Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Item 4. Information on Reporting on SDG indicator 6.5.2 and under the Water

Convention

results – next steps

Sarah Tiefenauer-Linardon, UNECE

Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment15th meeting

6 December 2019, Geneva

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.

• Most of the world’s water resources are shared => cooperation required. • The only SDG indicator on transboundary cooperation => important for other natural resources

Indicator 6.5.1 Degree of IWRMIndicator 6.5.2 Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Background on reporting on SDG indicator 6.5.2 and under the Water Convention

• Decision to introduce reporting mechanism under the Water Convention taken in 2015 • Coincided with SDGs and SDG indicator 6.5.2 on transboundary water cooperation

=> One template for the two exercises

• Indicator 6.5.2: Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation

• SDG indicator framework adopted by the General Assembly in 2017• UNECE and UNESCO designated as co-custodian agencies for 6.5.2 • Tier I indicator: reviewed at 8th IAEG-SDG meeting in Nov. 2018

• What is an ‘operational’ arrangement? • Treaty, convention, agreement or other formal arrangement• Joint body for transboundary water cooperation • Annual meetings• Annual exchange of data and information• Adoption of joint/co-ordinated water management plan, or joint objectives

Results of the first reporting on SDG6.5.2 and under the Water Convention• 108 country responses (out of 153

countries sharing transboundary waters)

• 38 reports by Parties under the Convention (out of 40 Parties)⇒1st time countries submitted such

information⇒High level of responses: 71% of

countries sharing transboundary waters responded

⇒Quality of the reports: Indicator 6.5.2 calculation available for 62% of the responses

59% = average national percentage of transboundary basins covered by operational arrangement in 2017/2018 (62 out of 153 countries)Only 17 countries with all transboundary waters covered by operational arrangementsSignificant efforts needed to increase cooperation on transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers

Updated 2019

Results of the 1st reporting under the Water Convention on monitoring & assessment & information exchange• Data & information exchange among Parties

• 84% of the responses confirmed data and info exchanged with riparian

• Data and info exchange in nearly all reported transboundary waters

• although at least 7 river and lake basins not at basin level

• shared database or platform is only present in the minority of cases – 24%

• Monitoring & assessment among Parties• 68 % of the responses confirmed joint monitoring

takes place• although joint monitoring and assessment is

reported not to take place in at least 32 river and lake basins

• Only 35% have joint methodology

⇒Data exchange and monitoring and assessment are long term challenges also for Parties

71%64%

45%66%

51%47%

63%68%

50%64%

14%

29%36%

55%34%

49%53%

37%32%

50%36%

86%

Environmental conditionsResearch activities and application of…

Emission monitoring dataPlanned measures taken to prevent,…

Point source pollution sourcesDiffuse pollution sources

Existing hydromorphological alterations…Discharges

Water abstractionsFuture planned measures with…

Other subjects

Subjects on which information and data are exchanged (Art. 13) – based on all responses to section II, question 6(b)

yes no

28%

34%

35%

68%

18%

72%

66%

65%

32%

82%

National monitoring stations…

Joint and agreed methodologies

Joint sampling

Common monitoring networks

Common agreed parameters

If joint monitoring is carried out, how is this done? (Art. 11(1)) – based on all responses to section II, question 7(b)

yes no

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Results of the first reporting on SDG6.5.2Main difficulties in data exchange identified Regional nuances• Africa: lack of technical infrastructure and capacity & consequently,

harmonization and data quality. Monitoring stations lacking or insufficient, personnel and internet connection. Lack of trust among riparians, political instability.

• Europe: harmonization and data availability: different standards (methodology, frequency, format); governance issues on a national level, affecting transboundary cooperation. Lack of real-time data exchange (on water quality, discharges)

• Americas: lack of public access to information, lack of technical infrastructure• Asia: lack of cooperation and trust among countries

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Lessons learned and activities• Dissemination of results of the baseline reporting

exercise: presentations at many occasions • Enhance reporting guidance

• Revision of step-by-step methodology guide• Guide to reporting to be finalised

• 2 Drafting Group meetings in May and September 2019, with around 40 countries from all regions of the world sharing transboundary waters

• Draft Guide shared for comments with all countries sharing transboundary waters

• Raise awareness and improve quality of reporting, in particular through capacity building activities

• Publishing all reports online• 2018-19: Central Africa, South America, Europe-Caucasus-Central Asia,

Central America • 2020: Asia, MENA

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Monitoring SDG indicator 6.5.2 : process

• Information on indicator 6.5.2 is collected every 3 years by UNECE and UNESCO as co-custodian agencies (as for 6.5.1 and other SDG6 indicators)

• Every year co-custodians submit data updates to the United Nations Statistics Division

• First data collection 2017 => second exercise in 2020 • Ministers responsible for water officially addressed by UNECE and UNESCO• Reports signed by competent authority• Importance of increased engagement of national statistical offices

What countries report under 6.5.2 and the Convention

Questions relate to governance arrangements in place at the national level that concern transboundary waters

Calculation of SDG indicator 6.5.2 value for a) transboundary rivers and lake basins (table 1); and b) transboundary aquifers (table 2).

