse and efficiency, and inclusive platforms that empower women and youth to lead sustainable water management by 2030.

Human Photosynthesis(TM) Research Center

The serious and increasingly marked decrease in the levels of dissolved oxygen in drinking, waste, and salt water is the main problem to be solved throughout the world.

Restoring the levels of dissolved oxygen in drinking, waste or salt water is a very effective solution, as it not only improves water quality, but also human and animal health, as well as the balance of the environment.

There is a material on the market (QBLOCK),® developed based on the biology of the human eye, that raises the levels of dissolved oxygen in any type of water, without wasting electricity, without the need for added chemicals, and reduces the formation of sludge by more than 90%, and its average life is more than 25 years.

Driving action to raise dissolved oxygen levels in drinking water, whether wastewater, or saltwater, would have more impact on both human and animal health levels, as well as significant benefits to the environment, than any other method currently known.

Groupement Agropastoral pour le développement de yongoro

La RCA est confrontée à des défis exceptionnels en matière d'accès au financement climatique, ce qui rend la subvention du FAE essentielle pour ce projet.
Les limites budgétaires de la RCA, causées par la stagnation économique, la faiblesse des recettes fiscales et les chocs extérieurs

Projet pilote d’appui pour la mise en place l’agriculture intelligente pour faire face aux impacts négatifs du changement climatiques auprès de 10000 bénéficiaires directs
dans les zones prioritaires vulnérables au climat dans les 300 localités dans la préfecture du Mbomou et Haut-Mbomou.

Projet pilote d’appui pour la mise en place l’agriculture intelligente pour faire face aux impacts négatifs du changement climatiques auprès de 10000 bénéficiaires directs
dans les zones prioritaires vulnérables au climat dans les 300 localités dans la préfecture du Mbomou et Haut-Mbomou. Nous voulons le partenariat public privée

Le présent projet est initié en vue d’adopter des nouvelles pratiques et des techniques, des technologies avancées innovante dans les opérations de la production agricoles basées sur des données afin d'optimiser et d'améliorer la durabilité de la production agricole, de répondre aux problèmes des risques du changement climatique, des catastrophe naturelles ,

Fragmented governance, undervaluation of water in economic systems, and weak coordination across sectors hinder progress. Climate shocks, food insecurity, and geopolitical tensions have worsened trade-offs in the water-energy-food nexus, demanding integrated, conflict-sensitive responses.

We use Smartsettle Infinity to facilitate optimized, multi-stakeholder agreements on water allocation, efficiency, and wastewater reuse. It enables data-driven trade-off analysis across the water-energy-food nexus, advancing SDG 6 and related SDGs through collaborative, system-wide solutions.

The Myanmar Marshall Plan Simulation uses Smartsettle Infinity to model multi-stakeholder consensus on water, food, and energy priorities. Led by Smartsettle with CRRIC and GAC, it engages civil society, academics, and ex-govt actors. Results show rapid convergence on integrated, cost-shared solutions aligned with SDG 6 and economic recovery.

Governments and development banks must institutionalize systems that value water through multi-sector negotiation platforms like Smartsettle Infinity. Embedding such tools in planning processes enables fair trade-offs, cost-sharing, and integrated solutions across water-energy-food systems, accelerating SDG 6 and broader development goals.

Financing for local government and community for climate resilient water resource management.

Water policy implementation, investing in infrastructure, leadership and technical skills development.

No culture to value water economically and the intrinsic power of water being used by politicians to control their election outcomes

Global campaign on " Everyone's valuing water" and open to get inspired by how everyone is valuing water in different cultures and tradition, scale and goals.

Everyone's responsibility to value, care by paying the cost and also the government by putting people money back in the water sector.

Limited opportunities for communities to meaningful engage in addressing water issues (local and global) as well as in foresight / disaster preparedness at local government level. Communication on water is often top down with little consideration for bottom up approach.

Establishing 'Water Walks' to create opportunities for local government, sectors, business and civil society to actively co-design a community walk with interactive signs and thematic loops to showcase and communicate about water issues. Individual walks can be connected physically and virtually.

Lifelong learning systems for human security which promotes a holistic and inclusive approach that can empower people and communities to think globally and act locally. Pilot project in northern Germany involving local government, schools, sectors, businesses, communities, church, youth parliaments and civil society. Collective ownership of local government climate and sustainability strategy.

Valuing water; Saving the World's Water Towers campaign to promote the value of water and how individual action in daily lives which if amplified globally can tackle seemingly unsurmountable global problems. Mountains are the water towers of the world so shift from “I am here and the problem is there” to I can make a difference every day.

Lifelong Learning for water management and sustainability

Pan African Vision for the Environment(PAVE)

Lack of infrastructure for Wastewater management in developing countries

Wastewater management initiatives in developing countries

Kenya National Association of Water Resources Users'Association (KeNAWRUA)

Progress is hindered by weak water-energy-food integration, corruption, poor enforcement, political influence, rising pollution, neglect of catchment conservation, and underfunded community action. Addressing these gaps is vital for sustainable prosperity.

KeNAWRUA empowers WRUAs for catchment management, engages communities in research, data, and financing of watershed plans, applies citizen science, uses community scorecards to track implementation and curb corruption, and advances PES to drive water efficiency and SDG 6.

Through the Catchment Restoration and Citizen Science Initiative, KeNAWRUA with WRA, WRI & WRUAs restored 1,200+ ha, engaged 5,000 households, piloted PES schemes, and applied community scorecards. Results include improved water quality data, reduced conflicts, and increased financing for watershed management, accelerating SDG 6 delivery.

By 2030, Governments, Development partners and private sector must scale financing for communities to drive watershed restoration and accountability, while promoting sustainable consumption/production, agricultural conservation, and market access. This will strengthen the water-energy-food nexus and accelerate SDG 6 and prosperity.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Post-2023, rising water stress from climate extremes, competing demands (energy, food, industry, AI/data centres), weak cross-sector governance, undervaluation of water, and slow adoption of circular reuse hinder WEF nexus progress—threatening equity, resilience, and SDG delivery.

We advance circular water-energy-food solutions (e.g., S2Cool, SAFECONOMY), deploy AI-driven efficiency tools, and co-create pilots with industry & communities. These integrate water reuse, low-carbon cooling & resilient food systems—linking SDG6 with SDG7, SDG12 & SDG13.

S2Cool – Solar to Cooling & Water (UKRI Ayrton-funded) unites academia, SMEs & textile industry to integrate solar cooling, water reuse & energy efficiency. Pilots at Sapphire Mills cut water use by 60% and energy by 55%. This academia–industry–policy model showcases scalable WEF nexus solutions advancing SDG6, SDG7 & SDG13.

By 2030, governments and multilateral banks must embed true water valuation in policies and finance—pricing water to reflect social, environmental, and economic value while protecting access for vulnerable groups. This will drive cross-sector reuse, circular WEF nexus solutions, and equitable SDG6 progress.

Conflitos no uso da água, sobre-exploração de aquíferos, baixa eficiência no nexo água-energia-alimentos, ausência de integração setorial e impactos climáticos ampliam riscos para segurança hídrica e desenvolvimento sustentável.

Criar mecanismo fortalecendo e incentivando a Gestão integrada de recursos hídricos, reaproveitamento de águas residuais, tecnologias de eficiência hídrica, incentivos à produção sustentável e fortalecimento de mecanismos de governança multissetorial.

Governos, setor privado e sociedade civil devem implementar pactos multissetoriais obrigatórios no nexo água-energia-alimentos, com regulação de uso sustentável, estímulo à inovação circular e mecanismos de financiamento climático

Unsustainable tobacco farming depletes water, degrades soil, and drives deforestation in Lama. Combined with poor water–energy–food planning, untreated wastewater, and limited finance, this threatens ecosystems and community resilience—urgent focus for 2026.

LDF will deploy solar-powered irrigation, promote community-supported agriculture to shift farmers from tobacco, restore soils, and build farmer cooperatives for sustainable water–energy–food management and SDG 6 progress in Lama.

Planned Initiative: Lama Solar & CSA Partnership.
Approach: Collaborate with local govt, agri experts, and farmer groups to deploy solar irrigation, promote community-supported agriculture, and restore degraded soils.
Goal: Reduce tobacco reliance, improve water efficiency, and advance SDG 6 & SDG 15.

