According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022, groundwater accounts for 99 per cent of all liquid freshwater on Earth. However, this natural resource is poorly understood and consequently undervalued and mismanaged.

Noting that demand for water is growing, Mr. Houngbo, who is also President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), underscored the urgent need for policymakers to understand groundwater’s critical role and better manage the competing demands of water and sanitation systems, agriculture, industry, ecosystems and climate change adaptation.