The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Sustainable Resources and Ecosystem Resilience

It has truly been an honor to work with Syed Farhan on this article.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/syedfarhans/

Following is a summary of this work:

Global water governance has been significantly shaped by two influential frameworks: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, and the Global Water Partnership (GWP). Both are founded on a shared commitment to ensuring safe, equitable, and sustainable water for all. Their efforts have driven substantial progress in expanding access to drinking water and sanitation, promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), strengthening climate adaptation, improving transboundary water cooperation, supporting flood management, enabling hydropower development, and enhancing food and water security worldwide.

Despite these achievements, experience from diverse regions demonstrates that water policies can become even more effective when they more fully reflect the cultural, historical, regional, and ecological realities of the communities they serve. Greater alignment between these dimensions and water governance frameworks can enhance policy effectiveness, support ecosystem health, foster shared understanding among stakeholders, and contribute to peaceful and inclusive pathways toward achieving safe and clean water for all.