By 2030, governments, donors, and NGOs must fund a national solar-powered irrigation & CSA transition program, replacing water-intensive tobacco with sustainable crops, improving water-use efficiency, restoring soils, and empowering farmer cooperatives to secure water–energy–food resilience.

The Volunteer Team Foundation for Humanitarian Action

Fragmented water governance, inefficient water use across agriculture and industry, lack of WEF nexus integration, limited wastewater recycling, and insufficient investment in sustainable water infrastructure hinder economic and social development.

Promote integrated WEF nexus planning, smart irrigation, wastewater reuse, cross-sector partnerships, economic incentives for water efficiency, and digital water monitoring to optimize resource allocation and advance SDG 6.

The “Nile Nexus Project” linked water, energy, and food stakeholders across Egypt and Sudan, implementing smart irrigation and wastewater reuse. Collaboration between governments, private sector, and NGOs increased water-use efficiency by 20% in pilot regions

National governments and private sectors must adopt integrated WEF nexus policies, invest in circular water infrastructure, and create economic mechanisms valuing water as a critical resource for sustainable development and resilience.

Institute of Sustainability and Carbon Footprint LLC

Fragmented water governance, inefficient water use across agriculture and industry, lack of WEF nexus integration, limited wastewater recycling, and insufficient investment in sustainable water infrastructure hinder economic and social development.

Promote integrated WEF nexus planning, smart irrigation, wastewater reuse, cross-sector partnerships, economic incentives for water efficiency, and digital monitoring to optimize resource allocation and advance SDG 6.

The “Nile Nexus Project” linked water, energy, and food stakeholders across Egypt and Sudan, implementing smart irrigation and wastewater reuse. Collaboration between governments, private sector, and NGOs increased water-use efficiency by 20% in pilot regions.

National governments and private sectors must adopt integrated WEF nexus policies, invest in circular water infrastructure, and create economic mechanisms valuing water as a critical resource for sustainable development and resilience.

Key challenges include degraded coastal ecosystems, water pollution, inefficient water use, and limited community awareness. Strengthening mangrove restoration, promoting nature-based solutions, and integrating water, energy, and food management must be prioritized at the 2026 UN Water Conference."

We restore mangroves to improve water quality, enhance water-use efficiency, and secure livelihoods. Using community-led stewardship, data monitoring, and nature-based solutions, we advance SDG 6, strengthen the Water-Energy-Food nexus, and support resilient, sustainable development."

Our ‘Mangroves for Prosperity’ initiative partners with communities, NGOs, and research institutes to restore mangroves, improve water quality, enhance water-use efficiency, and secure livelihoods. Community-led planting, monitoring, and data sharing have strengthened resilience, advanced SDG 6, and integrated water, energy, and food management."

Within the next few years, NGOs, communities, and private partners must scale up mangrove restoration as a nature-based solution to enhance water-use efficiency, secure clean water and sanitation, and support livelihoods. Promoting these integrated, community-led approaches at the 2026 UN Water Conference can accelerate SDG 6 and strengthen the Water-Energy-Food nexus."

Water Workers Association of Kenya

A key challenge is neglecting water workers in nexus policies. Since 2023, climate shocks and debt crises have deepened risks while utilities face underfunding and inequitable water allocation. Prioritizing worker capacity and decent work is essential for resilient, efficient SDG6 delivery.

The Water Workers Association of Kenya promotes nexus-based governance by training workers on water-use efficiency, engaging in wastewater reuse pilots, and valuing water through labor rights advocacy. We link worker capacity, accountability, and equity to advance SDG6,SDG16 & related SDGs

Through UN-Habitat GWOPA WOPs we supported utility reforms on accountability and pro-poor service. WPI–Canada training built worker capacity in water quality standards, strengthening compliance with national regulations. With Blue Community, we advanced policy advocacy on the human right to water, shaping inclusive governance and SDG6 acceleration.

By 2030, governments should embed worker rights and skills into nexus policies, linking labor standards with water-use efficiency and wastewater reuse. The 2026 UN Water Conference must champion regulatory reforms and financing that empower water workers as enablers of prosperity and SDG6 progress.

Establish a unified system of smart water meters across transboundary water bodies, enabling all riparian states to access real-time data. Digitalization of canals and automation will reduce human error, increase transparency, and foster cooperative water management

We integrated the Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach into our curriculum through the interactive Nexus Game. This hands-on simulation helps students and young professionals understand interlinkages between water, energy, and food, fostering SDG 6 progress

Initiative: Nexus Game integration in curriculum. Innovative, interactive simulation teaches students and young professionals the interconnections of water, energy, and food. Results: improved understanding of WEF nexus, enhanced SDG 6 awareness. Stakeholders: faculty, students, local communities; collaboration: workshops and joint exercises

By 2030, all riparian states should implement a unified system of smart water meters and digital monitoring across transboundary water bodies. This transformative action will enhance transparency, reduce human error, foster cooperation, and accelerate SDG 6 progress. Promoting this at the 2026 UN Water Conference is essential

Shree Someshwar Education Trust

Fragmented governance, inadequate financing, and persistent data gaps hinder valuing water holistically across the Water-Energy-Food nexus, stalling integrated management and climate resilience.
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Global Rainwater Management Program (GRMP) adoption as Global Common Minimum Program will solve all.

In my own country government does not see water as a tangible investment for agriculture and industries growth in which they can invest on

The project of water reservoir is a capital project that can not be carryout by just an entity, some well-wisher organization has to support.

We are battling with climate change, rain has cease to fall, wastewater keep wasting while irrigation is in dire need.
Government can build reserve for this wastewater and people too should be warn against water pollution.

La desconexión entre políticas sectoriales y la falta de valorización territorial del agua impiden avanzar. Urge priorizar modelos integrados agua-energía-alimentos con enfoque ecosistémico, participación comunitaria y financiamiento articulado.

Alianza PRIAS- Universidad de Chile para estudiar contaminación hídrica de origen natural. Integra datos geodinámicos de SIRGAS y observaciones satelitales para identificar correlaciones entre movimiento tectónico y presencia de hidrocarburos en agua. Busca articular ciencia, territorio y ODS 6, 13 y 15.

Para 2030, los Estados deben establecer marcos vinculantes de valorización hídrica territorial, integrando el nexo agua-energía-alimentos bajo gestión comunitaria. En 2026, la ONU debe impulsar pactos intersectoriales que prioricen el agua como motor de economía regenerativa y seguridad climática

United Nature International Peace

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Lack of vision and true responsibility. For when the why is well defined, the how become easy. Take case of Cameroon and DRC blessed with abundance of water yet starve of water and struggling with food security because of lack of vision and responsibility on the part of leadership

First we run a number of project and program that support sustainable management of water and waste resources. We run environmental education program, advocating for reinforcement of laws in the domain as well as source to sea management together circular water management system

It's but normal that partnership helps sharp a couple of things. I am thinking at the new project in Ethiopia "Ethiopian renaissance dam" that have just been realised through partnership to supply 6000 megawatts of electricity, going a long way to boost economic and social development in the country. So I will say putting the right value for water, while considering the ecological footprint

Most countries will need to set their own agenda based on their own reality. Cameroon for example can not attain even 70% in the SDG6 by 2030. We need to set realistic targets base in the current state, putting the right measures for implementation to say we can reach sustainable level. We will also need to decentralise water management such that for regions that has much capacity, to run

GEMAR ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRADE LIMITED COMPANY

Challenges: Weak coordination in the Water-Energy-Food nexus, low efficiency across sectors, insufficient wastewater reuse, undervaluing water, climate-driven droughts and floods, unequal access to finance and technology, data gaps, overuse due to urbanization and agriculture pressures.

Our organization leverages GSM-based monitoring and AI-supported integrated water management to improve cross-sector efficiency, recycle wastewater, engage communities in decision-making, and accelerate progress on SDG 6 and related targets through data-driven policies.

Initiative: “Community-Centric Water Monitoring Network” – collaboration of NGOs, local governments, and tech firms. GSM and IoT sensors collected water usage data, communities contributed via mobile apps. Result: 30% efficiency gain, equitable access ensured, and policy decisions supported by data.

Tech companies and NGOs should develop inclusive systems using IoT and AI to monitor wastewater and water use in real time, ensuring community participation and transparency.

