World Water Assessment Programme
Encyclopedia
The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) monitors the world’s freshwater resources. WWAP provides recommendations, develops case studies, enhance assessment capacity at a national level and inform the decision-making process. Founded in 2000, it is the flagship programme of UN-Water
and is housed in UNESCO
.
Its primary product, the UN World Water Development Report
, is a periodic, comprehensive review providing an authoritative picture of the state of the world’s freshwater resources.
stated that there was a need for regular, global assessments on the status of freshwater resources. In response to this recommendation, the member organizations of UN-Water
(known then as the ACC Subcommittee on Water Resources) decided to produce a UN World Water Development Report
every three years, with an aim to reporting on the status of global freshwater resources and the progress achieved in reaching the Millennium Development Goals
related to water. The World Water Assessment Programme was created to serve this purpose.
. It produces the UN World Water Development Report
(WWDR) and related materials, policy papers based on the findings of the WWDR, and a series of side publications.
One of WWAP’s objectives is to assist countries in enhancing their national capacity for water resource assessment. One of the ways WWAP does this is by facilitating the development of case studies and including their findings in the WWDRs. These case studies provide an in-depth analysis of the state of freshwater resources and related challenges that directly affect the livelihoods of people around the world.
WWAP is the coordinating organization for UN-Water’s Task Force on Indicators, Monitoring and Reporting.
The ‘From Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential’ (PCCP) program contributes to WWAP and is housed within UNESCO
’s International Hydrological Programme
(IHP). PCCP facilitates multi-level dialogue in situations where water users need support to manage their shared water resources in a peaceful and equitable manner.
Related Materials:
UN World Water Development Report 2: Water: A Shared Responsibility (2006) http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr2
Related Materials:
UN World Water Development Report 1: Water for People, Water for Life (2003) http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr1
Related Materials:
These publications provide more focused, in-depth information and scientific background knowledge on the world’s water issues, and a closer look at some less conventional water sectors. http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr3/side_publications.shtml
UN-Water
UN-Water is a mechanism of the United Nations, endorsed in 2003 for the follow-up process of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Its purpose is to support states in their water-related efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals....
and is housed in UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Its primary product, the UN World Water Development Report
UN World Water Development Report
The United Nations World Water Development Report is a global report that provides an authoritative, comprehensive assessment of the world’s freshwater resources...
, is a periodic, comprehensive review providing an authoritative picture of the state of the world’s freshwater resources.
Background
In 1998, the Sixth Session of the Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentCommission on Sustainable Development
The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development was established in December 1992 by General Assembly Resolution as a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council, implementing a recommendation in of Agenda 21, the landmark global agreement reached at the June 1992 United...
stated that there was a need for regular, global assessments on the status of freshwater resources. In response to this recommendation, the member organizations of UN-Water
UN-Water
UN-Water is a mechanism of the United Nations, endorsed in 2003 for the follow-up process of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Its purpose is to support states in their water-related efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals....
(known then as the ACC Subcommittee on Water Resources) decided to produce a UN World Water Development Report
UN World Water Development Report
The United Nations World Water Development Report is a global report that provides an authoritative, comprehensive assessment of the world’s freshwater resources...
every three years, with an aim to reporting on the status of global freshwater resources and the progress achieved in reaching the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
related to water. The World Water Assessment Programme was created to serve this purpose.
Activities
WWAP is the reporting mechanism of UN-WaterUN-Water
UN-Water is a mechanism of the United Nations, endorsed in 2003 for the follow-up process of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Its purpose is to support states in their water-related efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals....
. It produces the UN World Water Development Report
UN World Water Development Report
The United Nations World Water Development Report is a global report that provides an authoritative, comprehensive assessment of the world’s freshwater resources...
(WWDR) and related materials, policy papers based on the findings of the WWDR, and a series of side publications.
One of WWAP’s objectives is to assist countries in enhancing their national capacity for water resource assessment. One of the ways WWAP does this is by facilitating the development of case studies and including their findings in the WWDRs. These case studies provide an in-depth analysis of the state of freshwater resources and related challenges that directly affect the livelihoods of people around the world.
WWAP is the coordinating organization for UN-Water’s Task Force on Indicators, Monitoring and Reporting.
The ‘From Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential’ (PCCP) program contributes to WWAP and is housed within UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
’s International Hydrological Programme
International Hydrological Programme
The International Hydrological Programme is a scientific programme of UNESCO that focuses on the use and availability of water.- On-line resources :*...
(IHP). PCCP facilitates multi-level dialogue in situations where water users need support to manage their shared water resources in a peaceful and equitable manner.
Reports
UN World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World (2009) http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr3Related Materials:
UN World Water Development Report 2: Water: A Shared Responsibility (2006) http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr2
Related Materials:
UN World Water Development Report 1: Water for People, Water for Life (2003) http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr1
Related Materials:
Other publications
Side Publications seriesThese publications provide more focused, in-depth information and scientific background knowledge on the world’s water issues, and a closer look at some less conventional water sectors. http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr3/side_publications.shtml
See also
- UN World Water Development ReportUN World Water Development ReportThe United Nations World Water Development Report is a global report that provides an authoritative, comprehensive assessment of the world’s freshwater resources...
- UN-WaterUN-WaterUN-Water is a mechanism of the United Nations, endorsed in 2003 for the follow-up process of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Its purpose is to support states in their water-related efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals....
- UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
- Millennium Development GoalsMillennium Development GoalsThe Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
- The UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC)
- Water for Life DecadeWater for Life DecadeTHE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR ACTION ‘WATER FOR LIFE’, 2005-2015The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’...
The United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015 (UNO-IDfA)