Freshwater: action on the ground, International Year of Freshwater 2003

There is a strong and increasing recognition of the crucial role of water in sustainable development, but meeting competing demands will require coordinated action and considerable funding. To respond to needs, governments, international organizations, local communities, civil society and businesses around the world are working on innovative projects that prove that these obstacles can be overcome. The challenge is often how to generate the funding and know-how, with the right combination of outside support and local participation, to bring these efforts to scale. In addition to providing policy guidelines, technical advice and a forum for sharing lessons learned, the United Nations is a key partner in many of these projects. In this document is some of the action on the ground.