Securing water through the power of multi-stakeholder action

The most pressing global risks over the next decade are environmental – and all closely linked to water. Extreme weather, biodiversity loss, critical changes to Earth’s systems, and natural resource shortages top the list of concerns, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025. These risks underscore the need for long-term strategies to safeguard ecosystems, secure resources, and build resilience.

Yet, these risks do not exist in isolation. Misinformation and disinformation rank among the most pressing short-term risks, eroding trust in governance and complicating efforts to address shared crises. Water management is no exception – securing water is not just about scarcity, pollution, or infrastructure, but about governance and cooperation. The challenge lies not only in ensuring water access but in aligning efforts across users, providers, and regulators, to manage it effectively.

The 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) offers an example of how multi-stakeholder collaboration builds trust, coordinates priorities, and turns commitments into action on water security. Established at Davos in 2008 by the World Economic Forum and now housed at the World Bank, WRG convenes governments, businesses, and civil society to develop scalable water solutions. Through structured multi-stakeholder platforms, WRG has engaged over 1,000 partners across 13 countries, creating a neutral space for decision-makers to develop shared solutions.

These partnerships have supported breakthrough initiatives such as the first public-private partnerships for municipal wastewater treatment in the Ganga Basin, a new legal framework for pollution management and water reuse in Mongolia, and an irrigation financing facility for East Africa. With more than a decade of experience, WRG focuses on three areas where collaboration can accelerate impact: strengthening water resilience in food systems, securing urban water supplies, and scaling water reuse.

Agriculture consumes 70% of global freshwater, leaving food systems highly exposed to climate variability and resource constraints. Erratic rainfall, shifting growing seasons, and rising temperatures disrupt farm productivity and food supply chains, increasing food insecurity and market volatility.

Yet, shifting toward sustainable agricultural practices is not just about technology or financing – it requires policy reforms, market incentives, and private sector engagement.

In Uttar Pradesh, India, where agriculture uses two to three times more water per ton of food produced than the global average, WRG is helping scale water-efficient rice farming. Through the UP PRAGATI Accelerator, direct seeded rice, micro-irrigation, and alternate wetting and drying techniques are being expanded – cutting water use and methane emissions by up to 65%.

A $350 million World Bank-financed project is supporting this transition, alongside private sector investment through carbon credits and market incentives. These approaches are now being scaled through WRG’s Scaling Low-Methane Rice Initiative across South and East Asia, where rice farming remains a major water consumer and methane emitter.

One in three cities worldwide are at high risk related to water stress, however, gaps in governance, financing constraints, and uncoordinated planning often hinder long-term water security. Beyond securing water, cities must take proactive measures to prevent crises from escalating.

In cities like Cape Town, Bogotá, and Gauteng, WRG-supported platforms help integrate urban planning with investment strategies. By bringing together governments, utilities, businesses, and civil society, these platforms help cities diversify water sources, improve efficiency, and strengthen governance. By fostering collective action rather than isolated responses, these platforms help cities mitigate supply disruptions and economic shocks before they escalate into crises.

Water pollution is linked to 1.8 million deaths annually and $425 billion in business value at risk. Yet, despite growing pressure on freshwater resources, only 8% of industrial and domestic water withdrawals are treated for reuse. Expanding wastewater treatment requires more than financing – it depends on clear regulations, effective investment incentives, and strong public-private collaboration.

In Bangladesh, WRG is helping mobilize $450 million in public finance and $100 million in private investment through public-private partnerships to expand wastewater treatment services – reducing pollution, improving water quality, and benefiting up to 20 million people. By promoting shared responsibility, these efforts lessen reliance on public funds and demonstrate how structured collaboration can drive large-scale environmental and public health improvements.

At the global level, WRG is working with industry and policymakers to advance investment roadmaps and regulatory frameworks that make water reuse a core strategy for long-term water security.

The Global Risks Report 2025 highlights a world facing escalating environmental, economic, and social challenges. But the question is not whether solutions exist – it’s how quickly and effectively we can scale them. Public-private collaboration is no longer optional; it is the missing piece that makes large-scale water security possible.