Gerard Payen (UNSGAB) - 6th WGI Meeting (2-3 November 2015, Paris)

1. Which Global
governance mechanisms for
water-related SDG targets?
OECD Water Governance Initiative
Paris, France, 2 November 2015
Gerard PAYEN
Member of the UN Secretary General’s
Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation
(UNSGAB)

2. Post-2015: an historic change
of visibility and priority for water
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Addressing Water challenges is
recognised as one of the
top 17 priorities for mankind
needing action worldwide

3. The SDG revolution
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SDG 6 (Water & Sanitation):
- A new integrated political vision aiming at
addressing all the major water challenges
- A reference for all national policies
14 Water-related Targets
- New ambitions
- A framework that will stimulate action

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SDGs: a fantastic governance tool
quantified
UN-Statistical Commission
UN-Water: JMP + GEMI

5. Governance of action towards Targets
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National level
Existing policies to be reviewed and adapted
Regular monitoring of progress/regress
•will make it possible to adapt policies if needed
•will support national dialogues
Global level
Regular monitoring of progress/regress
However, will country governments continue their
dialogue and maintain their integrated vision of
action to address all water challenges?

6. Global Water Architecture
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fit for purpose?
Since UN Members do not meet regularly on water
challenges:
• how progress/regress towards water-related targets
will be politically reviewed over the SDG period?
• will there be any global multistakeholders
dialogues?
• how the integrated vision and the level of ambition
will be maintained?
• how UN Members will take complementary
decisions to adapt to the evolution of challenges?
Political level

7. Global Water Architecture
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UN system
In 2014-2015, the political preparation of the
SDGs (Open Working Group then General Assembly)
forced all UN entities to present coordinated and
integrated views on water challenges. This was
successfully done through UN-Water
Post-2015, will this integrated vision be
maintained throughout the UN system?
Is UN-Water strong enough to do so?
fit for purpose?

8. Some current Political Questions
and related initiatives at the global level
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UN organisation
5. Need for better integration of Water into
Climate Change policies
6. Etc.
Global policies
1. Need for an intergovernmental political arena to
review progress on water-related SDG targets
2. Need for regular meetings of UN Members?
3. Need for linking UN-Water to UN Members?
4. Need for a UN scientific and practice body?

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