The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) has released Version 3.0 of the International Water Stewardship Standard on 18 March 2026. The updated version places greater emphasis on multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) providing a practical framework for those working on water issues collectively and across supply chains.

The Standard is built around a catchment-based approach: rather than managing water risks in isolation, it brings together companies, governments, civil society and local communities. For MSPs that exist precisely to organise this kind of collaboration, V3.0 offers a shared foundation – from assessing impacts and dependencies through to joint action and independent certification.

Developed through extensive international consultation, the new version is more practical, more scalable and better aligned with current sustainability and reporting requirements.

To mark the launch, AWS is hosting a virtual event on 25 March 2026. Further information and the full standard are available on the AWS website.

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