WORKING TO IMPROVE WATER SECURITY
Water Resource
 Management                     Water is essential for life, but humanity faces complex challenges
                                associated with increased demand, variable supply, widespread
                                pollution, and water-related disasters. Climate change and population
                                growth are expected to put additional pressure on water resources.



                 Our objective is to strengthen development outcomes for people,
                 production and the planet in river basins worldwide by improving
                 water availability and quality, and reducing disaster-related risks.



                                We work to improve water governance, provide infrastructure for
                                managing water resources, increase access to information, and
                                involve key stakeholders in decision-making. We focus on innovative
                                analyses and engagement in water security, water storage, flood and
                                drought management, and transboundary water cooperation.


                   TO SUPPORT THE COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY, WE WORK TO:
                   •	 Enhance economic growth by improving bulk water supplies for health, sanitation,
                      and the economy; and by encouraging associated job creation.
                   •	 Promote more sustainable management and use of water resources in economic
                      stimulus packages, and other relief efforts through improvements in water
                      governance.
Water Resource
  Management
                 4                                                           >3      billion people                    60%
                                                                                                                                      of the world’s
                           billion people                                                                                             310 international
                 already live in water-scarce areas.                                 rely on transboundary river                      river basins lack
                                                                                     basins for their needs,     yet                  frameworks to
                                                                                                                                      govern disputes.
                      2050
                 By                   global demand
                                      for water will
                                      increase by       20-30%               Droughts            are becoming more severe with climate change.
                 and water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change,
                                                                                       Between
                                                                                                 2000            and   2019
                 could cost some regions up to
                                                  6%
                                                                             1.43
                                                              of GDP.
                                                                                                  billion        people were affected by drought.

                 2 billion people                      depend on             Coastal and urban flooding is becoming more frequent.

                 groundwater for their drinking water; much of this use is   Floods represent  nearly half of all weather-related disasters since
                                                                                    1995, affecting

                                                                                                              2.3
                 unmonitored and, in some cases, is unsustainable.
                                                                                                                        billion people.

                 14
                 	
                      in    cities worldwide currently experiences 	
                             water insecurity. Urban water demand is
                                               projected to increase by

                                               50-70%
                                            over the next three decades.                                           Water security in the context of
                                                                               Water resource management
                                                                                                                    increased demand and scarcity
                                                                                  encompasses planning,
                                                                                                                     requires institutional reforms,
                                                                                developing, and managing
                                                                                                                       information management,
                             >80%
                                                 of wastewater is               the quantity and quality of
                                                 released untreated                                                infrastructure investments, and
                                                                                    water for all users.
                                                 into the environment.                                                multistakeholder platforms.