New Land and Water Discussion Paper on multiple-use water services out now
Water is an indispensable resource that lies at the heart of sustenance and prosperity for communities worldwide. In lower and middle-income countries, households and communities have long relied on a single water source to fulfill a multitude of needs, encompassing drinking, washing, cooking, livestock raising, and irrigation. Traditional water supply systems have served as hydraulic structures for multiple purposes, catering to diverse water requirements.
As countries progressed towards modernization, the emphasis shifted towards single-use water infrastructure, inadvertently neglecting the multifaceted nature of water demands that contribute to people's livelihoods. In developing countries, water resources management centered around large-scale irrigation and water development projects to spur economic growth. Infrastructure, institutions, policies, and practices were organized around single-use sectors. Consequently, prevailing models of water modernization unintentionally disregarded or even discouraged the acknowledgement of multiple uses.
This new Land and Water Discussion Paper, produced by FAO in collaboration with the Texas A&M University, aims to provide an overview of multiple-use water services (MUS) in international development. Its objective is to enable a fresh assessment of MUS as a means to achieve the goals of nutrition and food security, water security, and human health, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Considering the background information and identifying the evidence gaps, the report presents a new framework for continued research, policy development, and targeted investment in MUS interventions. These interventions have the potential to enhance water, food, and nutrition security while advancing the social goal of gender empowerment.
The paper advocates for policymakers to focus on targeted interventions that leverage existing infrastructure and institutions, integrating the private sector into next-generation technologies. By doing so, we can overcome previous barriers and move beyond pilot programs to foster global initiatives that leave no one behind.