Please note that the 2013 USAID Water and Development Strategy has now been replaced by the 2017 U.S. Government Global Water Strategy and USAID Water and Development Plan. Click here for more information.

USAID’s first-ever Water and Development Strategy became effective in May 2013. The Strategy was intended to guide Agency-wide programming on water from 2013-2018. The overarching goal of the Strategy was to save lives and advance development through improvements in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and through sound management and use of water for food security. To achieve this goal, the Strategy set two strategic objectives (SOs). The focus of SO1 was water for health, and the focus of SO2 was water for food (Figure 1).

The Water and Development Strategy Implementation Field Guide was intended to serve as a reference tool to help Operating Units understand and apply the Strategy. The Guide provides an overview of:  

• The intended procedures and expectations for operationalizing the Strategy and transitioning the Agency’s water portfolio to align with the Strategy 
• Key principles, best practices, and approaches for programming related to the Strategy’s two Strategic Objectives 
• Specific funding parameters related to programming in each of the two SOs, including eligible attribution of water directive funding
• Expectations of Operating Units related to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, including required indicators, the timing, and procedures for annual performance reporting
• Expected contributions of Operating Units to ongoing Agency knowledge management, collaboration, and learning in the water sector

Implementation Briefs

• WASH & Nutrition: Water and Development Strategy Implementation Brief
• Agricultural Water Management: Water and Development Strategy Implementation Brief
• Sanitation: Water and Development Strategy Implementation Brief

Related

• Water and Development Strategy 2013-2018 (Full Report)
• Water and Development Strategy Highlights
• Water and Development Strategy: Frequently Asked Questions