This proposal responds to a global water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) crisis rooted less in physical scarcity than in structural inequalities, weak governance, chronic underinvestment, as well as a growing corporate water footprint. Service delivery systems are often fragile, underfunded and poorly regulated, with high non-functionality, low efficiency and declining water quality. Despite progress, 2.1 billion people still lacked access to safely managed drinking water coverage in 2024, 1.7 billion people lacked basic hygiene facilities, and 42% remained unserved by safely managed sanitation services. Yet, inadequate WASH is a leading cause of preventable disease and mortality, especially among children, while also imposing major economic losses, reinforcing poverty traps, exacerbating gender inequality and degrading ecosystems. In response, this proposal advances a comprehensive, human rights–based governance framework centred on legal recognition of the rights to water and sanitation, combined with coordinated reforms across financing, regulation, service delivery, monitoring and planning. Key instruments include prioritizing public investment for underserved areas, strengthening independent regulation, promoting decentralized and participatory governance, ensuring affordability, and integrating climate resilience and ecosystem protection. Many of these instruments are already implemented in various contexts —such as constitutional recognition of water rights in several countries, or country wide programs for accelerated access to basic services— demonstrating that the approach is both practical and scalable when supported by political commitment and institutional capacity. Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand achieved impressive sanitation coverage in just a few decades, despite their low-income status when they began these reforms, signalling the possibility of driving this agenda anywhere if there is sufficient political will. This proposal ensures that basic needs are met and rights fulfilled before economic uses of water. It embeds principles of participation and accountability, giving citizens a greater role in decision-making. It expands fiscal space through more efficient and equitable allocation of resources, highlighting the high returns of WASH investments. By promoting sustainable water use, pollution control and ecosystem restoration, it reduces ecological pressure and supports long-term resilience. Ultimately, it unlocks substantial health, economic and social benefits, including reduced mortality, increased productivity and enhanced gender equality.
