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Country Acceleration Case Studies
To accelerate the achievement of SDG 6 targets as part of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, UN-Water is developing SDG 6 Country Acceleration Case Studies to explore countries’ pathways to achieving accelerated progress on SDG 6 at the national level. The case studies document replicable good practices for achieving the SDG 6 targets as well as look at how progress can be accelerated across SDG 6 targets in a country.
Three countries are selected every year, starting in 2022. The selection of the case study countries is based on country progress reporting on the SDG 6 global indicators. The case studies highlight achievements and describe processes, enabling conditions and key lessons learned in countries selected for their progress on SDG 6. For 2024, selected countries for case studies are Cambodia, Czechia and Jordan.
Read about how Jordan significantly improved access to safely managed drinking services in the face of water scarcity.
Executive summary
Despite a context of water scarcity and an influx of refugees, Jordan has seen the fastest improvement in coverage of safely managed drinking water services in Western Asia and is on track to achieve the corresponding SDG 6 target. At the same time, Jordan has also made significant progress in sanitation, water quality and integrated water resources management. Few countries have shown such commitment to increase the water use efficiency of irrigation and the reuse of treated wastewater.
The key factors and drivers identified so far include:
- There are high levels of government commitment. Supported by the highest level of government, regularly updated national strategies provide overall guidance to the sector.
- Water-efficient agriculture is widespread. Solutions such as the use of less water-intensive crops, drip irrigation, and precision fertigation, together with water, as well as drainage water reuse, have been successfully piloted and deployed.
- There has been heavy investment in the reuse of treated wastewater. Over 30 plants produce treated wastewater which is mixed with freshwater and reused, mostly for irrigation purposes.
- Technical cooperation has been mobilized at all levels. Jordan received support and technology transfer from development partners at all levels, from national authorities to local communities.
- There has been massive investment in water infrastructure. Jordan’s Water Strategy 2009-2022 planned investments of more than 8 billion USD with donor support.
- The government provides high levels of targeted subsidies. Overall, government subsidies represent more than half of the cost of water provision for both irrigation and domestic uses.
- There are coping mechanisms for limited and intermittent water supply. Households, farmers and businesses have installed water storage tanks and are investing in water treatment, reuse and rainwater harvesting.
- Non-piped solutions are regulated. A well-regulated system of tankers is helping households and farmers cope with water scarcity in efficient ways.
- The institutional framework has been reformed. A decentralization process was implemented, with the establishment of three water utilities.
- Transboundary cooperation is institutionalized. Jordan has reached agreements on water sharing rights with Israel, Syria and a Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Arabia.
- Investment in water-related education and research is high. There are several research centres. Students can pursue degrees in water engineering, hydrology and environmental science.