UNW-DPAC special reports

On the water decade

>> A Ten Year StoryPDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2015

This publication produced by the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action “Water for Life 2005-2015”explains what has changed and the lessons learned during the last ten years on Water Supply and Sanitation, Women Engagement, Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Cooperation and Global Actors and Processes. It includes testimonies of people who have benefited from the improvements.

>> The Water for Life Award Winners 2011-2015PDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2015

The UN-Water 'Water for Life' Best Practices Award aim to acknowledge and promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and related issues by 2015, by recognizing outstanding best practices that can ensure sustainable long-term management of water resources and help achieve the water and sanitation targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. This document features case studies of the winning projects, as well as interviews with key figures involved in their implementation and design.

>> Civil Society Contribution to the Water DecadePDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2015

The Water for Life decade logo programme was created to ensure solidarity in global water efforts. It was intended to support organisations as a symbol of trust for use in promoting the following activities: information, fundraising and use by a commercial entity. The logo is a declaration of support for the principles of the Water Decade – It means facing the challenge to focus attention on action-oriented activities and policies that ensure and achieve the Water for Life Decade goals.

It means sustained commitment, cooperation and investment from stakeholders from all parts of the world. The document shows the incredible range of activities undertaken during the Decade. With images, interviews and quotes from logo users, and a list of all the projects and initiatives that were approved for its use.

>> The implementation of the Water for Life Decade 2005-2015 "Progress, Achievements, Lessons Learnt and Good Practices" PDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2015

Since the year 2015 terminates the International Decade for Action ―Water for Life, a comprehensive assessment of the activities, identifying the difficulties and problems in the implementation of the goals of the Decade, as well as planning further activities for the post — 2015 period is of crucial importance. What has been achieved? What types of actions have been more effective over the Decade? How we can move forward on the basis of what we have learned?. These questions are addressed in this publication from the outcomes of the session on implementation at the Dushanbe Conference 2015.

>> Women as Agents of Change in WaterPDF document
Women for Water Partnership, in collaboration with UN-Women and UNW-DPAC. 2015

With the role of women being acknowledged internationally and increasingly at national levels as well, the challenge now is to move from principle to practice: How to ensure the meaningful participation of women, both in their individual capacity and as major group in society, in situations where there is a traditional gender divide and women are not part of decision-making processes on matters that concern them? . The publication provides examples of where women have contributed to the Water for Life decade. It also demonstrates which roles they and their organisations play, how women's meaningful participation can make a difference, and what the preconditions are to use effectively their added value in processes of water cooperation.

On Water and Sustainable Development

>> Water Monographies 3: Water and Sustainable DevelopmentPDF document
Aquae Foundation, the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action “Water for Life 2005-2015” and the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE). 2015

The Office produced, in collaboration with the World Council of Civil Engineers and Aquae Foundation, a monograph which summarizes United Nations contributions and key experiences on water and Sustainable Development.

>> Water and Sustainable Development: From Vision to Action - Means and tools for Implementation and the role of different actorsPDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2015

This report contains the outcomes of the 2015 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Water and Sustainable Development: From Vision to Action held on 15-17 January 2015

On water and energy

>> Monograph on "Water and Energy”PDF document
Coordinated by UNW-DPAC. 2014

The monograph "Water and Energy", coordinated by the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) in collaboration with the World Council of Civil Engineers and Aquae Foundation, explores the water and energy nexus, as well as the challenges, solutions and United Nations initiatives to address it. The articles of the publication are prepared from the contributions to the UN-Water International Zaragoza Conferences.

>> Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability PDF document
Coordinated by UNW-DPAC, UNU and UNIDO. 2014

This report brings together outputs from the UN-Water Zaragoza Conference 2014, summarising contributions from different UN agencies and programmes, more than 120 experts, representatives of international companies in the water and energy sector, governmental and non-governmental organisations. An introduction provides insight into the interlinkages between water and energy and the prospects for a sustainable future. The report then examines the future of the water-energy nexus and partnership under 6 key headings: The UN and the Water-Energy Nexus; Water and Energy Scenarios and Challenges; The Water and Energy Nexus: Opportunities and Choices; Making the Case for Partnerships; Building Partnerships-partnerships in practice; and Key Lessons on Partnerships.

