About the Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Through the UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, the United Nations seeks to support countries in monitoring water- and sanitation-related issues within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in compiling country data to report on global progress towards SDG 6.

The Initiative brings together the eight United Nations organizations that are formally mandated to compile country data on the SDG 6 global indicators, who organize their work within three complementary initiatives, WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP), the inter-agency GEMI and UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS).

The joint effort around SDG 6 is especially important with regards to the institutional aspects of monitoring, in particular the integration of data collection and analysis across sectors, regions and administrative levels.

The Initiative’s long-term goal is to accelerate the achievement of SDG 6 on water and sanitation through evidence-based policies, regulations, planning and investments. To achieve the goal, it is essential that (1) high-quality data are available and freely accessible, and that (2) policy- and decision-makers at all levels are aware of and able to use this data in a holistic manner.