Ogoni youth alliance for climate change and sustainable development

Key challenges include increasing water scarcity driven by climate change, rising demand from urbanization and agriculture, lack of integrated policy approaches, insufficient financing for sustainable management, and gaps in data and governance that hinder effective water resource planning.

Our organization is implementing integrated water management plans, promoting water use efficiency, adopting innovative technologies for wastewater reuse, strengthening data collection, and fostering cross-sector partnerships to advance SDG 6 and related goals.

The Water for All Initiative fosters cross-sector collaboration among governments, NGOs, and communities, promoting integrated water management and innovative technologies. It has improved water access in underserved areas, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and enhanced policy coherence, accelerating progress toward SDG 6.

By 2026, governments must commit to integrated policies and increased investments in water infrastructure, ensuring collaboration across sectors. Leadership from national and local authorities is essential to create enabling conditions, foster innovation, and mainstream water sustainability to achieve SDG 6 and related goals by 2030.

International Helping For The Young

Fragmented water governance, lack of cross-sectoral data sharing, and underinvestment in nature-based solutions hinder Water-Energy-Food nexus progress. Climate shocks and rising demand since 2023 call for integrated, adaptive resource management.

response outlining cross-cutting and action-oriented solutions:

We implement integrated water-energy-food pilot hubs using solar irrigation, wastewater reuse, and climate-smart agriculture. Community training and digital monitoring tools support SDG 6 tracking and cross-sector impact.

response showcasing an effective partnership:

The ‘Integrated Nexus Initiative’ in the Sahel, led by local governments, NGOs, and FAO, combines solar-powered irrigation, greywater reuse, and farmer training. Since 2023, 15,000+ households improved food security and water efficiency. Joint planning and data sharing drive results.

By 2030, national governments must mainstream the Water-Energy-Food nexus into policy and budgeting, with cross-sectoral coordination units and incentives for circular water use. This shift, supported by international finance and local stakeholders, will drive integrated and sustainable development.

And the one keyword that captures this perspective:

Integration

The root cause of water wastage is overlooking behaviour and lifestyle transformations that foster a culture of mindfulness and conservation. Water security relies not only on innovation, technology and infrastructure but also on holistic change in cognitive shifts towards responsible water use.

Earthitude promotes cognitive, behavioural and lifestyle transformations to foster water mindfulness and conservation. We integrate research, nature-based solutions with community engagement to advance water use conscious behaviour, wastewater reuse, and support holistic approaches to drive sustainable water management and progress on SDG 6.

Earthitude’s “Water Mindfulness Behaviour and Lifestyle Transformations” initiative integrates cognitive behavioural approaches with community-led wastewater reuse, water-use efficiency and water conservation programs. Partnering with local communities and government bodies, has increased water conservation by 30% in pilot study, demonstrating effective collaboration to advance SDG 6.

Advocating for cognitive and behavioural change strategies by governments and stakeholders to foster water-conscious lifestyles. This shift, integrated with policy and technology, will create enabling conditions for sustainable water security management and maximise impact ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Barokupot Ganochetona Foundation -BGF

“Key challenges include inefficient water use across sectors, weak integration of the Water-Energy-Food nexus, inadequate wastewater management, limited economic incentives for sustainable water practices, and insufficient cross-sectoral governance—priorities for the 2026 UN Water Conference.”

“We implement integrated WEF-nexus programs, promote efficient water use and wastewater recycling, engage multi-stakeholder partnerships, use digital monitoring for water management, and build community capacity to advance SDG 6 and related sustainable development goals.”

“Through the ‘Smart WEF Nexus’ initiative, we partnered with local governments, farmers’ cooperatives, and tech providers to implement water-efficient irrigation and wastewater recycling. This improved water-use efficiency for 3,500 households, strengthened multi-stakeholder governance, and accelerated SDG 6 outcomes.”

“Governments, in partnership with private sector innovators and communities, must adopt integrated Water-Energy-Food nexus planning, incentivize efficient water use and wastewater recycling, and strengthen cross-sector governance to ensure sustainable water management and accelerate SDG 6 and economic development by 2030.”

Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD

Challenges include undervaluation of water in the Water-Energy-Food nexus, rising groundwater stress, weak cross-sectoral coordination, wastewater mismanagement, and limited financing for efficient technologies. Priorities: integrated governance, equity, and circular water use

AFRD Georgia advances water prosperity by piloting Nexus-based irrigation systems, promoting wastewater reuse in agriculture, applying digital water-use monitoring, and building farmer capacity. We link ecosystem services with rural livelihoods, driving progress on SDG 6 and related SDGs

Through the ‘Nexus for Rural Prosperity’ initiative, AFRD Georgia partners with municipalities, farmer groups, and universities to pilot integrated water-energy-food models. Results include 25% irrigation efficiency gains, use of treated wastewater in vineyards, and stronger local governance. Collaboration links science, policy, and communities to advance SDG 6

y 2030, governments, farmers, and private sector must co-lead a transformative shift to value water as a shared economic and ecological asset. Scaling Nexus-based governance, wastewater reuse, and digital efficiency tools will enable resilient food systems, equitable growth, and accelerated SDG 6 progress

Our seven years of drought in Morocco have been excruciating. The impact on the price of food has been striking. Moroccan frameworks for sustainability can reduce these burdens. Since 80% of rural incomes come from agriculture, the priority communities identify are water for irrigation and drinking.

HAF advances communities’ empowerment and livelihoods through participatory dialogue and action, multiform of water management and infrastructure, transitioning to fruit tree agriculture and monitoring for carbon offsets, adaptive decision-making, terracing, waste management, and renewable energy.

HAF empowers communities to build their vision. 9,448 participants (60% women; 38% youth) analyzed social relationships, work, money, emotions, self-perception, and mindfulness. With enhanced self-belief, they created plans for local growth. Partners are associations, cooperatives, municipalities, universities, National Agency for Water and Forests, Ministry of Energy, and related agencies.

HAF and partners seek to train thousands of agricultural extensionists, forestry guardians, students, teachers, municipal councils and civil society members, and community and religious leaders in facilitating participatory dialogue, personal and group empowerment, and planning community projects, involving water containment and maximizing utility and planting millions of endemic trees annually.

Simon Fraser University, Pacific Water Research Centre

Key Challenges: 1. Disparities in scales of water, energy, and food sectors at the national level - with different scales of investments; 2. Restrictive regulations that choke innovative solutions and technologies; 3. Institutionalized corruption and siphoning off of development resources.

Solutions: 1. Developing policy recommendations for ways of best understanding and resolving issues related to the water-energy-food nexus in the Asia Pacific Region; 2. Bringing together regional collaborators to address water-energy-food nexus.

Partnership: Long-term collaboration between Pacific Water Research Centre (SFU), UNESCO and University of New South Wales to research water-energ-food nexus.

The UN General Assembly should create an intergovernmental funding mechanism to implement the the Water-Energy-Food Nexus approaches at scale to enhance
cross-sectoral policy making at global and national levels.

Ignacy Moscicki University of Applied Sciences in Ciechanów, 06-400 Ciechanów, Poland 2.

The problem is that many global economies have shifted to wartime economies, particularly in Central Europe and the Middle East, which significantly limits water management efforts.

In 2023, we presented the assumptions of the project "Water retention in the Polish crisis management system - conditions for the implementation of the model" at the Council for Security and Defense of the National Development Council of the President of the Republic of Poland, Presidential Palace Warsaw 2023,

Post 2023, challenges include drought-driven energy insecurity, fertilizer runoff polluting waters, weak reuse of wastewater in agriculture, fragmented water-energy-food governance, and limited financing tools to scale efficient, integrated resource management.

BlueToken links fisheries, NGOs & authorities with tokenized rewards for efficient water use, blockchain-logged marine data, and wastewater-linked ecosystem monitoring, creating cross-sector incentives that advance SDG 6, SDG 12 & SDG 14.

BlueToken Trace & Restore unites fishers, NGOs, scientists & regulators through tokenized incentives and blockchain-logged marine data. Pilots in Greek fisheries show improved wastewater-linked monitoring, reduced IUU fishing, and greater water-use efficiency, proving the power of cross-sector digital collaboration.

Governments and multilateral banks must mandate integrated Water-Energy-Food governance with financing for digital incentive platforms like BlueToken, linking wastewater reuse, efficient resource management, and community rewards to embed water’s true value in economic and social systems.

