Assessments of water resources and their management

9. What is the specific contribution of the World Bank in the management of this climate/water resources context?

The World Bank helps countries ensure sustainability of water use, build climate resilience and strengthen integrated management. It contributes to ensure that water benefits are equitably and sustainably accessible to all. This requires the removal of structural barriers that prevent access to water resources and services, and that limit participation in water institutions and processes. It means ensuring that excluded groups have a voice in water planning and distribution. It provides knowledge, advocacy, technical expertise, and financial support to strengthen water supply services (WSS) and institutions around the world¹³.

The 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG)¹⁴ of the World Bank forges Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships, or MSPs, to collectively manage this scarce resource for the benefit of people, ecosystems, and economies. Drawing on the experience of the 2030 WRG these multistakeholder partnerships, their Governing Council has identified the three thematic areas, agriculture, industry and coping with climate change, where water challenges are the most urgent, and where small changes will have the greatest impact. The 2030 WRG also works to leverage the power of appropriate technologies so that possible solutions can be rapidly rolled out to meet the scale of the challenge.

In this context, the World Bank works with their clients to design climate-informed and energy-efficient green and grey water projects that sustain water resources, deliver services, and build resilience. They help countries to prepare for and adapt to increasing hydro-climatic risks, and work to slow the pace of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions of water service providers. In this context, they work with the clients to improve water management, providing investment and technical support that builds resilience, reduces emissions, and lowers costs.

To promote partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society that help countries adapt to climate variability, the World Bank also work to reform institutions and processes so that they become more inclusive and accountable to citizens, reflect greater diversity in their management and staff, and extend services to all.