col-xs-12
col-sm-12
col-md-12
col-lg-12
Water underpins much of human existence — contributing to good health, food production, and the energy that powers businesses. It supports an estimated 1.7 billion jobs worldwide. Yet for billions of people and entire economies, water insecurity remains a fundamental barrier to growth.
large
lp-heading-bottom-xxhuge
col-xs-12
col-sm-4
col-md-4
col-lg-4
Failing water systems limit productivity, weaken food and energy security, undermine public health, and deter private investment. Water Forward, a new multistakeholder coalition, aims to change that — moving water from a source of risk to a driver of jobs, growth, and resilience. The goal: making water systems investable, scalable, and capable of supporting prosperity at scale.
The World Bank Group is at the heart of this effort. Through its Water Strategy Implementation Plan — with an ambitious target of improving water security for 400 million people by 2030 — it brings a proven framework, global reach, and delivery capacity as its core contribution to Water Forward.
The Water Forward approach enables action—and results—at a scale no single institution could achieve on its own, laying the foundation for greater water security for as many as one billion people, and boosting job creation, productivity, and long-term prosperity.
col-xs-12
col-sm-1
col-md-1
col-lg-1
col-xs-12
col-sm-7
col-md-7
col-lg-7
- lp-common-card-wrapper
- lp-sticky-card-wrapper
- lp-top-card-wrapper
background-image
Water for People
true
no
lp lp-popup
Water for People
Expanding access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in urban and rural areas, strengthening service quality and continuity to improve health, productivity, and workforce participation.
background-image
Water for Food
true
lp lp-download-solid
Water for Food
Improving food security and farmer livelihoods through sustainable irrigation, efficient water use, and climate-resilient agricultural systems.
background-image
Water for the Planet
true
lp lp-popup
Water for the Planet
Reducing water-related risks from floods and droughts, restoring rivers and aquifers, and protecting water sources and ecosystems.
The Numbers Tell an Urgent Story
large
Water insecurity is a global crisis — and the costs are immense. Public investment alone cannot meet the scale of this challenge. Private investment remains limited by weak sector fundamentals, policy uncertainty, and a lack of bankable projects. Water Forward is built to change that.
3.4 billion
people lacking safely managed sanitation
2.1 billion
lacking safe drinking water
4 billion
people experiencing water scarcity
6.5 billion
6.5 billion people who can’t be fed sustainably in 2050 with current agri-water management practices
col-xs-12
col-sm-12
col-md-12
col-lg-12
col-xs-12
col-sm-12
col-md-12
col-lg-12
How Water Forward Works
large
Water Forward relies on four mutually reinforcing levers to drive results at scale — combining government ownership, multi-partner financing, institutional strengthening, and coordinated global platforms.
lp-heading-top-none
lp-heading-bottom-huge
Our Implementation Levers
large
lp-heading-top-none
lp-heading-bottom-xlarge
col-xs-12
col-sm-12
col-md-12
col-lg-12
background-color
Country-led Water Compacts
Government ownership at the core
true
no
lp lp-popup
Country-led Water Compacts
Water Compacts integrate policy reform, institutional strengthening, investment planning, and financing pipelines under government ownership.
background-color
Mobilization of Capital
Public, private, and philanthropic
true
no
lp lp-popup
Mobilization of Capital
Using guarantees, blended finance, and risk-sharing instruments to crowd in investment and unlock the private capital needed to close the global water financing gap.
background-color
Strengthening Institutions
Building capacity for lasting change
true
no
lp lp-popup
Strengthening Institutions
Strengthening the performance of utilities, river-basin authorities, and subnational providers improves service delivery — and their creditworthiness — enabling sustained investment over time.
background-color
Country Platforms
Align partners and speed delivery
true
no
lp lp-popup
Global and country platforms
Global and country platforms align partners, reduce fragmentation, and accelerate delivery.
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
Success Stories
large
Water Forward builds on proven solutions — from utility turnarounds and sustainable irrigation to flood risk management and nature-based approaches. Explore how these interventions are already making a difference across the globe.
lp-heading-top-none
lp-heading-bottom-regular
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Delivering clean water and safely managed sanitation
Smart Systems are Changing Lives
true
no
lp lp-popup
Delivering clean water and safely managed sanitation
Smart Systems are Changing Lives
Smarter systems don’t just improve service delivery; they help people learn, work, and earn. From Benin to Pakistan, two bold initiatives show how with the right mix of strategy, investment, innovation and commitment, water can be a catalyst for lasting change.
embed-code
<video controls width="100%"><source src="https://delivery-p136806-e1377844.adobeaemcloud.com/adobe/assets/urn:aaid:aem:45e51218-5d06-4174-9ac9-d21ffaa634d5/original/as/Smart+Systems+are+Changing+Lives.mp4" type="video/mp4"></video>
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Leading the fight against land degradation and drought
Empowered Communities Build Resilient Futures
true
no
lp lp-popup
Leading the fight against land degradation and drought
Empowered Communities Build Resilient Futures
From Burkina Faso to Brazil, and from Ethiopia to Jordan, governments and communities are charting a course toward a resilient future. Beyond bolstering resilience, investments in land and water management have the potential to accelerate the pathway out of poverty and restore ecosystem services.
