Talking Development | Securing Water for People, Food & the Planet

Why It Matters

By linking water security to job creation, food systems, and climate resilience, the World Bank’s strategy offers a scalable blueprint for sustainable development and economic growth worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• World Bank losing 200B cubic meters water annually, enough for 280M people
• Strategy targets water for people, food, and planet pillars
• Over 1.7 billion jobs depend on water-sensitive sectors worldwide
• Implementation plan emphasizes scalable solutions, policy reform, private capital
• Digital and AI integration expected to cut water infrastructure costs

Summary

The World Bank Group unveiled a comprehensive water strategy aimed at tackling a global water crisis that sees more than 200 billion cubic meters of freshwater lost each year—enough to secure water for 280 million people. The plan is built around three pillars—water for people, water for food, and water for the planet—and acknowledges that nearly two billion individuals still lack safe drinking water while agriculture consumes over 70% of fresh supplies. Key data points underscore the urgency: 1.7 billion jobs are tied to water‑sensitive sectors, and current irrigation practices cannot feed an estimated 10 billion people by 2050. Saroj Kumar Jha highlighted that inadequate storage, poor management, and rising demand drive the crisis, and that sustainable water use is essential for health outcomes, labor force development, and ecosystem resilience. Jha also detailed the strategy’s implementation plan, which pivots on three elements: scalable solutions that standardize proven interventions, policy and regulatory reforms to unlock private capital, and the integration of digital and AI technologies to improve efficiency and cut operating costs. The World Bank’s coordinated approach—leveraging the Bank, IFC, and MIGA—seeks to mobilize financing beyond its own balance sheet and align with country‑led development priorities. If successful, the strategy could reshape water governance, protect millions of jobs, and deliver measurable economic returns while advancing climate‑resilient agriculture and ecosystem health. Its emphasis on private‑sector participation and long‑term institutional reform positions water security as a cornerstone of global poverty reduction and shared prosperity.

Original Description

In this episode of Talking Development, World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde speaks with Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Group Director for Water, about why water security underpins jobs, productivity, and long-term growth. Learn more: http://wrld.bg/YjFm50Y1Vc6

00:00 Introduction

01:03 The state of global water today

03:30 Water for jobs creation

05:04 WBG water sector strategy

08:59 Anna's take

ABOUT THE WORLD BANK 🌐 The World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development on a livable planet. http://www.worldbank.org