Free Flow

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ater

ducation

and

nstitutional

evelopment

International Water Management Institute. SUWA

facilitates improved capacities among stakeholders,

decision makers and experts by creating a common

platform for the exchange of knowledge and experi-

ence.

The aim of the project is to address issues related

to wastewater use in agriculture with a sustainable,

effective and less risky approach, to formulate a

capacity development action plan, and to dissemi-

nate training materials and learning methods at the

country level. To ensure success and sustainability for

water cooperation schemes, a common understanding

of the needs and challenges surrounding the issue of

wastewater is required. Implementing SUWA entails

multidimensional cooperation and concerted efforts

from various disciplines.

The level of cooperation required to execute a project

like SUWA is considerable, not only between the part-

ners involved at the United Nations level, but also

between those at the national level. Indeed, address-

ing wastewater use in a safe and productive way for

agriculture necessarily involves many partners and

stakeholders who need to be engaged in the deci-

sion-making process, across a range of sectors. It also

requires different levels of cooperation between policy-

makers, communities and water use associations.

Cooperation in SUWA: levels and dimensions

Capacity development in SUWA is understood as “the

process through which relevant stakeholders, especially

those from sanitation, agriculture, environment and

Two capacity development projects of UN-Water demonstrate

the educational and capacity building aspects of water coopera-

tion. In doing so, they highlight the importance of collaborating

at different levels and the varied forms of cooperation needed in

the water sector.

Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture

Competition for water and the growing focus on food security, espe-

cially in urban and peri-urban areas, are increasing the pressure

on (fresh)water resources exponentially. Wastewater is a resource

which can, when used safely, alleviate this pressure. But to make

use of it safely, national policies and strategies need to be in place.

Despite an interest in using certain wastewaters in agriculture, many

nations have difficulties implementing the available guidelines and

developing the right strategies. At the same time, it is clear that there

is a large amount of unknown (or unreported) use of wastewater

in countries which might not understand the potential health and

environmental risks associated with it.

UNW-DPC, under the auspices of UN-Water, is addressing

this issue by bundling the competences and experiences of its

members and partners, entering into an intense dialogue with

countries from around the world. The Safe Use of Wastewater

in Agriculture (SUWA) project brings together and facilitates

cooperation among experts from six UN-Water members and

partners from different fields including agriculture, water treat-

ment, irrigation, health, environment and related themes. The six

entities involved are the World Health Organization, the Food

and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the

United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations

University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, the

International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, and the

Addressing wastewater use in a safe and productive way for agriculture involves

many partners and stakeholders

Image: UNU-UNW-DPC

Wastewater use in agriculture may be planned or unplanned – its

safe use requires capacity development and education

Image: IRRI