The Valuing Water Initiative uses practical case studies to showcase the implementation of the United Nations Valuing Water Principles in order to bring systemic change in the way water is valued in policy, practice, finance and behaviour and to inspire others to do the same.

Tell us how you value water

While you can put a price on scarcity, it’s much harder to put a monetary value on ritual bathing, water recreation, passing on a healthy ecosystem to future generations or enabling more girls to go to school by making water and sanitation easily available.”

Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Better decisions impacting water

The Valuing Water Initiative calls for the many values of water to be recognized in decision-making to ensure we can live in a sustainable water-secure world. Inspired by the Valuing Water Principles, we work collaboratively with people across systems and sectors to better understand, value and manage water.

United Nations High Level Panel on Water and VWI

In 2016 the United Nations and the World Bank Group organized the High Level Panel on Water (HLPW). The HLPW identified ways in which the world could understand, value and manage water better to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was one of the eleven sitting Heads of State and Government in the HLPW.

The HLPW published its outcome doc its ‘Making Every Drop Count’ in 2018, urging governments, businesses and civil society to incorporate water’s many values into decision-making. The HLPW defined 5 principles to value water better and triggered the Valuing Water Initiative (VWI) to put these principles into practice.

The 5 Valuing Water Principles

1.

Recognize and embrace water’s multiple values to different groups and interests in all decisions affecting water.

2.

Reconcile values and build trust – conduct all processes to reconcile values in ways that are equitable, transparent and inclusive.

3.

Protect the sources, including watersheds, rivers, aquifers, associated ecosystems, and used water flows for current and future generations.

4.

Educate to empower – promote education and awareness among all stakeholders about the intrinsic value of water and its essential role in all aspects of life.

5.

Invest and innovate – ensure adequate investment in institutions, infrastructure, information and innovation to realize the many benefits derived from water and reduce risks.

The Valuing Water Principles

Valuing Water Campaigns

Running marathon

Run Blue

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