While many people still lack access to safe water and sanitation globally, there are communities where available water is not being treated with care. In other words, the significance of available water and sanitation resources are being taken for granted either due to ignorance or complacency.

The organization has sought to engage in partnerships and corporations that reveal the true relevance of water resources and its current state in Ghana. This is evident in the many projects with the private and public sector.

Again, the Water Research Industry with its development partners have pioneered and undertaken research that employ water sources, water sheds and ecological habitat as sources of wildlife, game, and endangered species, such as the project on lagoon water governance in coastal regions in Ghana (Building a Nano Water Resources Knowledge for Sustainable Lagoon Governance).

Transformative actions need strong will and resources to ensure realization. In this regard, the importance of the use of water, relatedness, and implications in the food and energy sector cannot be overemphasized. Making local communities, corporations, local and industry players aware by promoting actions that portray water as a credible investment can help realize this goal.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

les defis: changement climatiques, infrastrutures insuffisantes, risques sanitaires, inégalités sociales et géographiques, gouvernance et régulation et pollution et surexploitation

Les solutions sont Initiatives communautaires; approche collaborative et renforcement de la résilience

La participation inclusive des parties prenantes favorise l'adhésion et l'appropriation pour prendre en compte différentes perpectives des personnes impliquées permet de déterminer une vision claire.

mesures: optimiser la disponibilité de ressource en luttant contre les fuites dans les réseaux d'eau potable et valorisation du stockage dans les sols ainsi que préserver la qualité de l'eau

Weak wastewater recycling practices, limited financing for deep-tech solutions, fragmented Water-Energy-Food governance, slow uptake of sustainable innovations, and inadequate support for smallholder farmers.

Manhat deploys patented natural water distillation devices that recycle wastewater, including brine, to deliver zero-carbon, zero-brine freshwater for irrigation—empowering smallholder farmers, advancing the Water-Energy-Food nexus, and supporting SDGs 6, 12, 13 & 14.

Manhat’s Natural Water Distillation projects, with local farms and partners such as Abu Dhabi Ports, recovered freshwater from wastewater, brine ponds, and direct seawater—without electricity. Recognized by COP28 & Expo 2025 Osaka, these scalable, zero-carbon, zero-brine solutions advance SDG 6.

By 2030, governments and multilateral banks must establish dedicated financing and regulatory frameworks to accelerate deployment of water innovations. Supporting deeptech startups like Manhat to scale wastewater and brine-to-freshwater solutions will unlock the Water-Energy-Food nexus and drive equitable, climate-positive water security.

Key challenges since 2023: rising water-energy-food conflicts, climate shocks straining resources, weak cross-sector integration, undervaluation of water in policies, and limited financing for efficiency and wastewater reuse—hindering progress toward SDG6.

Promote solar-powered desalination & wastewater reuse in arid regions, integrate water-energy-food nexus in policy, and apply digital tools for monitoring efficiency—cross-cutting solutions to advance SDG6 and resilient prosperity.

The Saudi–FAO Water-Energy-Food Nexus Initiative pilots integrated policies linking irrigation efficiency, renewable energy, and food security. It fostered cross-ministerial coordination, improved water productivity by 20%, and showcased how valuing water across sectors accelerates SDG6 and economic resilience.

By 2030, governments must embed the water–energy–food nexus into national planning, pricing water to reflect its true value, scaling wastewater reuse, and investing in renewable-powered water systems. This transformative action will secure SDG6, drive prosperity, and build climate resilience.

Low to no investment in water treatment projects, less focus on proper pricing, dying rivers and climate driven water scarcity, inadequate data causing weakened monitoring, weak governance.

A concentrated water-energy-food system which will ensure proper wastewater reuse and energy generation from that; efficient irrigation and better pricing from cross-sectoral data.

"Smart water cities" saw data driven planning which reduced losses by 25%, ensured allocation got better and accountability enhanced. Municipal authorities, NGOs and civil societies helped installing IoT sensors for better monitoring.

Must look more towards desalinization of ocean water and treating it more for usage in homesteads.

Key challenges include underpricing of water, fragmented governance, insufficient cross-sector coordination, and limited financing for water reuse and efficiency. Since 2023, climate shocks and energy crises have intensified stress on the Water-Energy-Food nexus, demanding urgent action.

We promote nature-based solutions, adopt circular water use in agriculture and industry, and support integrated water-energy-food planning. Leveraging digital tools and local partnerships, we improve data, governance, and financing to accelerate SDG 6 and related goals.

The Water-Energy-Food Nexus Accelerator (WEFNA) brings together governments, NGOs, and the private sector to co-develop scalable solutions. In pilot regions, it improved irrigation efficiency by 30% and reduced energy use by 20%. Led by a multi-stakeholder task force, it fosters integrated planning and investment through data sharing and joint capacity building

By 2030, governments must mandate cross-sector Water-Energy-Food nexus planning at national and basin levels, backed by integrated data systems and inclusive governance. This transformative action will align policies, optimize resource use, and drive investment—unlocking progress on SDG 6 and beyond.

Key challenges include weak integration of water-energy-food policies, underinvestment in wastewater reuse, climate-driven resource stress, and inequitable access to technology further strained since 2023 by economic shocks and rising demand across sectors.

We advance SDG 6 by applying geodata and AI to optimize irrigation, piloting solar-powered water-energy systems, and promoting wastewater reuse. Through partnerships with farmers, researchers, and policymakers, we link efficiency gains to food security and sustainable growth.

The Agri-Water Nexus Pilot with Ghana COCOBOD, local SMEs, and research partners applied geodata and solar-powered irrigation to boost water-use efficiency. Results: 25% yield gains for 500+ farmers, reduced water stress, and stronger cross-sector collaboration linking water, energy, and food security for SDG 6.

By 2030, governments and multilateral banks must scale integrated Water-Energy-Food nexus strategies with dedicated financing for wastewater reuse and climate-smart irrigation. This transformative action will align policies, mobilize investment, and drive equitable, efficient resource use to advance SDG 6.

A major challenge is the "implementation gap" between high-level agreements like the Global Biodiversity Framework and on-the-ground water management. Post-2023, local capacity and financial mechanisms to scale Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for water and ecosystems remain inadequate.

My endorsed UN Ocean Decade Action, "A bridge of oceanic dreams from Asia," directly addresses this. We empower Asia-Pacific youth networks to lead local, science-based NbS projects—such as mangrove restoration—for water and marine health, linking local action to planetary goals.

Initiative: The UN Ocean Decade Action. As project lead, I collaborate with UNESCO-IOC and its Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme, engaging youth networks across Asia. This creates a new, collaborative model for implementing global goals via empowered, decentralized, youth-led action at the water-planet interface.

Transformative Action: The Secretariats of the UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) must establish a formal Joint Work Programme on Water. By Whom: The Executive Secretaries of both conventions. This programme must have a dedicated funding stream to operationalize the link between the Paris Agreement and the GBF, focusing on scaling NbS for water resilience and planetary health.

Key challenges include rising water-energy-food trade-offs, inefficient cross-sectoral governance, underinvestment in wastewater reuse, and climate-driven extremes. Since 2023, escalating food-energy crises, debt stress, and fragmented financing have further slowed resilient water management.

ChatGPT said:

India Water Foundation promotes Water-Energy-Environment nexus models, linking springshed revival, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture. We advance wastewater reuse pilots, women-led WASH monitoring, and policy dialogues, ensuring integrated resource management, equity, and resilience to accelerate SDG 6 and related goals.

Meghalaya’s Integrated Basin Development & Livelihoods Programme (IBDLP) exemplifies nexus-based innovation. Led by the state government with India Water Foundation as knowledge partner, it integrates water resource management, energy access, and livelihoods. Results include springshed revival, improved farm productivity, women’s empowerment, and scalable models for the Global South.

By 2030, national governments must mandate integrated water-energy-food nexus planning within all development policies, backed by blended finance, circular economy models for wastewater reuse, and digital monitoring systems. This transformative action will align sectoral priorities, boost efficiency, and unlock equitable prosperity while accelerating SDG 6 and related goals.

The world's ecological boundaries are currently being pushed past their limits. Water is not only essential for life on earth, but also for many industry sector of the global economy. As the global population grows, we need to find sustainable, water-resilient solutions.

