Giving SDG 6 What It Deserves: Commitment At The Highest Levels

A recent JMP/WHO report confirmed what many in the development community have known for some time: progress toward the sustainable development goal for water and sanitation (SDG 6) has been stymied. This stark fact was front and center this week as delegations gathered in New York for the annual United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). As a leading donor on water and sanitation, USAID was eager to come to the table to ensure action and accountability for SDG 6.  At the forum, the U.S. delegation found champions abound in partner countries who are also concerned about the lagging progress on SDG 6 and acknowledge that business as usual hasn’t worked. USAID and partner countries all agree: SDG 6 needs more coordinated action and support at the highest levels. 

A recent JMP/WHO report confirmed what many in the development community have known for some time: progress toward the sustainable development goal for water and sanitation (SDG 6) has been stymied. This stark fact was front and center this week as delegations gathered in New York for the annual United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). As a leading donor on water and sanitation, USAID was eager to come to the table to ensure action and accountability for SDG 6. 

At the forum, the U.S. delegation found champions abound in partner countries who are also concerned about the lagging progress on SDG 6 and acknowledge that business as usual hasn’t worked. USAID and partner countries all agree: SDG 6 needs more coordinated action and support at the highest levels. 

What can be done?

The United States believes the global community should:

Increase investment. Michele Sumilas, Assistant to the Administrator of the Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning, delivered the U.S. national statement on SDG 6 and highlighted the Biden - Harris Administration's historic investments in water at home and abroad. She also called on Member States to increase allocations for water and sanitation for marginalized populations. Read Michele’s full remarks. 

Support innovation through systems strengthening. In her remarks at the HLPF’s Special Event on the Water Action Agenda, USAID’s Global Water Coordinator Nancy Eslick emphasized USAID’s approach in partnering with local actors to drive improvements in governance, finance, and market systems, which underpin progress toward universal access to water and sanitation services and broader water security. Read Nancy’s full remarks. 

Appoint a champion at the highest level. The U.S. Government supports the appointment of a UN Special Envoy on Water to drive accountability for all Member States to achieve their SDG 6 goals, continue to keep water high on the political action agenda, help mainstream water in existing political processes, and consider ways to keep governments accountable to their water and sanitation targets. 

What’s next?

USAID is working across 22 high-priority countries to increase access to safe and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services for millions around the world, and to improve equitable management of  water resources under the U.S. Global Water Strategy. But, it will take more than a single government or donor to accelerate sustainable results. USAID looks forward to participating in the U.N General Assembly and the SDG Summit in September, where it will continue to advocate for practical and powerful actions, like committing to the appointment of the SDG 6 special envoy. 

 “The SDG Summit…must be a moment of unity to provide a renewed impetus and accelerated actions for reaching the SDGs,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 

USAID couldn’t agree more. 

This blog was produced by the USAID Water Team.