Water permeates almost every part of our daily lives. It is essential for drinking, cooking, and hygiene, but it also plays a vital role in education, social dynamics, and biodiversity preservation. It serves as the foundation for our sustenance, a significant energy source, a habitat for diverse species, and a valuable economic and cultural asset. Astonishingly, only a mere 1% of the world's water is directly usable. Climate change, overuse, urbanisation, and environmental pollution exacerbate the challenges as competing demands for water continue to increase. Projections indicate that by 2050, we will require up to a 30% increase in water to adequately meet the burgeoning needs of people, agriculture, power generation, and industry. Still today, 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation. We need solutions that address these challenges together.

Together with partners, German development cooperation is actively engaged in realising the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of the 2030 Agenda: Drinking Water and Sanitation for All. The objective is to amplify water’s role as a key enabler in fostering resilience and strengthening communities. Advocating for holistic solutions, efforts are directed towards promoting action on global water security - with projects cover a range of themes, including transboundary water management, resilient sanitation and healthcare systems, and the Water-Energy-Food Security (WEF) Nexus approach, among others. Success in this endeavor relies on strong interlinkages to other disciplines and sectors, such as climate, biodiversity, economic development, energy, urban development, and waste and resource efficiency. Investment in water yields a catalytic effect, positively influencing critical areas like health, education, agriculture, and job creation.

Explore how German development cooperation advances SDG6 through cross-sectoral approaches.