Investment in R&D for efficient use of water in crops such as Direct Seeded Rice that can deliver significant regenerative agriculture benefits. Within Asia rice systems evidence shows environmental benefits including 30-50% water savings and 10-90% methane emission reductions.

Bayer's commitments go beyond own operations, to our entire value chain, from suppliers to our own operations, to farmers, patients & consumers we serve. On average, 70% of global freshwater withdrawals are in agriculture; therefore, a positive change in water productivity in scarce areas is necessary; Bayer is committed to support smallholders in reducing 25% by 2030 against a 2019-2021 baseline.

Globally, unsafe sanitation—such as widespread pit latrines—threatens groundwater, health, and food security, hindering integrated water–energy–food systems. Prioritizing sustainable sanitation solutions is key to advancing SDG 6 and resilient development.

Blessman International has built 350 Enviro Loo waterless composting toilets in schools and preschools in Limpopo, South Africa. This innovative, sustainable sanitation solution conserves water, protects groundwater, and improves health, dignity, and learning conditions.

Faith-based and philanthropic partnerships can drive transformative WASH impact. Through collaboration with the Larry Hull Trust and U.S. churches, 350 Enviro Loo composting toilets were installed in South African schools, replacing unsafe pits. This model shows how cross-border partnerships can accelerate SDG 6 progress.

Adopt national, performance-based WASH programs where local firms/NGOs are paid for verified service uptime, water-use efficiency, and safe sanitation—tracked by smart metering. Governments/regulators and Development Finance Institutions de-risk and co-finance; communities co-manage to protect vulnerable users.

Lack of integrated water-energy-food management and inefficient water use across sectors.

Promote energy and water efficient solutions to Data Centers. Aquifer management solutions. Water efficiency focus on industry (water users, e.g. Carlsberg)

IWA Grundfos Youth Fellowship 2022-24 and 2024-26 editions. Focused on local led solutions in collaboration with external partners like C40 Cities.

Mainstream water valuation in economic planning; governments and industry to co-lead.

Key challenges include climate extremes straining water-energy-food systems, weak cross-sector governance, underinvestment in wastewater reuse, inequitable water allocation, rising pollution and lack of data integration - issues worsening since 2023 and critical for 2026 action.

Resilient40 promotes youth-led Climate Cafés and Hubs to bridge water-energy-food dialogues, champions nature-based solutions for efficiency, leverages digital tools for monitoring and links water justice with climate finance, equity and sustainable livelihoods to advance SDG 6 and beyond.

Under the WEFE Nexus Integration Workshop, Capacity building, policy coherence, sharing success cases, mapping institutional capacity, identifying integrated solutions for water, energy, food and ecosystems. Also to note is the ecReUse Project, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

A transformative action is for African governments, with youth networks like Resilient40 and global partners, to adopt binding Water-Energy-Food Nexus Compacts that mandate integrated planning, invest in wastewater reuse and circular economy solutions and unlock climate finance to scale equitable, efficient water use by 2030.

Fundación Mexicana René Mey associate civil

the amplified impact of climate change on water-energy-food (WEF) systems, a widening WEF knowledge and implementation gap, the challenge of equitable access amid rising demand, and the critical need for more effective. finance and private sector mobilization for integrated resource management

We scale public-private partnerships, deploy climate-smart irrigation, invest in wastewater reuse, and leverage digital tools for real-time water monitoring—advancing the Water-Energy-Food nexus and accelerating progress on SDG 6 and related SDGs.

The “Nexus for Water, Energy & Food” initiative brings together governments, private sector, and research institutions to optimize water use across sectors. Results include 25% improved irrigation efficiency and 15% energy savings. Collaborative leadership and data-sharing platforms enabled integrated planning and stakeholder engagement.

Governments must implement integrated Water-Energy-Food policies supported by cross-sector partnerships, leveraging data-driven planning and investment in sustainable infrastructure, to optimize resource use, enhance resilience, and accelerate SDG 6 and broader socio-economic development by 2030.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

A disconnect between cost, price and value of water that is hindering sustainable IWRM by not incentivising efficiency and investment

Valuing water based on who is using it, when, where and for what purpose. Distinguishing between the marginal value different users get from water, and how that should be reflected in cost and price. Quantifying value through shadow water pricing, applying a hedonic model informed by AI.

Partnerships with multiple stakeholders including CDP, University of Oxford, Alliance for Water Stewardship, AquaFed, Africa Water Investment Partnership, Global Water Partnership, Asian Development Bank, Government of the Republic of Zambia, others. Evidence of results available, but the specific information is currently partner-confidential.

UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Escalating climate impacts on water availability, insufficient financing for sustainable infrastructure, and fragmented governance across the Water-Energy-Food nexus, the rising cost of energy impacts water treatment and distribution, geopolitical tensions

Our organization champions integrated water management. We promote circular economy principles for wastewater reuse, boosting agricultural and industrial efficiency. We leverage data analytics for real-time monitoring, driving progress on SDG 6 and related SDGs through targeted investments and policy advocacy.

UDS has focus on scaling up innovative Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) with local methods which can store rain water for long and removes the softness which is directly addressing the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus. Successful implementation has demonstrably enhanced local food security via dry-season irrigation, reducing pressure on potable sources and accelerating water-use efficiency

Ghana's water future by 2030 hinges on a nationwide smart water metering rollout led by the Ministry of Sanitation & Water Resources and tech firms. This "Water for Prosperity" initiative will give citizens and industries real-time consumption data, boosting efficiency and cutting losses. The data will guide investments in water management and treatment, aligning with UN goals.

boosting efficiency, investments in water management and treatment, community-led total sanitation t

Fragmented governance/pricing; degraded watersheds & rising pollution; high NRW and low reuse; scarce, poor-quality data for WEF planning; limited O&M capacity and finance for resilient assets; slow demand-side management in industry and cities.

Indonesian Water Association scales Water Engineer training; brokers industry utility pilots for reuse and NRW reduction; mainstreams AWS/Water-Positive; co-issues policy briefs with Indonesian Water Resources Council member; deploys low-cost monitoring & water accounting; mobilizes PPP/blended finance with disclosure to track SDG-6.

“Water Engineer” Academy + AWS/Water-Positive partnerships: co-training and pilots (industrial reuse, NRW reduction, efficient WASH) with utilities, industry, academia and Indonesian Water Resources Council member with Indonesian Water Association. Evidence: repeat cohorts, member-replicated pilots, adopted SOPs/toolkits, and policy roundtables informing SDG-6.

Launch a National Water Efficiency & Reuse Compact (by 2026), co-led by Government/Indonesian Water Resources Council member with Indonesian Water Association, utilities, industry, cities and donors: targets (NRW <20%, 10–20% industrial reuse), tariff/permit incentives, ring-fenced O&M, blended-finance facility, open data dashboards, annual disclosure.

Progress is slowed by fragmented governance, weak valuation of water, and siloed approaches to the water-energy-food nexus. Since 2023, climate shocks, migration pressures, and uneven financing have deepened gaps, demanding integrated, values-driven leadership across sectors.

Paxaterra Global advances SDG 6 by embedding water stewardship into leadership training, linking the water-energy-food nexus with organizational values. We foster cross-sector dialogue, equip leaders to act sustainably, and promote cultures of efficiency and shared accountability.

Through the Lead with Soul Nexus Dialogues, Paxaterra Global convenes leaders from civic groups, educators, and sustainability practitioners to link water stewardship with energy and food systems. Early pilots show stronger cross-sector trust, shared values, and adoption of efficient, regenerative practices supporting SDG 6.

By 2030, governments and private sector leaders must adopt integrated water-energy-food governance frameworks that value water as a shared asset. Embedding this in national policy and corporate strategy—guided by inclusive, values-driven leadership—will accelerate efficiency, equity, and sustainable development.

Centre International pour la Recherche Multidisciplinaire Appliquée (CIRMA)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Most of developing countries have incommensurable natural resources and considerable potentials for water, energy and food supply, but make little use of these resources to provide quality services to their citizens, because, quantitative analyses are underestimated in policy and practices.

An integrated planning of Water-Energy-Food is to be promoted by governments through research funding. These analyses provide a scientific basis for water-energy-food policies and implementation of related strategies based on science. This would enable the availing future resources, and the accessibility and affordability of their services.

