Midterm Status of Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 6.5.1
Facing escalating climate change and persistent conflicts in the Arab region, securing safe water remains vital. A progress report on integrated water management uncovers stark contrasts between affluent nations and those affected by crisis, emphasizing the urgent need to bridge implementation gaps.
As the impacts of climate change on the Arab region intensify and socioeconomic and political challenges – including conflict – persist, efforts to secure access to safe and reliable water supplies are of primary importance. In this context, this document serves as the third progress report on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 6.5.1 on the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in the Arab region, highlighting challenges and opportunities to advance implementation. While the average IWRM implementation level for the Arab region is on par with global progress, it is marked by great disparity between the high-income countries and the least developed and conflict- and crisis-affected countries of the region. Overall, Arab countries have scored a slight increase in IWRM implementation compared to the 2020 scores, but progress is decelerating. Closing the achievement gap between high- and low-income and crisis-impacted countries in the region is crucial to IWRM implementation, as well to the achievement of the goals laid out in the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018–2028.