The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme: for development, capacity-building and the environment
Comprising 24 agencies and entities, UN-WATER is the inter-agency mechanism that promotes the coordination and coherence of UN-system actions in the sphere of freshwater. Its focus encompasses surface water and groundwater resources, the interface between freshwater and sea water, and all aspects of freshwater resources in terms of quality, quantity, development, assessment, management, monitoring and use. Water-related disasters, emergencies and other extreme events and their impacts on human security are also growing areas of concern. Founded in 2000 as a collective response of the 24 agencies comprising UN-Water to assist countries in reaching their commitments in key water-related challenge areas, the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) focuses on assessing the developing situation as regards freshwater throughout the world.