Institutional and cross-cutting support
The monitoring of water and sanitation, including the monitoring of progress towards SDG 6, is a technical process, but its successful implementation is closely linked to a country‘s institutional arrangements and associated institutional capacity. You can find a short summary of important institutional and cross-cutting aspects here.
This page outlines how integrated monitoring may look like at the country level and what support that are available for countries.
What do good institutional and cross-cutting processes look like at the country level?
- Monitoring of all SDG 6 indicators is coordinated, and the subsequent data analysis is integrated. This can be achieved by appointing an overall focal point to coordinate SDG 6 monitoring, and by convening an intersectoral monitoring team made up of the SDG 6 monitoring overall focal points, the technical focal points (see below) and representatives from the national statistics office. The purpose of the intersectoral monitoring team would be to work with monitoring and data across indicators and sectors, to facilitate learning, and support integrated data analysis and use for policy- and decision-making.
- Relevant stakeholders are involved and cooperate in the monitoring process. For example, the responsibility of national-level monitoring could be assigned to target/indicator-specific technical teams, led by the technical focal points and convened by the overall focal point. The technical teams would fall under the institution in charge of implementing the specific target/indicator, and comprise all relevant stakeholders including academia, non-governmental organizations and business.
- Monitoring process is aligned with national processes and structures. For example, monitoring could be carried out as an integral part of the day-to-day operations of the ministries/institutions that are in charge of implementation, and data be used in national follow-up and review processes such as a joint sector review.
- Data are being used for evidence-based policy- and decision-making, in support of integrated water resources management. To strengthen this, policy- and decision-makers could be appointed to coordinate the monitoring process (e.g. the overall focal point and the leads of each indicator-specific technical team).
- Politicians appreciate the importance of monitoring and support it accordingly. To gain political support it is important to communicate how policy- and decision-making can be improved by having access to high quality data, i.e. the return of investment in monitoring.
Available support 2019-2022
UN-Water Technical Advisory Unit is coordinating available institutional and cross-cutting support. For any inquiries, please contact their helpdesk.Guidance on institutional and cross-cutting issues
- Introduction to SDG 6 monitoring and reporting
- Good practices for country monitoring systems (short summary available here)
- SDG 6 targets and indicators (a brief overview of all indicators and their monitoring)
- Generic presentations about SDG 6 monitoring and reporting
- Review of opportunities for citizen science (available in Spring 2020)
- Data collection process and timeline
- Functions of Overall Focal Points(s) for SDG 6 monitoring
Online support
- Helpdesk (email, phone, video conference)
- Database with country overall and technical focal points (available for country focal points)
- Webinars (previous webinars in 2017)
- Newsletters to country focal points (with regular updates about overall and indicator-specific activities)
- Collection of country experience on SDG 6 monitoring and reporting
Face-to-face support
- Presentations and sessions in various fora (see news and activities for regular updates)
- Global workshop (previous workshop in 2017)
Data and progress reporting
- SDG 6 Data Portal (webinar for country focal points)
- SDG 6 Synthesis Report (webinar for country focal points)
- World Water Development Report (annual and thematic report that focuses on different strategic water issues each year)
- Interlinkages across the 2030 Agenda (analytical brief on water and sanitation interlinkages across the 2030 Agenda)