UNDP for Human Rights-based Approach for Water Governance

Abstract

Today, the deprivation in access to water and sanitation overwhelmingly impacts poor people and marginalised communities who often are systematically excluded as a result of inequality, unequal power relations and failures of governance. Among the poor, women and girls are especially affected. Access to sanitation and water is a human right and its realisation brings multiple human development benefits, including better health, reduced vulnerability, greater productivity, and expanded choices. Beyond domestic needs, water is essential to sustain ecosystems on which humankind depends for myriad services and it is an input to virtually all economic sectors and the production systems that maintain livelihoods. UNDP promotes a human rights-based approach (HRBA) in its work to improve water resources management and access to water and sanitation. It emphasizes both development outcomes and the process by which rights are realised. An HRBA intersects with water governance which is defined by the political, social, economic and administrative systems that affect the use, allocation and management of water resources and delivery of water and sanitation services. Water governance is concerned with principles such as equity and efficiency in water resource and services allocation, the power dynamics in decision-making, and the clarification of the roles and responsibilities of government, civil society and the private sector. Water governance relates to the enabling environment in which water management actions take place: that is, the overarching policies, strategies, plans, finances and incentive structures that concern or influence water resources; the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks and institutions; and planning, decision-making and monitoring processes.