Clean Water and Sanitation

Chinese agricultural experts working in Uganda and Indian water-testing methods being taught in Honduras are just two examples of how the UN supports countries in the Global South to identify expertise, connect with partners and implement solutions.

Saudi Arabia is investing in national infrastructure, technology and expertise to reuse, conserve and produce water amid scorching heat. Internationally, the Kingdom has fostered UN-supported partnerships to prevent drought and share vital knowledge.

UN Volunteers are working with Bangladesh's coastal communities to manage saline intrusion by installing rainwater harvesting systems, training local water committees and sharing the skills needed to keep the systems running.

The UN is supporting Jamaica as it strengthens resilience, expands economic opportunities, improves data systems and reaches vulnerable communities, ensuring that the recovery after disasters creates a stronger foundation for sustainable development.

The latest Sustainable Development Goals report shows that the development agenda is delivering for communities, but not evenly or fast enough. Political will, sustained investment and international cooperation are needed amid growing pressures.

As heatwaves become increasingly severe and long, the UN is supporting communities by improving access to water, addressing the health impacts of extreme temperatures and leveraging both nature and new technologies.

For nearly two decades, drought and climate impacts destroyed farmlands in Tur Al-Baha. A UN-supported programme rehabilitated a collapsed irrigation network to provide access to water and protect harvests, restoring food, income and opportunity.

Governments are reporting the highest levels of satisfaction with UN development support since reforms of the development system began nearly a decade ago. But continued progress will depend on sustained political engagement and more predictable financing.

Young leaders across the globe are solving environmental and human development challenges by improving how people interact with nature, valuing diverse ways of thinking and enabling more inclusive participation in shaping solutions.

Four months into Cuba’s deepening energy crisis, the healthcare system is under immense strain amid existing humanitarian needs. The UN has expanded its Hurricane Melissa response plan to address the cascading impacts on essential services.

With support from the UN and partners, a new solar-powered borehole in Kenya's Wajir County is bringing clean water closer to home for over 9,200 people and thousands of livestock, easing daily hardship in the drought-prone region.

As climate change pressures natural resources and intensifies disaster hazards, Tajikistan is building on its longstanding water leadership by leveraging new AI technologies that sustainably manage water sources and enhance climate resilience.

After El Niño floods upended the lives of nearly 300,000 people in Burundi, the UN Global Emergency Fund is reaching displaced communities in Gateri with both an emergency response and integrated support that enhances self-reliance for a sustainable future.

By allocating funds directly through the budgets of local governments, the UN is supporting communities in Bangladesh to access water and adapt to climate change while also ensuring women are instrumental in driving results.

The Blue Peace Financing Initiative invests in solar-powered water kiosks and public toilets across Freetown with support from the UN and partners, providing a scalable model for inclusive, sustainable urban development and innovative financing.