On water cooperation

>> Water Cooperation: Views on Progress and the Way Forward
UNU and UNW-DPAC. 2015

The significance of water cooperation has been growing in the world's awareness well before 2005, when the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' (20015-2015) began. Cooperation on water is central to development. In addition to being a catalyst for peace and security, water cooperation is vitally important for development at all levels. This UNU publication presents perspectives of individual authors who have extensively engaged in a diverse range of water cooperation initiatives (forthcoming).

>> Monograph on "Water Cooperation"PDF document
Coordinated by UNW-DPAC. November 2013

The monograph "Water Cooperation", coordinated by the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) in collaboration with the World Council of Civil Engineers and Aquae Foundation, summarizes United Nations contributions and key experiences on water cooperation.

>> Water cooperation in action: approaches, tools and processesPDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2013

This report summarizes main concepts, challenges, tools and experiences related to water cooperation and highlights key lessons learnt on promoting water cooperation. It also provides a summary of the discussions which took place at the 'International Annual UN-Water Zaragoza Conference 2012/2013. Preparing for the 2013 International Year. Water Cooperation: Making it Happen', held on 8-10 January 2013 in Zaragoza, Spain.

>> Key lessons learnt on promoting water cooperationPDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2013

As a result of the International Annual UN-Water Zaragoza Conference 2012/2013 'Preparing for the 2013 International Year. Water Cooperation: Making it Happen!', which took place in Zaragoza, Spain, from 8 to 10 January 2013, this document summarizes main lessons learned from cases presented and discussed at the Conference as a contribution to the International Year of Water Cooperation.

On water and cities

>> Sustainable Water Management in Cities: Engaging Stakeholders for Effective Change and ActionPDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2010

This report brings together outputs from the UN-Water Zaragoza Conference 2010 summarising contributions from diverse group of stakeholders. Experts, local government officials, media specialists, key water operators and political representatives of cities and stakeholder groups met together to discuss key urban water issues, propose practical ways to meet the challenges of achieving water and sanitation for all, disseminate ideas to a wider audience, and reflect on different developmental and regional contexts.

For Rio+20: on water and the green economy

>> A water toolbox or best practice guide of actions. A contribution from the UN-Water Conference on 'Water in the Green Economy in Practice: Towards Rio+20'PDF document
Compiled by UNW-DPAC. 2011

This water toolbox – or best practice guide of actions, instruments and policies – provides proposals based on the analysis of existing practice, reflecting specifically on scaling up of lessons learnt and the relevance for developing and transition countries. The water toolbox proposes six tools which can be used to promote change and support the transition towards a green economy: (1) economic instruments; (2) sustainable financing; (3) investments in natural capital; (4) technology; (5) green jobs; and (6) water planning.

>> Water and a Green Economy in Latin America and the CaribbeanPDF document
UNECLAC and UNW-DPAC. June 2012

This document summarizes contributions from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to the International Conference "Water in the Green Economy in Practice: Towards Rio+20", which took place in Zaragoza, Spain, from 3 to 5 October 2011. The results from the session on water in the green economy in the LAC region presented in this publication provide key insights and examples of how water in the green economy is being implemented in the region and what are the main challenges to overcome. The results of this conference, in the form of a best practice guide, were a contribution to the preparatory process of Rio+20.

>> Water planning in the transition to a green economyPDF document
Ebro River Basin Authority and UNW-DPAC. June 2012

This document summarizes contributions from the Ebro River Basin Authority in Spain to the International Conference "Water in the Green Economy in Practice: Towards Rio+20" which took place in Zaragoza, Spain, from 3 to 5 October 2011. The results from the session on water planning in Zaragoza presented in this publication provide key insights and examples on water planning and how to overcome implementation challenges.

>> Information note: Questions and Answers on Water in Rio+20PDF document
UNW-DPAC. 2012

This information note provides a series of questions and answers on issues raised in the Rio+20 negotiation process on water.

On the United Nations and Water

>> Special issue of Ingeniería y Territorio MagazinePDF document
Coordinated by UNW-DPAC. 2010
This issue of Ingeniería y Territorio, coordinated by the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC), is devoted to the United Nations, its water-related activities and coordination mechanism.