The principal pillars of the World Water Quality Alliance
Data to Action
Accessibility to all stakeholders of the Quintuple Helix (Public, private, research, cultural and citizen). Data to action is a process whereby raw data is collected and analyzed to inform decision-making and actionable tasks by communities at a local, sub-national, national and supranational level. The process involves identifying patterns or trends and making decisions and acting based on the results. Data to action can be applied to all water-based organizational issues or problems.
Source to Sea
The source to sea (S2S) approach to water quality is an integrated, collaborative approach to water resource management focused on the entire water cycle, from source (e.g., hills and mountains) to sea (e.g., the ocean). It puts emphasis on the interconnectedness of the ocean, lakes, rivers and the atmosphere, and makes a focused effort to protect and conserve aquatic ecosystems over their entire length. It involves a continuous monitoring of both upstream eutrophication and downstream pollution, to ensure water quality over the whole water body. Making an important consideration for the impacts of climate change, the S2S approach seeks to adopt a wide range of conservation measures, from better agricultural practices and pollution control to aquatic protection and restoration.
The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem-Health Nexus (WEFE+H)
The water-energy-food ecosystem nexus is an interdisciplinary approach to managing, restoring and sustaining the environment, by recognizing the interconnectedness between water, energy, and food systems as well as their interaction with ecosystems and the issue of human health. This approach considers how the use of natural resources and production of energy (such as hydropower and biomass) affects water, land, and other ecosystem services. In addition, the concept of the nexus emphasizes how water and energy enable food production and how changes in food production can impact energy and water resources. The nexus approach can help policy makers and stakeholders to manage the environment and its resources more effectively through an integrated approach. For example, it can help decision-makers to consider interactions between different sectors (water, energy, food, ecosystems, health) and how those interactions may result in constraints or opportunities for sustainable development. It can also help to identify potential trade-offs between different sectors and ways to optimize resource use.
Citizen Engagement
Citizen engagement is the involvement of citizens in civic processes, such as decision-making, policymaking and community issue resolution. It involves citizens participating in democratic processes, such as voting, petitioning, and advocacy to influence the outcome of an issue. It also includes more direct participatory activities such as neighborhood meetings, engagement with local government, and collaborative media projects resulting in the necessary advance, supported by a strong Capacity
Development Programme of long-term citizen science
Citizen science is a term used to describe scientific research projects or activities which are conducted, in whole or in part, by volunteers who are not professional scientists. Citizen science projects often involve collecting and submitting data for use in research conducted by professional scientists. This type of research has grown significantly in recent years and is now used by researchers in many different fields of science, including biology, astronomy, geology and ecology. In the case of the WWQA, there is a strong emphasis of the subsequent co-creation and co-implementation of local policies by society as whole, represented by the Quintuple Helix. The Quintuple Helix is a model for developing networks, collaborations, and partnerships that involve all five elements of a healthy innovation ecosystem, including: Governments and political agencies, academia and research, industry representatives, civil society, and citizens. It has been proposed as a key model for transitioning towards circular economies and the development of sustainable communities. It has been described as “a solution-oriented approach to sustainable development, in which all necessary players are considered and connected, with the aim of achieving breakthrough achievements”.
Inter-regional science-sustainability diplomacy
Science diplomacy is the use of science and technology to help build bridges between countries and to enhance international cooperation. It is an international diplomatic tool to address a variety of issues, such as global health, climate change, sustainable development, biodiversity, and energy security. It can benefit all countries in a variety of ways, including fostering economic growth, aiding in foreign development, strengthening educational ties, and promoting scientific research and collaboration.
An efficient Emergency Response Capacity
Emergency response capacity refers to the capabilities, resources, and methods of a community, organization, or individual to respond to a water-based crisis or emergency. This involves having the appropriate personnel, resources, and training in place to meet the needs of the situation. It also involves developing a system for communicating appropriate information in a timely manner to those affected. Emergency response capacity should prioritize the safety of those involved and attempt to minimize the impact of the crisis.
The 16 Workstreams of the World Water Quality Alliance
The pillars of the WWQA are achieved through the work of the 16 workstreams of the alliance, with the support of UNEP, UN-Country Teams, Regional Economic Commissions, UNEP accredited organizations and National Delegations, among others, to communicate, disseminate and replicate the co-created solutions for a subsequent wider scaling.
The future adjustment and development of tasks and workstreams are subject to the decisions of the members of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Committees (including representatives of principal supranational entities such the World Bank, UNESCO, the European Commission and the OECD) under the supervision and promotion of the WWQA Coordination Team. The decisions reflect and will reflect both the priorities and the expertise of the partner entities as well as the Resolutions of UNEA (e.g., lakes) and the Medium-Term Strategies (MTS) of UNEP.
The 16 WWQA Workstreams are as follows. Click on the workstream to learn more about an individual workstream.
- Baseline World Water Quality Assessment
- Ecosystems
- Friends of Groundwater
- Global Scenarios Ecosystem Health
- Capacity Development Consortium
- Citizen Science for SDG 6.3.2
- Africa Use Case
- Water-ForCE
- Towards an African Water Quality Program (AWaQ)
- GlobeWQ STI Platform development
- Scenario Analysis for World Water Quality Assessment
- Global Wastewater Initiative
- Global Environment Monitoring System for Freshwater
- Plastics
- Social Engagement Platform
- Youth
The YEMAYA
The World Water Quality Alliance has launched a monthly newsletter entitled Yemaya named after the ancient African goddess of the ocean and motherhood. She is associated with fertility, femininity, protection, healing, and childbirth. Often symbolized as a water creature, her domains include the seas, rivers, and lakes. She is honoured and revered in the African diaspora, particularly in Cuba, Haiti, Brazil, and the United States.
The World Water Quality Alliance is convened by the United Nations Environment Programme and supported by the Swiss Confederation. It proudly presents its monthly newsletter, YEMAYA, named …
We welcome articles about anything related to water quality. Tell us your experiences. Describe the challenges you and your people face. Talk to our global community, talk to people from around the World. Send your articles to wwqa-coordination@un.org