States can elaborate on transboundary river, lake and aquifers, and their operational arrangements, in section II

Questions to be completed for each agreement or arrangement covering a particular river or lake basin, or aquifer system, as well as sub-basins, parts of a basin or groups of basins where appropriate

Consider replies to question 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 to verify the rivers, lakes and aquifers covered by operational arrangements based on “operationality criteria” in SDG indicator 6.5.2 methodology

Policy-focused summary and questions on how template was completed

Section I Calculation of SDG

indicator 6.5.2

Section II Transboundary basin and aquifer

arrangements

Section III National Water Management

Section IV Final Questions

For all States: report on SDG 6.5.2

For Parties to the Water Convention: official report under the ConventionFor all States : additional information additional information to explain, substantiate and complement SDG indicator data

Guidance on completing this section is contained in the Revised Step-by-Step methodology

Guidance on completing these sections contained in the Guide to reporting

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Tips and advices – Organisation of reporting on SDG6.5.2 and the Water Convention• nomination of a key person or organization responsible for coordinating reporting • identification of stakeholders who should be involved in reporting and potential sources

of information• definition of an indicative reporting schedule

• interaction with riparian states to exchange views or coordinate responses => role of joint bodies and regional organizations

• build on the first report (also neighbours and other countries)• interact with custodian agencies (advice, questions, draft report)

Dec/ January•UNECE and UNESCO send invitation to report

February•Key person/ institution got co-ordination identified and report sent to key institutions to complete relevant sections

March•Inputs received from key institutions and first full draft circulated for comment by national institutions, and where appropriate neighbouring countries

April•Deadline for comments and template revised.

•Draft template sent to UNECE and UNESCO for review

•Where appropriate, report fed into SDG 6.5.1

May/June • Submission of final

report to UNECE and UNESCO

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Tips and advices – Making the most of reporting on SDG6.5.2 and the Water Convention

National level• Preparing the report with a consultative approach helps raising attention and support on the topic

and can be used to• Communicate internally and to populations => possibility to develop “fact sheets" and develop political

messages• Influence policies and funding plans (voluntary national reviews, national development plans, funding

strategies with donors, speeches on budget)Transboundary level• Consultation on relations with raparians helps developing a common understanding of challenges

and opportunities that can become a basis for discussion for next steps. Use reports in:• Discussions in joint bodies (especially Section II of the report)• Formal or informal discussions with raparians

Regional and global level• Reports can feed into political dialogue at regional and global level

• Regional organizations can use them in their technical and political reports and forums

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Tips and advices – Filling the questionnaire on SDG6.5.2 and the Water Convention

• Brief answers but with a useful description• If useful, indicate links to more general information, such as web pages of

commissions, projects, etc.• Consider submitting the first drafts of the report to UNECE or UNESCO for

comments before formal submission• Plan the process carefully and in advance • Check that the report does not contain any inconsistencies (operational

criteria)• Provide information on all rivers, lakes and aquifers even in the absence of an

agreement or other arrangement and/or a joint body • No reward;-) Underestimating or overestimating progress has no advantage

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Next steps for the 2nd reporting exercise on SDG indicator 6.5.2 and under the Water Convention

• Dec 2019/ Jan 2020 data and information collection initiated for the 2nd reporting exercise

• Letter with template addressed to Ministers responsible for transboundary waters • To all UN Member States sharing transboundary waters

• 1st semester 2020 Helpdesk for countries provided by UNECE and UNESCO• Encourage sharing draft versions with custodian agencies sufficiently before the deadline

• 30 June 2020 deadline to submit the second 6.5.2 report (in English, French, Russian and Spanish)

⇒2021 Data to be available for UN Statistical Commission

Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6

Thanks for listening! Contacts

transboundary_water_cooperation_reporting@un.orgtransboundary_water_cooperation_reporting@unesco.org

Further informationwww.unece.org/water/transboundary_water_cooperation_

reporting.htmlhttps://en.unesco.org/themes/water-security/hydrology