Capacity Development to support transformation and contribute to achieving SDG6

SDG6 is alarmingly off-track, as highlighted in the recent status report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) published by UN-Water. It has been recognised at high political level that Capacity Development is one of the main factors that will produce an “acceleration” in achieving SDG6. However, a deeper understanding is lacking on what is needed to have more impactful capacity development programmes particularly in relation to developing the capacity of national government and related institutions, in developing countries. These institutions support real and substantial changes across scales, and strengthening their capacity will contribute to address both existing and emerging issues in a rapidly changing world requiring quick adaptation of capacities in institutions.

The main objective of this contribution is to provide examples of instruments that are currently being developed to support organisations, especially in low and middle-income countries, to develop capacities to accelerate implementation of water related SDGs. In particular, to offer up to date instruments to deliver capacity development products and services to carry out institutional changes that will deliver ultimately impact to SDG6 achievement.

These examples include, but are not limited to, the SDG6 capacity development initiative (UNESCO, UN-DESA, UN-Water, IHE Delft), the Global Water Education Network (UNESCO, IHE Delft, Cap-Net and SIWI), and the Water and Development Partnership Programme (IHE Delft with a broad number of low and middle-income countries and in particular African partners), which are three of the main voluntary commitments related to Capacity Development within the Water Action Agenda resulting from the UN 2023 Water Conference.

The contribution will present ongoing activities in support of capacity development taking place within UN political processes, and beyond, with a special emphasis on Africa. In this contribution we will take a deeper look at typical capacity development challenges, illustrated by selected examples.

Identified challenges address the following questions:

• What factors create impact in capacity development efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving SDG6?
• What capacity development activities have the greatest impact?
• What kind of learning alliances and partnerships, e.g., south-south collaboration, can catalyse capacity development interventions at regional, country level and local levels?
• What are the investment gaps and opportunities in catering to the capacity development needs in low and middle-income countries?

The outcome of the contribution could be used to contribute to the capacity development accelerator of the SDG6 Global Acceleration Framework to support the SDG6 Capacity Development Initiative and other complementary initiatives like the Global Water Education Network.