SDG 6 Capacity Development Initiative

The UN-Water SDG 6 Capacity Development Initiative is the inter-agency coordination platform on freshwater, sanitation, and hygiene-related capacity development work. The Initiative enables the United Nations system and its multi-stakeholder partners to 'deliver as one' in supporting countries to develop capacities to accelerate progress towards SDG 6.

The Initiative responds to countries’ specific capacity development needs by facilitating support from the United Nations system and other development partners at various levels of operation.

The SDG 6 Capacity Development Initiative has four main objectives:

1. Provide a coordinated entry point for countries requesting UN-Water’s support to identify capacity gaps hindering the implementation of SDG 6. 
2. Support countries in undertaking a capacity gap assessment through inter-sectoral/inter-ministerial and multi-stakeholder approaches. 
3. Facilitate access to capacity development support from UN-Water Members and Partners, tailoring them as needed, and ensuring follow-up of capacity development activities. 
4. Raise awareness of the indispensable role that water and sanitation play within sustainable development, in particular for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and for the realization of all human rights, and of the importance of involving other key stakeholders in capacity development efforts, such as civil society, academia, the private sector, local government, technicians and operators, including those in the informal sector.

The Initiative was established in March 2021 and is coordinated by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).