Communities need to manage their resources with the support of academia, investors and policy-makers. The government needs to facilitate the development and implementation of such integrated plans at the lowest level of governance of water, energy and land resources.

Challenges include competing demands in the water-energy-food nexus, weak valuation of water in policy and markets, rising wastewater pollution, and climate-driven scarcity. Since 2023, rapid urban growth and financing gaps have further slowed integrated water resource management.

WEC promotes water-energy-food nexus projects by scaling rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse, and efficient irrigation. We engage youth and communities in awareness, apply digital monitoring for water use, and partner with local bodies to align equity, resilience, and SDG 6 targets.

WEC’s ‘Blue-Green Nexus Initiative’ unites farmers, local govts & NGOs to integrate rainwater harvesting, solar pumps & drip irrigation. Pilots in India improved crop yields by 25% while cutting water use by 30%. Youth volunteers lead awareness, and digital tracking ensures transparency, driving SDG 6 & nexus goals.

By 2030, governments and global financiers must embed true water valuation in economic planning, ensuring incentives for efficiency, reuse, and nexus-based solutions. A transformative global pact linking water, food & energy security—co-driven by states, youth, and civil society—must anchor the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Défis clés : fragmentation des politiques eau-énergie-alimentation, sous-financement des infrastructures circulaires, faible valorisation des eaux usées, vulnérabilité climatique accrue, et lente adoption des solutions intégrées depuis 2023.

Mise en œuvre de systèmes agroécologiques intégrant la réutilisation des eaux usées, partenariats multi-acteurs pour la gouvernance locale de l’eau, outils numériques pour le suivi communautaire des ODD, et sensibilisation intersectorielle eau-énergie-alimentation.

L’initiative « Water-Energy-Food Nexus Africa » coordonnée par GIZ et l’Union africaine, promeut des projets intégrés dans 6 pays. Elle mobilise gouvernements, ONG, chercheurs et entreprises pour des solutions circulaires. Résultats : meilleure efficacité hydrique et renforcement des capacités locales.

Synergie : relier eau, énergie et alimentation pour une prospérité durable et inclusive.

JAHAZI EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

Key challenges include poor integration of water-energy-food policies, weak data and governance systems, inadequate financing for sustainable water use, rising climate pressures, inefficient irrigation practices, and limited adoption of circular economy approaches across sectors.

We promote solar-powered irrigation, community water harvesting, and climate-smart farming to boost efficiency. We integrate WASH, food security, and clean energy planning, engage local governance, and track SDG 6 progress through participatory monitoring and data sharing.

Initiative: Mt. Kulal Integrated Nexus Program – A partnership with county government, youth groups, and NGOs promoting solar irrigation, water harvesting, and climate-smart farming. It has improved water efficiency, boosted livelihoods for 3,000+ people, and strengthened multi-sector collaboration and local leadership.

Governments and development partners must invest in integrated Water-Energy-Food systems, scaling climate-smart technologies and inclusive governance. This transformative action will boost efficiency, resilience, and economic growth, ensuring sustainable resource use and accelerating SDG 6 and related goals by 2030.

Key challenges include climate-driven water scarcity, poor coordination across the Water-Energy-Food nexus, inefficient water use, weak wastewater recycling, and lack of inclusive policies and financing to ensure equitable access and sustainable development.

Barwaqa relief organization (BRO) integrates solar boreholes, rainwater harvesting, and climate-smart farming, improving water efficiency and food security for vulnerable households, while building community resilience and advancing SDG 6 through inclusive local partnerships.

Through the Water Unity Network (WUN), BRO fosters partnerships linking water, food, and energy security. By mobilizing local communities, governments, and global NGOs, we improved irrigation, safe water access, and reduced conflicts. Leadership ensures resilience and equity, advancing SDG 6 and the 2030 Agenda.

By 2030, governments, NGOs, and local communities must implement integrated water resource management, invest in sustainable infrastructure, and strengthen the Water-Energy-Food nexus. BRO and partners will ensure equitable access, resilience, and sustainable economic development, advancing SDG 6.

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

In Indian context, they relate to subsidies that drive water and energy use making its use inefficient and capacity gaps in wastewater (used water) treatment and generation.

Mainstream policy coherence especially for the food, land and water systems; shift to climate smart agriculture practices such as micro irrigation systems; and planning for strengthening used water treatment and its reuse to reduce pressure eon freshwater resources.

We have assed policy coherence in India's food, land and water systems; and prepared city specific reuse plans.

While policy coherence needs to happen at the national and state level that should also target to repurpose harmful subsidies; the reuse planning has to happen at the city level.

Center for Scientific and Technical Research on Arid Regions CRSTRA

We are deploying “Infonappe,” a digital platform integrating geophysics, AI, and water-use data to optimize groundwater management, support the Water-Energy-Food nexus, enhance wastewater reuse potential, and guide sustainable resource planning in arid regions.

The “Infonappe Biskra” project in Algeria applies geophysics and AI to monitor groundwater within the Water-Energy-Food nexus. Led by researchers with municipalities, farmers, and ICT experts, it reduced drilling costs, improved irrigation efficiency, and fostered cross-sector collaboration toward SDG 6.

By 2030, governments, research institutions, and the private sector must scale integrated Water-Energy-Food nexus platforms combining digital monitoring, wastewater reuse, and efficient irrigation. This transformative action will value water, boost food security, and accelerate SDG 6.

Water Utility Monitoring and Support Organization (Non provit NGO)

cost for energy is high challenge for providing water.Therefore,it id needed to comprehensively introduce renewable energy for pumping ,water treatment etc.
The catchment management should be developed with real time data management in order to assure sustainability

it is required to involve all relevant sectors that including community.Therefore,from policy makers to community need to establish committees to address the issues.The high level policy makers should provide policy decisions to sustainable management of water

In order to assure involvement of relevant sectors and uses ,require to conduct comprehensive training program and develop guide lines .Should be assured aware politician ,top level policy makers and usersuse

use of advance Information Technology with clear guide line system and awareness through mass media is needed

massively use of IT in different sub systerms with clear guidelines

Key challenges include underinvestment in water-efficient technologies, weak integration of water-energy-food policies, rising climate-driven water stress, limited wastewater reuse, and inequities in access that hinder inclusive economic and social development.

Waterlight Save Initiative promotes solar-powered irrigation, community boreholes, and water reuse systems; integrates water access with food security and renewable energy; and partners with private sector and governments to boost efficiency, livelihoods, and SDG 6 progress.

Our Solar-Powered Water-Energy-Food Nexus Program integrates boreholes, irrigation, and renewable energy to boost agriculture and livelihoods. In partnership with international organizations, UN agencies, and local cooperatives, it improved food security for 2M+ people, cut energy costs, and built climate resilience through shared governance.

A transformative action is for governments, multilateral banks, and private sector actors to massively scale investment in integrated water-energy-food systems, prioritizing wastewater reuse and renewable energy, to drive equitable growth, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods by 2030.

Fragmented governance, underinvestment in resilient infrastructure, weak data systems, and lack of equitable access hinder progress. Climate shocks, rising demand across energy–food–water sectors, and limited local capacity since 2023 further strain integrated water resource management.

JB Dondolo, with UJ Peets, is developing Climate-H2O: a dual system that generates water from heat and harvests rain. Built from locally sourced materials, it is light-weight, affordable, and inclusive—designed for poor communities. Paired with Music for Water, we advance SDG 6 through advocacy and innovation.

Through Climate-H2O, co-developed by JB Dondolo and UJ Peets, we integrate innovation and community needs. This dual system—creating water from heat and rain—uses local materials, making it affordable and inclusive. Partnerships with universities, artists (#MusicForWater), and communities amplify awareness, accelerate SDG 6, and prepare for pilot testing in 2026.

By 2030, governments, private sector, and innovators must scale inclusive technologies like Climate-H2O that integrate water creation and rain harvesting. Prioritizing affordability, local production, and community ownership will transform water-energy-food systems, enabling prosperity while advancing SDG 6 and resilient economies.

