The World Bank Group, in partnership with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and key partners, has launched Water Forward, a global platform to help improve water security for 1bn people by 2030. The platform will align policy reforms, financing, and partnerships to expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods, essential conditions for job creation.

Water underpins health, food systems, energy, and an estimated 1.7bn jobs worldwide; yet 4bn people experience water scarcity. In many countries, unclear policies, weak regulations, and financially unsustainable utilities have slowed progress and deterred investment in the sector. Water Forward aims to address these challenges by helping developing countries build stronger, more reliable water systems that can unlock productivity, support livelihoods, and enable private investment. The initiative will support reforms to strengthen institutions, improve financial performance, and develop investment-ready projects.

At the core of the initiative are country-led water compacts, through which governments define reform priorities, commit to strengthening institutions, and establish investment pathways for their water sectors. Today, 14 countries announced their national water compact under the Water Forward initiative, and many more are underway.

Multilateral development banks, governments, philanthropies, and private sector actors are aligning financing and expertise to speed investment and implementation of projects that will boost reliable access to water. The World Bank Group is committed to delivering water security to 400m by 2030. With its additional partner commitments, Water Forward expects to reach more than 1bn people.