The CEO Water Mandate works with a wide range of government, UN agency, and civil society partners to strengthen its research and guidance and to help ensure its work is implemented meaningfully on the ground. These partners have been critical in developing and spreading water stewardship practice around the world. In some cases, these partners are critical members of Mandate project teams. In other cases, the Mandate Secretariat serves on these initiatives’ governance boards or they serve as special advisors to the Mandate’s Steering Committee. Here we describe these important partners and their work.
Alliance for Water Stewardship
Governance partners, Project partner
The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) is a multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to enhancing water stewardship capacity, and guiding, incentivizing and differentiating responsible water use. AWS employs three mutually-reinforcing programs to drive improved water stewardship: a standard and verification system, membership of a multi-stakeholder association, and training. Together, these programs are designed to build capacity and provide a forum through which knowledge on water stewardship can be generated, accessed and shared, helping us to address our shared water challenges. At the heart of all three programs is the stakeholder-endorsed AWS Standard.
CDP
Project partner
CDP uses the power of measurement and information disclosure to improve the management of environmental risk. By leveraging market forces including shareholders, customers and governments, CDP has incentivized thousands of companies and cities across the world’s largest economies to measure and disclose their environmental information. We put this information at the heart of business, investment and policy decision making.
Ceres
Project partner
Ceres is a nonprofit organization mobilizing business and investor leadership on climate change, water scarcity and other sustainability challenges. Ceres directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a network of over 100 institutional investors with collective assets totaling more than $13 trillion. For more information, visit www.ceres.org or follow Ceres on Twitter @CeresNews and @ValueEveryDrop.
GIZ
Project partner
GIZ offers customized solutions to complex challenges. We are an experienced service provider and assist the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation. We offer demand-driven, tailor-made and effective services for sustainable development.
International Water Stewardship Programme (IWaSP)
Project partner
Working alongside public bodies, enterprises and civil society, the International Water Stewardship Programme identifies measures aimed at reducing shared water risks. The programme initiates and sets up partnerships between the three different types of stakeholders, and coordinates these with the support of GIZ bilateral and regional water programmes.
The Nature Conservancy
Project partner
The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Its vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.
Pegasys
Project partner
PEGASYS is a multidisciplinary strategic management consulting group specializing in emerging economies. PEGASYS has an extensive track record across Africa, coupled with a global profile through our staff of international experts and a growing presence in the developing world. We are a trusted advisor on climate change, green growth, resilient economies, low-carbon development, natural resources management (particularly in the water sector), sustainable transport, and public infrastructure. The team at PEGASYS bring to clients our expertise involving intellectual, technical, financial, policy, legal, and institutional skill-sets, especially within the context of the public and private sectors in the rapidly changing African setting. At its core, PEGASYS provides consultancy and advisory services across the development value chain: thought leadership, scenario planning, policy and legislation, strategy, financial structuring, institutional structuring, business planning, implementation support, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building.
Ross Strategic
Project partner
Ross Strategic is dedicated to tackling environmental, public health, transportation, energy, and natural resource challenges. Our clients – public institutions, private business, not-for-profit organizations, and foundations – turn to us for our ability to use ideas and information to shape strategy, design programs and policies, and evaluate performance. We have a reputation for responsive, insightful, and well-crafted advice that helps today’s environmental and natural resource organizations face the opportunities presented by these challenges.
Shift
Project partner
Shift is the leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Founded in 2011, Shift’s team of experts works globally with businesses, governments, civil society and international organizations to embed the Guiding Principles into practice.
Shift was established following the unanimous endorsement of the Guiding Principles by the UN Human Rights Council, which marked the successful conclusion of the mandate of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie. Our team was centrally involved in shaping and writing the UN Guiding Principles, and Professor Ruggie is Chair of our Board of Trustees.
Stockholm International Water Institute
Event partner
SIWI is a water institute that leverages knowledge and convening power to strengthen water governance for a just, prosperous, and sustainable future. SIWI focuses on a range of research and development topics within and around water that support decision-makers around the world. World Water Week, an expansion of Stockholm Water Symposium, is today the world’s leading annual water event, the Stockholm Water Prize the most prestigious water award, and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize fosters future generations of water excellence.
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Project partner
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is the agency for international cooperation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The SDC is responsible for the overall coordination with other federal authorities of development and cooperation with Eastern Europe as well as for humanitarian aid delivered by the Swiss Confederation.
Swiss international cooperation, which is an integral part of the Federal Council’s foreign policy, aims to contribute to a world without poverty and in peace, for sustainable development. It fosters economic self-reliance and state autonomy, contributes to the improvement of production conditions, helps address environmental problems, and ensures better access to education and basic healthcare services.
UN Development Programme
Special Advisors to CEO Water Mandate Steering Committee
UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.
UN Environment Programme
Project Partner
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the voice for the environment in the UN system. Established in 1972, UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNEP is an advocate, educator, catalyst and facilitator promoting the wise use of the planet’s natural assets for sustainable development. It works with many partners, UN entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, business, industry, the media and civil society. UNEP’s work involves providing support for: environmental assessment and reporting; legal and institutional strengthening and environmental policy development; sustainable use and management of natural resources; integration of economic development and environmental protection; and promoting public participation in environmental management.
UN-Water
Project Partner
UN-Water is the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater and sanitation related matters.
Building on a long history of coordination in the UN System, UN-Water was formalized in 2003 by the United Nations High Level Committee on Programmes. It provides the platform to address the cross-cutting nature of water and maximize system-wide coordinated action and coherence. UN-Water promotes coherence in, and coordination of, UN system actions aimed at the implementation of the agenda defined by the Millennium Declaration and the World Summit on Sustainable Development as it relates to its scope of work. Through UN-Water the United Nations act as “One UN”.
The scope of UN-Water’s work encompasses all aspects of freshwater, including surface and groundwater resources and the interface between fresh and sea water.
Water Footprint Network
Project Partner
Water Footprint Network provides science-based, practical solutions and strategic insights that empower companies, governments, small-scale producers and individuals to transform the way we use and share fresh water within earth’s limits.
Founded in 2008 by the University of Twente, WWF, UNESCO-IHE, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, International Finance Corporation, Netherlands Water Partnership and Water Neutral Foundation, we are a dynamic, international learning community.
Water Witness International
Project Partner
Water Witness International is a charity which works to improve the way that rivers, streams, lakes and aquifers in developing countries are managed. We carry out targeted research and advocacy, and take action to deepen understanding, share knowledge and ensure accountability to advance an equitable and sustainable water future for all.
World Resources Institute
Project partner
World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries, with offices in Brazil, China, Europe,India, Indonesia, and the United States. Our more than 450 experts and staff work closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action to sustain our natural resources—the foundation of economic opportunity and human well-being.
WWF
Project partner
WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment, and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.