SDG Indicator 6.b.1 | Sustainable developments Goals

SDG Indicator 6.b.1: Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

1. Key features and metadata

Definition: This indicator assesses the percentage of local administrative units (as defined by the national government) that have an established and operational mechanism by which individuals and communities can meaningfully contribute to decisions and directions about water and sanitation management.

Sub-indicator	Disaggregated by
ER_H2O_PARTIC Proportion of countries with high level of users/communities participating in planning programs in rural drinking-water supply (%)	Location (rural)
ER_H2O_PROCED Proportion of countries with clearly defined procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in rural drinking-water supply (%)
ER_H2O_RURP Countries with users/communities participating in planning programs in rural drinking-water supply, by level of participation (3 = High; 2 = Moderate; 1 = Low; 0 = NA)
ER_H2O_PRDU Countries with procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in rural drinking-water supply, by level of definition in procedures (10 = Clearly defined; 5 = Not clearly defined ; 0 = NA)
ER_WAT_PROCED Proportion of countries with clearly defined procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in water resources planning and management (%)	No current data disaggregation available.
ER_WAT_PART Countries with users/communities participating in planning programs in water resources planning and management, by level of participation (3 = High; 2 = Moderate; 1 = Low; 0 = NA)
ER_WAT_PARTIC Proportion of countries with high level of users/communities participating in planning programs in water resources planning and management (%)
ER_WAT_PRDU Countries with procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in water resources planning and management, by level of definition in procedures (10 = Clearly defined; 5 = Not clearly defined ; 0 = NA)

Sub-indicator

Disaggregated by

ER_H2O_PARTIC

Proportion of countries with high level of users/communities participating in planning programs in rural drinking-water supply (%)

Location (rural)

ER_H2O_PROCED

Proportion of countries with clearly defined procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in rural drinking-water supply (%)

ER_H2O_RURP

Countries with users/communities participating in planning programs in rural drinking-water supply, by level of participation (3 = High; 2 = Moderate; 1 = Low; 0 = NA)

ER_H2O_PRDU

Countries with procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in rural drinking-water supply, by level of definition in procedures (10 = Clearly defined; 5 = Not clearly defined ; 0 = NA)

ER_WAT_PROCED

Proportion of countries with clearly defined procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in water resources planning and management (%)

No current data disaggregation available.

ER_WAT_PART

Countries with users/communities participating in planning programs in water resources planning and management, by level of participation (3 = High; 2 = Moderate; 1 = Low; 0 = NA)

ER_WAT_PARTIC

Proportion of countries with high level of users/communities participating in planning programs in water resources planning and management (%)

ER_WAT_PRDU

Countries with procedures in law or policy for participation by service users/communities in planning program in water resources planning and management, by level of definition in procedures (10 = Clearly defined; 5 = Not clearly defined ; 0 = NA)

Sources of information: Line ministries with responsibilities related to water supply and sanitation, water resources development and management and the environment.

Related SDG Indicators: 6.1.1 (Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services), 6.2.1 (Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water), 6.3.1 (Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated), 6.4.1 (Change in water-use efficiency over time), and 6.5.1 (Degree of integrated water resources management).

