Water
Water is essential for life, and access to clean water and sanitation is crucial for achieving sustainable development. The SDC addresses these challenges by providing access to safe drinking water, improving sanitation infrastructure, and promoting better water management practices. These efforts are integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda with a specific focus on enhancing water security.
Thematic context
Climate change is affecting the water cycle making it essential to adapt to challenges like droughts, floods, and altered rain patterns. Meanwhile, water stress is increasing and creating high risks in hotspots across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, as well as Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, putting pressure on the growing demand for freshwater. As a result, competition over water is intensifying within and between countries and across sectors.
Water is deeply intertwined with geopolitics, as water insecurity can worsen inequalities and contribute to acute food insecurity, political instability, violent conflicts and human displacement. The denial of access to water is increasingly used as weapon of war in violation of international law. Conflicts arise not only between user groups within a country but also between countries that are sharing freshwater resources. Conversely, water cooperation can reduce the risks of conflicts and lay the foundation for joint prosperity.
Swiss expertise
Switzerland has long been actively promoting access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), integrated water resources management, and transboundary water cooperation. With its expertise and experience, Switzerland is well-positioned to act as an innovator and change maker. It develops durable and transformative solutions for disadvantaged communities and fosters essential dialogues with policy and decision makers at local, national, and global levels. In these endeavors, the SDC can count on an impressive ecosystem of Swiss stakeholders. This encompasses specialised entities from the private sector (such as WATALUX SA/Antenna Foundation), academia (such as EAWAG/SANDEC, Geneva Water Hub or Spiez Laboratory) and civil society (such as Toilet4All or Helvetas). Moreover, with Aguasan - composed of representatives from different stakeholder groups based in Switzerland – the SDC can count on its oldest existing specialized Community of Practice (CoP) in the WASH sector further backed by the water and sanitation expert group of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid (SHA), which brings recognised experience and expertise in emergency situations worldwide.
Priorities
The SDC’s work on water revolves around three thematic priorities: "Water for Peace", "Water for Health", and "Water for Nature".
In "Water for Peace", the SDC operates to turn the increasing risks of water related conflicts into opportunities to promote economic stability, societal wellbeing, and peace. Therein Switzerland’s Blue Peace initiative combines water diplomacy and development aid to mitigate risks from competing over water resources in regions where freshwater resources are rare.
In "Water for Health", the SDC is committed to ensuring that vulnerable people, in particular women and girls, have continued access to sustainable WASH services. This is achieved through flagship projects such as the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund. This multi-donor initiative hosted by the United Nations (UN) aims in particular at developing national sanitation economies and menstrual health markets. Furthermore, the SDC co-funds the Swiss Water and Sanitation non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Consortium which includes eight Swiss NGOs working in communities across Africa and Asia.
In "Water for Nature", the SDC emphasises the crucial role of functional water cycles as key elements for resilient ecosystems that sustainably provide vital services to both people and nature. Through projects like El Agua Nos Une, the SDC aims at strengthening water governance in several countries by supporting public policies, corporate water management interventions, and investments in natural infrastructure.
Links
Stories
Water for a sustainable future – young people playing their part
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) works to promote the realisation of the human rights related to water and sustainable water management at all levels. To do this, it is working closely with young people.
Observing snow and ice to strengthen climate resilience in Central Asia's mountain regions
Melting snow, glaciers, and permafrost retreat increase the risks of disasters. The SDC strengthens climate resilience in mountainous regions through scientific data.
Drought and hunger in Southern Africa – Switzerland provides emergency relief
Switzerland supports millions of people in Southern Africa, in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, with CHF 4.7 million in the fight against drought and hunger.
«Blue Peace prevents conflicts and contributes to greater stability»
Interview with Christian Frutiger, SDC Deputy Director-General and Head of the Thematic Cooperation Division.
Lebanon: more water, less tensions
In the Bekaa Valley, the SDC is running a project to improve water management. The project also aims to ease tensions surrounding water access.
The SDC is actively engaged in improving drinking water management in Egypt
The SDC has been working in Egypt since 2017 to make the distribution of drinking water more equitable.
Contact
Eichenweg 5
3003 Bern