Water - Knowledge & Learning

The World Bank helps countries develop, share, and apply global and local knowledge to meet their water challenges. The extensive knowledge base it has built, from decades of practical experience and analytical studies, is used to shape the design of operations and policy advice to clients. The Bank’s analytical work helps staff and clients to adapt general principles to specific circumstances.

Many observers perceive the Bank to have a major comparative advantage in the water sectors: (1) as water challenges grow in scale and complexity, the Bank is among the few institutions that can provide integrated support across the macroeconomic, financial, technical, social, and environmental dimensions; (2) borrowers point to the Bank’s unique performance and knowledge, convening power, relations with almost all riparian countries, combination of knowledge and financial resources, and ability to integrate its engagement, working at all scales.

World Bank analytical work on water covers such areas as utility performance , climate adaptation , pollution management , basic sanitation , irrigation management , transboundary water issues , and the economics of water resources . Staff have expertise in water-related public administration, legal frameworks, public participation, and environmental safeguards. The number of water-related analytical and advisory studies has risen in line with lending in recent years. These studies increasingly address cross-sectoral issues—such as community participation, local government reform, public sector reform, and capacity building—while also more effectively integrating water issues into country and regional studies.

Since the mid-1990s, the Bank has made a concerted effort to share its global knowledge and experiences with the broader water community. One aspect of this work is the preparation and dissemination of publications, technical and discussion papers, and good practice guidance notes. The Bank has also created links between groups and communities working on similar topics through partnership activities and learning programs, and through the World Bank Institute it provides learning programs on water-related topics.

The World Bank's water practice engages through multiple entry points

Policy Advice: The Bank provides advice on water-related policies and programs through analytical and advisory work and policy dialogue.

Capacity Building: Country-driven agendas have led to a parallel emphasis on learning and capacity building for groups and individuals to strengthen the organizations in which they work.

Working with Partners: The World Bank increasingly works with partners from multilateral and bilateral agencies, but also agencies within civil society and the private sector at the global, regional, and country levels.