2. Data availability by region, SDG Global Database, as of 02 July 2025

Figure 3.16 Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

3. Proposed disaggregation, links to policymaking and its impact

Proposed disaggregation	Link to policymaking	Impact
Countries with procedures in law or policy for participation by users/communities disaggregated by sub-sector, and by location (10 = Clearly defined; 5 = Not clearly defined; 0 = NA)(UN-Water 2021): Drinking water (Urban/Rural) Sanitation (Urban/Rural) Hygiene promotion (National) Water resources planning and management (National) Applies to: ER_WAT_PRDU ER_H2O_PRDU	This disaggregation highlights the extent to which laws or policies encourage community participation in water and sanitation management and whether contributions are meaningful for management decisions. It provides useful information to remediate the gaps in existing participation mechanisms, which are key to improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services(WHO 2022a). This disaggregation is in line with the UN General Assembly Resolution, recognizing access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a distinct human right(UNGA 2016a).It alsocontributes to the UN Water Action Decade (UNGA 2017b) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework(UN-Water 2020).	Effective stakeholder participation in water affairs is central for ensuring the sustainability of water and sanitation systems and delivery in so far as it allows for a better understanding of stakeholder needs and requirements, including vulnerable populations. It is also essential for identifying the most suitable measures and investments to meet those needs according to the local circumstances (e.g. the status of water resources, types of human settlements and uses or ecological needs for water) and the available means of intervention (e.g. capacity, finance or technology). It fosters ownership and greater adherence of the population to water policy development and investments, promotes local knowledge and expertise and encourages user engagement in water management activities. Ensuring effective legal and institutional frameworks and operational participation mechanisms is needed at national, basin and local levels to support a cooperative water management approach as part of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Greater and more active participation helps to address the needs of underserved communities that do not have equitable access to WASH services and are left behind (e.g. the poor, elderly populations, ethnic minorities, disabled groups, and internally displaced persons) and to close existing gaps. This is expected to be accompanied with equitable plans, targeted investments and appropriate financial schemes to support those populations(UN 2022a; WHO 2022a).
Countries with users/communities participating in planning programs by sub-sector, and by location (3 = High; 2 = Moderate; 1 = Low; 0 = NA)(UN-Water 2021): Drinking water (Urban/Rural) Sanitation (Urban/Rural) Hygiene promotion (National) Water resources planning and management (National) Applies to: ER_WAT_PART ER_H2O_RURP	This disaggregation highlights the extent to which the existing institutional framework and practical participation mechanisms encourage community involvement in water and sanitation management and whether contributions are meaningful for management decisions. It provides useful information to remediate the lack or weaknesses of local participatory mechanisms in WASH decisions. Measures can encompass attendance in regular fora or community groups, better access to information and feedback systems or mechanisms to address conflicts between water users or between water users and providers(WHO 2022a). This disaggregation is in line with the UN General Assembly Resolution, recognizing access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a distinct human right(UNGA 2016a). It alsocontributes to the UN Water Action Decade(UNGA 2017b) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework(UN-Water 2020).

Proposed disaggregation

Link to policymaking

Impact

Countries with procedures in law or policy for participation by users/communities disaggregated by sub-sector, and by location (10 = Clearly defined; 5 = Not clearly defined; 0 = NA)(UN-Water 2021):

Drinking water (Urban/Rural)
Sanitation (Urban/Rural)
Hygiene promotion (National)
Water resources planning and management (National)

Applies to:

ER_WAT_PRDU
ER_H2O_PRDU

This disaggregation highlights the extent to which laws or policies encourage community participation in water and sanitation management and whether contributions are meaningful for management decisions. It provides useful information to remediate the gaps in existing participation mechanisms, which are key to improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services(WHO 2022a).

This disaggregation is in line with the UN General Assembly Resolution, recognizing access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a distinct human right(UNGA 2016a).It alsocontributes to the UN Water Action Decade (UNGA 2017b) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework(UN-Water 2020).

Effective stakeholder participation in water affairs is central for ensuring the sustainability of water and sanitation systems and delivery in so far as it allows for a better understanding of stakeholder needs and requirements, including vulnerable populations. It is also essential for identifying the most suitable measures and investments to meet those needs according to the local circumstances (e.g. the status of water resources, types of human settlements and uses or ecological needs for water) and the available means of intervention (e.g. capacity, finance or technology). It fosters ownership and greater adherence of the population to water policy development and investments, promotes local knowledge and expertise and encourages user engagement in water management activities.

Ensuring effective legal and institutional frameworks and operational participation mechanisms is needed at national, basin and local levels to support a cooperative water management approach as part of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

Greater and more active participation helps to address the needs of underserved communities that do not have equitable access to WASH services and are left behind (e.g. the poor, elderly populations, ethnic minorities, disabled groups, and internally displaced persons) and to close existing gaps. This is expected to be accompanied with equitable plans, targeted investments and appropriate financial schemes to support those populations(UN 2022a; WHO 2022a).

Countries with users/communities participating in planning programs by sub-sector, and by location (3 = High; 2 = Moderate; 1 = Low; 0 = NA)(UN-Water 2021):

Drinking water (Urban/Rural)
Sanitation (Urban/Rural)
Hygiene promotion (National)
Water resources planning and management (National)

Applies to:

ER_WAT_PART
ER_H2O_RURP

This disaggregation highlights the extent to which the existing institutional framework and practical participation mechanisms encourage community involvement in water and sanitation management and whether contributions are meaningful for management decisions. It provides useful information to remediate the lack or weaknesses of local participatory mechanisms in WASH decisions. Measures can encompass attendance in regular fora or community groups, better access to information and feedback systems or mechanisms to address conflicts between water users or between water users and providers(WHO 2022a).

This disaggregation is in line with the UN General Assembly Resolution, recognizing access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a distinct human right(UNGA 2016a). It alsocontributes to the UN Water Action Decade(UNGA 2017b) and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework(UN-Water 2020).