Defining standards is one of the classic roles of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs). The MSP Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) is leading the way for this in the water sector, for example, with the development of the first ever global standard for responsible water management.
The AWS was able to showcase their work in a side event at the UN 2023 Water Conference. The presentation placed great emphasis on presenting the impressions of the MSP’s members. Representatives from the private sector as well as from civil society and government had their say.
The technology company Apple, for example, described how and why it is possible to assume leadership in an MSP, while the alcoholic beverage company Diageo reported on the benefits that a company can derive from membership in an MSP. The NGO WaterAid provided information on how to motivate companies to engage in responsible water management, among other topics.
The presentation of the Alliance for Water Stewardship is available online and is not only interesting for actors in the field of water, but provides exciting insights into the work of a large multi-stakeholder partnership. You can watch the recording of the entire side event here.
The Alliance for Water Stewardship is a multi-stakeholder partnership working to promote equitable, sustainable, and economically beneficial water use. AWS was founded in 2014 and is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Its many members include the GIZ and the WWF, as well as Aldi and Primark.