The state of water supply and sanitation access and services strongly influences human and economic development. Sustainable Development Goal 6 seeks to “ensure access to water and sanitation for all” by 2030. In moving toward the attainment of SDG6, many World Bank Group client countries face a difficult challenge in covering their large gaps in access to improved water and sanitation services while also improving service delivery. The higher performance benchmarks of SDG 6 will need an investment estimated at $1.7 trillion in the next 15 years, which is three times historic levels—a difficult gap for many World Bank client countries to address given the sector’s poor cost recovery record, dependence on public funds, and low and uncertain fiscal transfers.

This event featured findings from IEG’s report – A Thirst for Change: An Evaluation of the World Bank Group’s Support for Water Supply and Sanitation with Focus on the Poor. Following a presentation on the report’s key findings, experts from academia, the private sector, and the World Bank Group discussed the report’s implications for improving access to adequate, reliable, and sustained water and sanitation services in client countries. The discussion included an examination of how well the Bank Group is equipped to support countries in moving toward SDG 6 with a particular focus on the financial viability and accountability of service providers.

Watch the re-play of the live event

 Keep the conversation going on twitter at #Goal6

Read A Thirst for Change: An Evaluation of the World Bank Group’s Support for Water Supply and Sanitation with Focus on the Poor

View the presentation

View the infographic: A Thirst for Change