Operational Strategy

U.S. Global Water Strategy

U.S. Government

The U.S. Global Water Strategy envisions a water-secure world, where people and nations have the water they need to be healthy, prosperous, and resilient.

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To advance the Global Water Strategy, the U.S. Government will work with partner countries and key stakeholders to achieve four interrelated objectives. These objectives include: increasing access to sustainable safe drinking water and sanitation services and promoting key hygiene behaviors; protecting freshwater resources; promoting cooperation on shared waters; and strengthening water governance and financing.

The Strategy is required by the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, and reflects contributions from more than 17 U.S. Government agencies and departments.

USAID Water and Development Plan

USAID developed an agency-specific plan (the “Water and Development Plan”) in conjunction with the whole-of-government Global Water Strategy.  It provides a framework for USAID’s contribution to the U.S. government’s shared vision for a water-secure world, and links directly to the following strategic objectives in the Global Water Strategy:

  • Promote sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, and the adoption of key hygiene behaviors
  • Encourage the sound management and protection of freshwater resources
  • Strengthen water sector governance, financing, and institutions

This contribution is aligned with and complementary to other USAID investments across development sectors that promote water security. 

Aligned with the requirements in the Water for the World Act of 2014, USAID has identified 21 high priority countries. These countries are the primary focus of the U.S. government’s investments to build a more water-secure world amid ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis, and conflict. View the list of countries below and check out their pages on Globalwaters.org.

Strategic priority countries are countries where USAID anticipates funding continued water and sanitation programs due to a combination of strategic considerations and water-related development needs. USAID has classified three strategic-priority countries and regions, given a combination of national security considerations and development needs. 

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Water