This report shows the progress made on meeting the target to "develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries, through actions at all levels" agreed upon at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002, through the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPol). The report is based on a survey covering 104 countries, of which 77 are developing or countries in transition and 27 are developed (OECD and EU member states). The report also includes information gathered by the more informal surveys conducted earlier by the Global Water Partnership and the African Development Bank.
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- Developed countries have advanced on almost all major issues, however, there is still much room for further improvement.
- Developing countries have displayed some recent improvement in the IWRM planning process at national levels, but much more needs to be done to implement the plans. Case studies in the report illustrate the benefits in implementing plans that have adopted the IWRM approach.
- Many countries consider that plans that follow an IWRM approach automatically also include water efficiency measures.
- A great amount of effort has gone into the development of a set of indicators that meet the requirements of being specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, realistic and timely (SMART) but more work is required.
- Recommendations include: putting greater emphasis on countries that need to prioritize the development of IWRM and water efficiency measures, implementing policies and plans once developed, creating roadmaps and financing strategies, and monitoring and implementing global mechanisms while providing updated progress on the IWRM approach.