The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is a global action network with over 3,000 Partner organisations in 179 countries. The network has 69 accredited Country Water Partnerships and 13 Regional Water Partnerships. It is open to all organisations involved in water resources management: developed and developing country government institutions, agencies of the United Nations, bi- and multi-lateral development banks, professional associations, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.
GWP's action network provides knowledge and builds capacity to improve water management at all levels: global, regional, national and local. GWP does not operate alone. Its networking approach provides a mechanism for coordinated action and adds value to the work of many other key development partners. They are an ‘on-the-ground’ network that mobilises government, civil society, and the commercial sector to engage with each other to solve water problems. Usually those problems stem from the demands of competing water users so it’s about how to manage, or govern, the resource itself. The main focus is on improving the way water is managed across sectors – it’s called the integrated approach.
The network's comparative advantage is a large and diverse multi-stakeholder network that can deploy 20 years of knowledge and experience in applying the cross-sectoral integrated water resources management approach to sustainable development. GWP has succeeded when water is managed sustainably while at the same time maximising social and economic welfare.
