The Glasgow Framework, set out in the report Bridging the Water Investment Gap: A Framework for Delivering UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, identifies the structural barriers to investment and provides actionable solutions for governments, investors and water professionals to help close the SDG 6 financing gap. Today, it opens for consultation and welcomes contributions from stakeholders across the globe.
Oxera and the UK Host Country Committee for the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress and Exhibition, launches the Glasgow Framework, a comprehensive new framework that addresses the structural barriers preventing investment in water and sanitation services globally.
The report provides governments, investors, water utilities and international organisations with practical, evidence-based solutions to help mobilise the $114bn annual investment required to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), 1 the commitment to ‘ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’.
Despite a decade of commitment to universal access to safely managed water and sanitation, progress remains insufficient. Today, 2.2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water, 3.4 billion lack safely managed sanitation, and only 56% of global domestic wastewater is safely treated. The burden falls hardest on low-income countries and marginalised communities, where progress has been most modest and imbalanced.
‘This framework marks a critical turning point,’ said Peter Simpson, Co-President of the IWA Congress. ‘Water is not only vital to addressing environmental and social challenges: it underpins economic growth, business resilience and national prosperity. Our aim is to help shift the conversation towards mobilising greater levels of funding, particularly private finance, to address the global water financing gap. The framework will continue to evolve through engagement with organisations including the OECD, the World Bank in support of Water Forward, and the UN’s wider campaign efforts, including the UN Water Conference later this year.’
Dr Luis Correia da Silva, Oxera Chair and Partner, said ‘The global challenge on water is not simply one of funding and financing, it is one of economic and institutional design. Despite the scale of global capital available, too many water systems remain unable to attract investment because the right structures are not in place. The Glasgow Framework sets out a practical framework to help countries build the governance, regulation and accountability needed to unlock investment at scale.’
Alex Plant, Chief Executive of Scottish Water and Co-President of the IWA Congress, added: ‘This consultation is a vital next step in ensuring the framework reflects diverse global perspectives and delivers practical, actionable solutions for the sector.’
He went on to say: ‘The International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition presents a unique opportunity to bring global leaders together to turn ambition into action on one of the world’s most urgent challenges. By convening policymakers, investors and water professionals in the wonderful city of Glasgow later this year, we can drive practical solutions that accelerate progress towards SDG 6 and unlock the investment needed to transform water systems worldwide.’
1 Although a financing gap of USD 114 billion per year is widely cited, the actual funding required to achieve the full scope of SDG 6 is likely to be significantly higher. The estimate is based on analysis conducted nearly a decade ago and covers only part of SDG 6.