Basin management: when Blue Nile River crossing from upstream to downtown will be source of energy in Ethypoia, water for agriculture in sudan and in Egypt is considered water for industry (investment)
This will be prosperity of the region.

malu global water for all the people

water is the freedom of living for the souls, spirit and divinity in all

without water we are death so water is life savings too

no water should be wasted at alland no one should be left alone without drinking water

UNESCO Association Guwahati, India

India faces rising water-energy-food conflicts, over-extraction of groundwater, monsoon variability, low irrigation efficiency, limited wastewater reuse, and stress on farmer livelihoods—urgent priorities for the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Through Atal Bhujal Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission, India advances groundwater recharge, efficient irrigation, wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and digital monitoring, fostering water-energy-food balance and accelerating SDG 6 and rural prosperity.

The Atal Bhujal Yojana fosters partnerships between government, local communities and NGOs for participatory groundwater management. Using data-driven planning and water budgeting, it improved recharge and reduced over-extraction in pilot states, empowering farmers and showcasing collaborative models for SDG 6.

By 2030, a transformative action is large-scale adoption of integrated water-energy-food planning led by governments, with community stewardship, private sector innovation and climate-resilient financing. Promoted at the 2026 UN Water Conference, this ensures equitable water valuation, efficiency and sustainable prosperity.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Challenges include fragmented Pearl River governance, competing water demands, weak data sharing and rising energy use. Even with public–private reuse investment—e.g. Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Foshan—financing gaps and cross-jurisdiction coordination hurdles still limit basin-wide impact.

We conduct research on food-water-energy trade-offs in the GBA, support legal frameworks for wastewater reuse, engage with basin planners on cost-sharing models, and partner with NGOs to pilot community data tools to track SDG 6 links to climate, agriculture and industry.

The Hong Kong Research Grants Council is funding a GBA water security study that develops regulatory arrangements for cost-sharing and community data mapping to integrate SDG 6 across agriculture, industry and urban supply, with potential wastewater-reuse pilots in Foshan and Zhuhai, bridging stakeholders across jurisdictions.

A transformative step is for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao authorities to establish a joint basin financing and regulatory platform that prices water across sectors, funds reuse and nexus projects, and aligns data systems. This would enable integrated planning for agriculture, energy and urban supply and should be championed at the 2026 UN Water Conference.

The most critical challenge is the valuation and financing gap (7 trillion needed by 2030) for water-sector infrastructure, especially wastewater treatment and resource efficiency. This systemic under-valuing of water requires a priority discussion on mobilizing private finance.

We use AI/IoT to deliver Digital WEF Nexus Optimization, significantly boosting water-use efficiency (SDG 6.4). We're pioneering "Blue Bond" finance models, linking capital to verified impact for decentralized wastewater reuse/treatment (SDG 6.3). This is supported by SDG 6 Data Integration, merging public/private data for actionable IWRM planning.

The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard proves effective. Businesses (Nestlé, Coca-Cola), NGOs, and the public sector, use a certification framework for catchment-level water management. This approach directly drives water-use efficiency and IWRM by requiring certified sites to engage in collective action with local stakeholders, resulting in improved water quality and WASH access.

The single transformative action must be the creation of the "Blue Resilience Fund" (BRF), anchored by a Global WEF Nexus Finance Standard. MDBs and G20 nations must commit, via the 2026 UN Water Conference, to seed the BRF with redirected climate finance. This unlocks capital for cross-sectoral projects, accelerating water-use efficiency (SDG 6.4) and IWRM.

collaborative community empowerment

Key challenges include climate-driven water scarcity, weak cross-sector coordination in the water-energy-food nexus, underinvestment in wastewater reuse, inequitable access to water, and lack of data/innovation uptake. These should be prioritized at the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Our organization promotes capacity building on water systems, community-led water governance, and digital monitoring for efficiency. We advance wastewater reuse pilots, integrate water-energy-food planning, and build partnerships to scale equitable, climate-resilient solutions aligned with SDG 6.

The Kenya Solar Water Pumping Initiative unites government, NGOs, private sector, and refugee communities to replace diesel pumps with solar systems. It cut costs 40%, improved water reliability, and reduced emissions. Led by UNHCR with community co-management, it shows scalable, climate-smart progress toward SDG 6.

By 2030, governments and regional bodies must institutionalize the Water-Energy-Food nexus in national policies, backed by climate financing and digital water monitoring. This transformative action, promoted at the 2026 UN Water Conference, ensures efficient resource use, resilient economies, and equitable access across sectors.

Water projects often seen as “non-bankable”: high digital/data costs, limited operational capacity, lack of standardized use-cases and impact indicators convincing donors.

STRATEAU as a digital public good + catalogue of use-cases (leakage, flood alerts, WASH planning), pooled costs, capacity building, project preparation and monitoring-evaluation support.

Pilots show reduced analysis delays, better investment targeting and traceability of impacts. Partnerships AdE–basin agencies–universities–Cerema demonstrate lower unit costs and scalability.

Create an “industrialization facility” for open water solutions: security, QA, support, and a common indicator framework; financed by donors and operated with basin authoritiesB

For this section, as for the others, one key challenge stands out for those focused on the intersection of water-, climate- and biodiversity justice: It is becoming increasingly difficult for civil society to challenge corporate capture of water policy at the level of the basin and in water fora.

We are questioning the costs/benefits of corporate-led water policy at multiple levels--highlighting among visible climate justice coalitions not focused on water policy the importance of engaging with water, and challenging entities like the CEO Water Mandate, Task Force on Nature-Related Disclosures, and others, to question their Frameworks.

It is urgent for UN agencies and allies developing water policy (GIZ, GMZ, CEO Water Mandate, AGWA, WWF, IUCN, others) to foster open dialogue about the true tradeoffs involved with corporate-led water policy, especially in water-stressed basins, and especially as the insurance crisis rapidly deepens. Is water policy inadvertently keeping in place often multiple extractive industries?

Laboratory of Modeling in Hydraulics and Environment (LMHE), National Engineering School of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, BP 37, Belvedere, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia

Fragmented governance, underfunded infrastructure, data gaps in WEF nexus, slow circular water application, and social behaviour climate resilience deficits. Prioritize financing, policy integration, and scalable MAR for water-scarce regions.

Governments and development banks must encourage and fund integration of circular water solutions into water security: Managed Aquifer Recharge with treated wastewater, where real-time monitoring networks allow dynamic adjustment of recharge rates. This bridges the Water-Energy-Food nexus by creating a climate-resilient, sustainable water source, turning waste into a resource for prosperity

Groupement Agropastoral pour le Développement de Yongoro

d’appui pour la mise en place de l’agriculture intelligente innovant pour faire face aux impacts négatifs du changement climatiques, l’insécurité alimentaire dans les milieux ruraux auprès de 2000 bénéficiaire direct
dans les zones prioritaires vulnérables au climat

les données de globalforestwatch.com, des Analyse de l' IPC, de OCHA, Notre projet identifie traite les risques du changement climatique a travers la mise en place de l’agriculture innovante et e intelligente, car elle est un déterminant majeur dans l’atteinte des ODD-2,et le lien entre ressources naturelles et sécurité alimentaire apparait clairement dans les ODD-4,

Commodification eclipses rivers’ intrinsic value; siloed W-E-F governance; efficiency-only agendas causing rebound/inequity; weak legal rights for rivers; finance/metrics ignore ethics and environmental flows; limited inclusion of Indigenous/local voices.

Adopt basin Water-Ethics Charters; recognize rights of rivers; co-create allocations with communities; guarantee environmental flows; NbS for resilience; wastewater reuse/circularity; nexus planning with equity safeguards; metrics beyond efficiency; open data & dialogue.

“Drinkable Rivers” is a powerful narrative that unites citizens, governments, and organizations around a common perspective and care for our rivers. Through civic science, shared monitoring, and dialogue, it builds trust, mobilizes action, and creates a culture of collaboration across all levels.

UN Members & basins adopt a Water Ethics & Rights Framework granting legal personhood to rivers, mandating environmental flows, and embedding ethics-based indicators in SDG 6 finance and reporting—shifting from “efficiency first” to resilient, rights-respecting, nature-positive allocation.

Water harvesting and storage. In my country rainfall is abundant in 2 seasons.

International Network of Liberal Women

I think Key challenges include underinvestment in water infrastructure, fragmented governance, climate-driven scarcity, inequitable access, and weak integration of the water-energy-food nexus. Since 2023, rising conflicts over resources and lack of inclusive decision-making demand urgent attention.

We promote women’s leadership in water governance, advance peace education linking water-energy-food security, and support community training on sustainable use and wastewater reuse. Our cross-cutting approach strengthens SDG 6 while driving equity, resilience, and inclusive prosperity.