Leading the fight against land degradation and drought
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Transforming lives through climate-resilient irrigation
Better managed—Climate-Resilient Irrigation is a Game Changer
true
no
lp lp-popup
Transforming lives through climate-resilient irrigation
Better managed—Climate-Resilient Irrigation is a Game Changer
More—and better managed—climate-resilient irrigation is a game changer. Across Viet Nam and Indonesia, climate-resilient irrigation equips farmers to produce more abundant harvests while preserving water, conserving land, improving resilience to climate shocks, and mitigating climate change
Transforming lives through climate-resilient irrigation
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Quenching thirst, building stability
Providing Clean Water in Conflict-Affected Haiti
true
no
lp lp-popup
Quenching thirst, building stability
Providing Clean Water in Conflict-Affected Haiti
In Haiti, just 60 percent of people have access to safe drinking water, and in rural areas the number drops to 40 percent. A 2019 investment from IFC is helping one of Haiti’s largest beverage companies sustain its role as a critical source of safe, reliable water.
Quenching thirst, building stability
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Building a bold blue future
Protecting Global Water Resources with Blue Finance
true
no
lp lp-popup
Building a bold blue future
Protecting Global Water Resources with Blue Finance
In Romania, blue finance supports industrial production that prioritizes the preservation of water resources and natural ecosystems. With IFC’s support, the country’s largest bank has been able to extend blue finance to fish‑farming businesses, fostering economic growth while safeguarding Romania’s valuable natural environments.
Building a bold blue future
col-xs-12
col-sm-12
col-md-12
col-lg-12
Sukeni
Farmer, West Java, Indonesia
"When we didn’t have enough water, our crop was small. Now, our paddy is fuller and more profitable. I can save for my kid’s college tuition and future."
false
Water Security by 2030
This commitment is anchored in the World Bank Group Water Strategy and its Implementation Plan, bringing a tested framework, global reach, and delivery capacity to help make Water Forward's goals a concrete reality.
The World Bank Group Water Department leads the institution’s efforts to advance water security as a foundation for growth, jobs, and a livable planet. The Water Department brings together financing, global knowledge, and implementation expertise to deliver transformative and scalable solutions across three pillars—Water for People, Water for Food, and Water for the Planet—to help countries build the capacity to meet global water challenges.
Water Forward Partners
large
Water Forward brings together a diverse coalition of countries, financing institutions, technical agencies, philanthropies, and private-sector leaders committed to transforming water security at scale. Each partner plays a distinct role—mobilizing finance, enabling reforms, strengthening institutions, and accelerating delivery through country-led Water Compacts. Together, these partnerships make it possible to unlock investment, improve services, and deliver water security for hundreds of millions of people.
lp-heading-top-none
lp-heading-bottom-large
View Country Compacts
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Partner Countries
Smart Systems are Changing Lives
true
no
lp lp-popup
Partner Countries
Driving national water security ambitions
Partner Countries lead the Water Forward agenda. Through country-owned Water Compacts, governments commit to bold targets, policy and regulatory reforms, investment planning, and strengthened institutional performance. They coordinate multisector platforms that align public, private, and philanthropic partners around financing needs, service improvements, and long-term water security outcomes.
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Financing Partners
Mobilizing Capital for Scalable Impact
true
no
lp lp-popup
Financing Partners
Mobilizing Capital for Scalable Impact
Financing Partners provide grants, loans, cofinancing, blended capital, and concessional resources that expand the scale and effectiveness of water investments aligned with Water Compacts. Their support strengthens government programs, accelerates project preparation, and unlocks private capital to close the global water financing gap.
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-4
col-lg-4
background-image
Enabling Partners
Strengthening Systems and Institutions
true
no
lp lp-popup
Enabling Partners
Strengthening Systems and Institutions
Enabling Partners provide technical assistance, analytics, capacity building, diagnostics, and institutional support essential for implementing Water Compacts. They coordinate with government-led platforms to align actions, harmonize reporting, support reforms, and strengthen the systems needed to sustain impact over time.
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-6
col-lg-8
Stay involved
large
Join the Water Forward coalition and help drive water security, jobs, and prosperity for billions of people around the world.
col-xs-12
col-sm-6
col-md-6
col-lg-4
- two-column
For general and specific inquiries
Contact Us
World Bank Group
worldbankwater@worldbank.org
false
LinkedIn
lp-linkln