Abandoning Market-Driven Models: UN Expert Calls for Democratic Governance of Water

Strategic Insights -

The global water governance system is in crisis, said Pedro Arrojo Agudo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, in a report to the UN General Assembly. Arrojo Agudo argues that the current market-driven approach has failed to address the root causes of the crisis, which is not a scarcity of water but a democratic crisis affecting billions of people worldwide. He calls for a paradigm shift, recognising water as a common good essential to life, dignity, and social cohesion, and governed through democratic principles of equality, non-discrimination, participation, accountability, sustainability, and legality.

Key Takeaways:

  • The current market-driven model of water governance is failing to address the root causes of the water crisis, which is a democratic crisis affecting billions of people.
  • The commodification and privatisation of water undermine human rights and environmental sustainability, and financialisation strategies such as public-private partnerships and speculative water markets put human rights at risk.
  • The report calls for the recognition of customary and Indigenous water tenure and the empowerment of communities, especially women, as central actors in water management.
  • Democratic governance of water must be participatory and non-discriminatory, promoting the equal participation of women and respecting the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and peasants.
  • The report advocates for a 'water transition' to complement energy transition strategies, including restoring aquatic ecosystems, protecting aquifers and wetlands, and implementing inclusive hydrological and urban planning.
  • Aquifers are vital for managing droughts and floods, and storing 30 times more water than surface flows.
  • Targeted public subsidies and soft financing mechanisms are needed to ensure affordability and sustainability, especially in rural and impoverished areas.

Statistics:

  • Billions of people are affected by the democratic crisis in water governance.
  • The market-driven model of water governance prioritises the interests of powerful corporations over the needs of local communities.
  • Financialisation strategies, such as public-private partnerships and speculative water markets, put human rights at risk.
  • Aquifers store 30 times more water than surface flows.
  • Targeted public subsidies and soft financing mechanisms are needed to ensure affordability and sustainability of water services in rural and impoverished areas.

Sources:

  • UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo Agudo (2025, as reported by Wam)