UN-Water

How resilient are water, sanitation and hygiene systems to floods, droughts, conflict and other shocks?

UNICEF and partners have launched the Global WASH Sector Resilience Index (GWSRI), the first global tool designed to measure WASH system resilience across 151 countries.

The Index combines data on hazard exposure, vulnerability, system performance, governance capacity and access to services. It aims to help governments and partners strengthen risk-informed planning and prioritize investments in systems that can anticipate, withstand and recover from shocks.

More resilient WASH systems can support climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and better health, education and economic outcomes.

Learn more ⬇️ https://www.unwater.org/news/unicef-launches-global-wash-sector-resilience-index

UNICEF launches Global WASH Sector Resilience Index Launched at the High-level Political Forum in July 2026, the Index assesses 151 countries by combining data on hazard exposure, vulnerability, system performance, governance capacity and access to WASH services at ecosystem, service and community levels.The GWSRI responds to growing pressures from f...

Global hunger is declining, but progress remains uneven and too slow to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 estimates that 645 million people faced hunger in 2025. Around 2.1 billion experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, while 2.69 billion could not afford a healthy diet.

The report warns that weather extremes could put further progress at risk. It calls for investment in irrigation as part of wider efforts to increase the supply of nutritious foods, reduce losses and build more resilient agrifood systems.

Explore more and download the report ⬇️
https://www.unwater.org/news/state-food-security-and-nutrition-world-2026

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026” estimates that 645 million people faced hunger in 2025 — 14 million fewer than in 2024. Around 2.1 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, while 2.69 billion could not afford a healthy diet. In Africa, two thir...

Water connects land, climate, biodiversity and sustainable development.

On 25 August, a high-level event at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, will bring together political leaders, UN principals, financing partners and international stakeholders to explore how water-centred approaches can accelerate action across these interconnected agendas.

“Water as a Connector: Building Momentum from UNCCD COP17 to the UN 2026 Water Conference” will focus on drought resilience, climate adaptation, land restoration, biodiversity protection and food security.

The event will also identify priorities and key messages to carry forward towards the UN 2026 Water Conference.

Learn more ⬇️ https://www.unwater.org/news/water-connector-building-momentum-unccd-cop17-un-2026-water-conference

=

Water as a connector: Building momentum from UNCCD COP17 to the UN 2026 Water Conference “Water as a Connector: Building Momentum from UNCCD COP17 to the UN 2026 Water Conference” will highlight how water-centred approaches can strengthen drought resilience, climate adaptation, land restoration, biodiversity protection and food security, while supporting more integrated implementati...

Water quality reflects deeper inequalities.

A new UNU-INWEH report shows that many developing countries face overlapping challenges of unsafe drinking water, poverty and gender inequality, affecting around 2 billion people.

The findings highlight the importance of investing in safe water, reducing inequalities and ensuring that water governance works for everyone.

📖 Read more and explore the report:

UNU-INWEH report: Countries Face Overlapping Socioeconomic and Water Challenges The report, Water Quality: A Mirror and Magnifier of Structural Inequalities and Social Injustice, analysed conditions in 138 developing countries. It found that 84 countries face combined socioeconomic and water security pressures affecting around 2 billion people.According to the report, 74 countr...

Ten years after the adoption of , progress is real.

💧 961 million more people have access to safely managed drinking water.
🚽 1.2 billion more people have access to safely managed sanitation.
🧼 1.6 billion more people have access to basic hygiene.

Countries are also improving water management and strengthening the data needed to make better decisions.

But faster progress is needed to achieve safe water and sanitation for all.

Read the United Nations SDG 6 Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation 2026: https://www.unwater.org/publications/sdg-6-synthesis-report-2026

2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking-water.

To help countries strengthen drinking-water safety, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated Guidelines for drinking-water quality.

The new edition provides the latest evidence and practical guidance on water safety planning, surveillance, microbial contamination, small water supplies and selected chemical hazards. It also highlights the importance of strong regulations and institutions to protect public health.

Read more and download the Guidelines ⬇️
https://www.unwater.org/news/who-updated-guidelines-drinking-water-quality

WHO: Updated guidelines for drinking-water quality Today, 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking-water, including 106 million who drink directly from rivers, lakes and other surface water sources.The Guidelines emphasize a preventive, risk-based approach built around health-based targets, water safety planning and independent surveill...

Safe water and sanitation save lives—and they are essential for quality health care.

Join WHO and UNICEF for the launch of the 2026 Joint Monitoring Programme report on water, sanitation, hygiene, environmental cleaning and waste management in health care facilities.

The webinar will present the latest global and regional findings, including the first global estimates for basic sanitation and environmental cleaning, and explore what they mean for quality of care and universal health coverage.

🗓 18 August 2026
🕘 09:00–10:00 CEST
💻 Online (multilingual subtitles)

Register here: e3d23b87-7872-43a4-b4f7-a5b354dfff2f@f610c0b7-bd24-4b39-810b-3dc280afb590?utm_campaign=WASH%20in%20HCF%20-%20Webinar%20Invite%20-%202026&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Mailjet" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e3d23b87-7872-43a4-b4f7-a5b354dfff2f@f610c0b7-bd24-4b39-810b-3dc280afb590?utm_campaign=WASH%20in%20HCF%20-%20Webinar%20Invite%20-%202026&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Mailjet

Your voice can help shape the future of water.

As part of its Youth4Water initiative, UNESCO is inviting young people and young professionals (aged 18–35) to complete a global survey on meaningful youth engagement in the water sector.

The findings will contribute to a global report for the 2026 UN Water Conference, helping identify opportunities to strengthen youth participation in water governance, research, innovation and decision-making.

🗓️ Complete the survey by 31 August:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Uq5PHbM5-kuwswIpVrERlH3qTqJ5ZRpHo5_jc9lvQfdUM1dIQlJBTFNaTDZSVFgzSElYWjlWT0s2VS4u&route=shorturl

Access to safe drinking-water and sanitation is essential for protecting the health of people displaced by climate change.

A new WHO report, Global research prioritization and action plan on health, migration and displacement in the context of climate change, identifies water and sanitation among the highest research priorities for improving the health and wellbeing of migrants and displaced populations.

The report also calls for more research on WASH interventions to strengthen disease prevention and health responses during extreme weather events.

Read more ⬇️ https://www.who.int/news/item/05-08-2026-who-launches-global-research-priorities-on-climate--health-and-migration

=

WHO launches global research priorities on climate, health and migration At a high-level event held on the margins of the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79), countries and partners reaffirmed the urgent need to strengthen refugee and migrant health through inclusive national health systems and shared practical experiences for turning global commitments into acti...

Artificial intelligence could help detect drought earlier and strengthen disaster resilience.

The Global Initiative on Resilience to Natural Hazards through AI Solutions has launched an AI Challenge for Drought Detection, inviting innovative solutions to improve the early detection of water scarcity.

Led by several UN organizations, the initiative explores how AI can support stronger early warning systems, improve disaster preparedness and help public institutions deliver more reliable services to vulnerable and disaster-affected communities.

Explore more ⬇️ https://www.unwater.org/news/ai-drought-detection
=

AI for Drought Detection The initiative, led by various UN agencies, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Wo...