Our “Women, Water & Peace” initiative partners NGOs, local authorities, and women’s networks to integrate water-energy-food planning. By training women leaders, promoting wastewater reuse, and fostering dialogue, we’ve enhanced efficiency and equity. Results show stronger community resilience and broader SDG 6 progress.

By 2030, governments and UN agencies must mandate integrated water-energy-food governance with women equally represented in decision-making. This transformative action will value water holistically, drive efficient resource use, and ensure equitable, sustainable prosperity. It should be a key agenda at the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Limited access to water and insufficient coordination among organisations and people about usage. Untreated wastewater is also a major challenge

Solutions are re-usable water schemes, innovative easy technologies, better ground water management and better agricultural practices

IWRM. Innovation in ground water, seawater desalination and rainwater harvesting, improving food systems and detection systems

In the Amazon, the main challenges are the lack of integration between water, energy and food policies, water resource inefficiency, inadequate infrastructure, and limited investment in sustainable technologies and participatory territorial management.

We promote integrated water-energy solutions, using solar energy for water pumping, strengthening community management and technical training to ensure continuous and sustainable access, accelerating SDG 6 and its connections with SDGs 7 and 13.

The Puxirum Institute develops integrated water and energy solutions in the Amazon, installing solar pumping systems and rehabilitating community water supply systems. The initiative involves local governments, universities and research institutions, strengthening community management and promoting replicable results.

By 2030, governments and cooperation agencies must expand investments in decentralized water and clean energy solutions in the Amazon, strengthening local governance, community management, and policy integration to foster climate resilience and sustainable prosperity.

Fragmented governance weakens Water-Energy-Food nexus management; inefficient wastewater reuse and sectoral silos limit water-use efficiency; climate volatility exacerbates resource conflicts, threatening equitable economic and social development.

AZMUN promotes cross-sector youth dialogues linking water, energy, and food security; pilots community rainwater harvesting integrated with solar energy; advocates for holistic school curricula embedding resource nexus education to nurture systemic thinking and efficiency.

AZMUN’s “Nexus Youth Forum” partners with local universities, farmers, and energy startups to co-create integrated mini-systems combining solar pumps with water-saving irrigation. This collaboration improved water use efficiency by 30%, boosting local crop yields and reducing energy costs, showcasing scalable nexus solutions.

Governments and private sectors must adopt integrated policy frameworks dissolving sectoral silos, incentivizing nexus-aligned investments. Empowered youth-led platforms should co-lead decision-making to drive sustainable resource management and economic development, maximizing SDG 6 and connected goals impact.

International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)

1. Low political priority to integrated water resource management to the detriment of IWRM but also of access to water (despite higher priority) : tap water comes from surface & groundwater !
2. Competing sectoral demands with poor coordination.
3. Critical data & monitoring deficiencies.

Mandating ministers of water at national level to create and strengthen basin organizations and committees (to ensure consistency of sectoral policies at local level) and monitoring networks & information systems (to ensure data exchange and a shared, inter-sectoral diagnosis of water issues).

Transformative action: a massive financial investment on IWRM, since « Financing » is consistently the lowest-scoring, globally, of the 4 IWRM components, in priority geographies : Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Central and Southern Asia.
Actually using the SDG 6.5 Reports as a dashboard to identify and invest in these actions.

lack of coordination and institutional capacity to balance trade-offs, lack of technical capacity, lack of accountability especially when private sector is involved, lack of adequate or meaningful consultation or co-creation with affected communities

we focus on good governance with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, participation, and anti-corruption. We have developed integrity guides for the WEFE nexus and water stewardship partnerships in particular, outlining how coordination needs to happen honestly and fairly and in the public interest.

private sector and government need to remain mutually accountable to the communities in which they are operating

Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-onlus

Insincerity of government stakeholders hinder progress.

Consultation with and execution of projects with professional bodies.

Completion of evidence based water projects in our a number of our activities and pastoral environments where we work.

Relevant stakeholders must speak truth to power and ensure actions are carried out effectively.

Water values from economic and social point of view; Water management integration; Water-Energy-food Nexus; Efficience Water Use; Wastewater treatment and Reuse; Water equity and access;Public and Private investment

ARDITI and OOM aim to establish a regional Water-Energy-Food Nexus Hub that integrates advanced modeling, smart technologies, and participatory governance. This hub will serve for innovation, policy development, and capacity building, driving sustainable water resource management and promoting economic and social development in the region

WEF Nexus Modeling Platform simulates interdependencies between water, energy, and food system. Smart Irrigation Water-Energy Efficiency: IoT-based smart irrigation in agriculture. Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery: wastewater treatment technologies for resource recovery. Community-Based Water Governance Models: water governance models with local communities in decision-making.

By 2030, the aim is to establish a regional Water-Energy-Food Nexus Hub that integrates advanced modelling, smart technologies, and participatory governance. This hub will serve as a center for innovation, policy development, and capacity building, driving sustainable water resource management and promoting economic and social development in the region

Vanni Rehabilitation Organization for differently abled persons

Stop polluting water resources and deforestation for companies.

Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-onlus

Chemicals from factories and plantations mixed with water sources

To advocate that the Government support agriculture with resilience measures, especially during calamities and ensure fair marketing systems that protect farmers from corporate exploitation, securing livelihoods and food sustainability for rural communities.

Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-onlus

Water must be protected from contamination and as vulnerable resources. WATER is one of the most used or consumed resources, it is also one of the most threatened resources and should be protected.

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Foster collaboration between the private sector, and communities to balance competing needs and unlock resources for water services.

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (SOMI & CMF-JPIC) focused on bringing together diverse stakeholders to share resources and achieve common goals, which is crucial for addressing complex humanitarian problems.
Results: It had helped to alleviate the poor water conditions of some IDP Camps of contacts and other communities in contact with the organization.

Water remains undervalued in policy and practice. Fragmented governance, lack of citizen water literacy, and failure to integrate ceremonial and community-led stewardship hinder sustainable management. Prioritize inclusive data, regenerative models, and cross-sector dignity frameworks.

We activate citizen-led water literacy through the Visibility Protocol—training stewards to test, interpret, and protect water quality. Combined with modular sanitation, sachet redemption, and bulk powder access, this approach advances SDG 6, regenerates ecosystems, and restores dignity.

The Visibility Protocol trains citizen stewards in water literacy and testing, activating community-led monitoring and ceremonial restoration. Water quality data is translated into everyday English for actionable comprehension. Led by Tarryn Johnston, it advances SDG 6 with dignity and precision.

By 2030, governments and education systems must embed citizen water literacy into national curricula and community hubs. Teaching people to test, interpret, and protect water—through both scientific and ceremonial methods—will unlock sustainable resource management, cross-sector efficiency, and dignified prosperity

Environmental Protection and Development Association

Key challenges in Cameroon include weak water resource management, inefficient wastewater treatment, over-extraction for agriculture and energy, industrial and household pollution, weak governance, and low community awareness, all limiting sustainable water–energy–food nexus solutions.

EPDA promotes climate-smart farming among local households, applies Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus approaches, trains farmers and local stakeholders in efficient water management, and tracks progress through participatory indicators to advance SDG 6 and related goals.

EPDA–CGAL Organic Farming Program is an evidence/driven initiative introducing drip irrigation with organic inputs to boost crop yields and reduce wastewater. EPDA, with government extension support, builds capacity among conflict-affected households across 4 Cameroonian regions through training, participatory monitoring, and knowledge-sharing for integrated water–food–energy management.

By 2030, governments, in partnership with local communities and private sectors, must implement integrated water resource management frameworks that prioritize the Water-Energy-Food nexus, optimize wastewater reuse, and ensure equitable water access, creating enabling conditions for sustainable development and maximizing impact across sectors.

Economic Undervaluation and siloed WEF governance are key. Post-2023, the focus must be on urgently integrating AI/data capacity across sectors to eliminate efficiency losses and incentivize private investment in wastewater reuse technology and sustainable resource management.

Digital "Water Valuing" Certification: Develop an open-standard certification module focusing on advanced water accounting and wastewater reuse economics. Delivered via accessible, multilingual AI platforms, this program targets business leaders, city planners, and engineers to institutionalize the economic value of water in project planning, making it central to municipal and corporate policy.