In face of harsh deficits in access to basic sanitation and the increasingly deteriorating situation particularly in urban settings? Sustainable Sanitation - The Drive to 2015 is a UN-endorsed advocacy initiative that specifically targets this most delayed MDG. Calling on the positive experiences of the International Year of Sanitation (2008) it is intended to generate political will among UN member states and empower communities, governments as well as the private sector to organise sustainable sanitation solutions.more information...
UN Secretary-General launches the "Sustainable Sanitation: Five-Year Drive to 2015"
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, along with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, Ugandan Minister of Water & Environment the Hon. Maria Mutagamba, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, today launched the "Sustainable Sanitation: Five-Year Drive to 2015", a push to speed up progress on the Millennium Development Goal target of improving global sanitation by 2015. more information...
Rio 2012 from a water perspective
On the 7th of March UN-Water and the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board (UNSGAB) will host a side event to articulate the linkages among water, sanitation and the multiple facets of the green economy. Providing a forum to discuss how water issues feature on the Rio 2012 agenda.more information...
Jan. 26, 2011
Global WOPs Congress and GWOPA General Assembly
TIn its efforts to make Water Operators' Partnerships (WOPs) happen with greater impact around the world, the Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) is holding its 1st Bi-Annual Global WOPs Congress and GWOPA General Assembly on 20-21 March 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa, in conjunction with World Water Day celebrations on 22 March.more information...
Jan. 24, 2011
"Water for Life" Best Practices Award
The United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" 2005-2015/ UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) and the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) are pleased to invite you to submit your Best Practice for the 1st edition of the "Water for Life" Best Practices Award.
In 2011, special focus is given to the topic "Urban Water Management". The prize will be awarded at a special ceremony on World Water Day, 22 March 2011. more information...
Speeches at 3rd Africa Water Week
We are all gathered here to take stock of the achievements since the adoption of the Sharm el Sheik Declaration and they are impressive. Not everybody knows this, because also the MDG Review Summit in New York last September was concentrating more on the deficits than on the achievements - at least this was transmitted via the media by telling everybody that Africa is way behind the set targets of the Millennium Development Goals. Read more...
Sep. 24, 2010
Countries endorsed the Sustainable Sanitation:
Five year drive to 2015 in the MDG Summit outcome document! The Sustainable Sanitation: five year drive to 2015 is an urgent call to action on the sanitation Millennium Development Goal target which is currently off track. A massive effort is required to put this MDG target back on track. Link: MDGs Summit Outcome Document
Sep. 22, 2010
MDG Summit Side Event on Water and Sanitation
The UNSGAB Chair will participate in the MDG Summit Side Event on Water and Sanitation - September 22, 2010 "Addressing the Global Water and Sanitation Challenge: The Key to the MDGs". The event will include a moderated panel discussion between Heads of State and Government, high-profile Heads of UN Agencies, and high profile Civil Society leaders. Participants will include, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, The Netherlands and Former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo of the Republic of Korea & Chairman of Global Green Growth Institute.
High-level Meeting on Sanitation and Water For all
High-level Meeting on Sanitation and Water For all (23 April, Washington, DC), co-hosted by UNICEF and the World Bank, will focus on commitments to address the underpinning obstacles to increased access to sanitation and water. The Chair of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation will deliver opening remarks. Further information...
Hashimoto Action Plan II
The United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Sanitation is embarking on their next strategic phase with the release of the Hashimoto Action Plan II. In only a few years, world leaders will assess progress made towards the Millennium Development Goals, including the targets to halve by 2015 the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Getting the right policies, strategies and actions in place during the next three years is absolutely critical. The Hashimoto Action Plan II contributes to this effort by motivating, convening and galvanizing its partners to achieve objectives in five key areas: financing, sanitation, monitoring & reporting, integrated water resources management and water and disaster. Read more...
Video message by Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations
Tokyo Action Proposal following IYS
Participants at the Follow-up Conference of the International Year of Sanitation agreed that the international community needs a vehicle to carry spirits, monitor commitments and accelerate actions created by IYS. They proposed "Sustainable Sanitation ? the 5-Year Drive to 2015" as a way to keep the IYS momentum. Read more... (38KB)
UN Leadership Forum on Climate Change
Our UNSGAB Chair will lead a discussion on water security during the United Nations Leadership Forum on Climate Change on 22 September 2009 at United Nations Headquarters as part of the UN Summit on Climate Change. Read more...
Aug. 17 - 21, 2009
Stockholm World Water Week 2009, Stockholm, Sweden
UNSGAB members will deliver key note addresses during the Stockholm World Water Week (Aug. 17 - 21) on topics including subsidies and financial mechanisms, meeting commitments in Africa, transboundary implications of water management, ratifying the UN watercourses convention, water operators' partnerships, and the impact of global crisis on water management.
Report on "High-Level Expert Panel on Water and Disaster/ UNSGAB" is available! DOWNLOAD (, 21.1MB)
Mar. 16, 2009
UNSGAB's new brochure
UNSGAB's new brochure outlinning achievements and objectives for 2009-2010 was circulated during the forum and can be downloaded here.
