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5 8 / S E T T I N G T H E S C E N ESigning Progress: Indicators Mark the WayBox 3.5: AchievementsThe following methodological sketch has been agreed uponto further develop the indicators used and reported by UNagencies across the different chapters and case studies:■ Data and databases are important aspects of theexercise. For this, a conceptual framework on datacollection and metadata preparation has been agreedupon, and major databases have been identified.■ The role of member countries in the process has beenduly recognized. There is an understanding that the■ A logical coupling of global-regional-local scale is a must. Whilethe effort of the WWDR will focus on presenting a globaloutlook, such understanding will build upwards from criticaltesting of methodologies at the regional and local scale first.■ World Wide Web-based technologies (including modelling, GIS,World Wide Web and metadata search engines) are essential tothe provision of timely biogeophysical data. At the behest ofUN agencies involved in WWAP’s Data Advisory Committee,the programme has already received guidance on the wayforward in terms of how these technologies may be used fordata management.Much work is therefore required to collect and prepare thebiogeophysical and socio-economic data sets for use in future waterresource assessments. In addition to the geography of water supply,issues of economic and technological capacity to provide waterservices, along with population growth, levels of environmentalprotection and health services, investment in water infrastructure,including irrigation and other hydraulic engineering works, must beincluded in future such analyses.ConclusionsIndicators are thus vital instruments for the assessments embodied inthe WWDR. The publication of this first edition is just the beginningof a long-term effort to develop a comprehensive set of indicatorsand their ‘most friendly’ presentation. In the years to come, we willbe building upon the material presented in this chapter. We will haveto improve the indicator development process (see box. 3.5) andindicators will have the participation and thus theownership of involved countries and UN systemagencies.■ Based on the conceptual framework on informationnetwork efforts for data improvement, activities havebeen devised for implementation.■ Indicator development will be an inclusive exercise inwhich other major efforts will play a role inmethodological refinement. WWAP will simply be taking alead in the exercise.involve more stakeholders from wider cultural backgrounds. Indicatorsidentified and used in this report must be qualified using bothscientific and political processes. While the scientific issues underlinedin this chapter would have to be carefully taken into consideration,the more important point is to offer a suitable platform for themember states to become more involved in developing the scientificbasis and the resulting indicators. It is essential that both theconceptual framework for indicator development and data gatheringbe subject to further scrutiny. We look forward to being able todemonstrate the progress that has been achieved in the secondedition of the World Water Development Report.ReferencesAd Hoc Group on Global Water Data Sets. 2001. ‘Global Water Data: A NewlyEndangered Species’. Co-authored by Vörösmarty, C. (lead); Askew, A.; Barry, R.;Birkett, C.; Döll, P.; Grabs, W.; Hall, A.; Jenne, R.; Kitaev, L.; Landwehr, J.; Keeler, M.;Leavesley, G.; Schaake, J.; Strzepek, K.; Sundarvel, S.-S.; Takeuchi, K.; Webster, F. Anop-ed piece to EOS Transactions American Geophysical Union, Vol. 82, pp. 54, 56.Ahmad, Y.J.; El Serafy, S.; Lutz, E., eds. 1989. Environmental Accounting for SustainableDevelopment. Washington DC, World Bank.Alcamo, J.; Heinrichs, T.; Rösch, T. 2000. World Water in 2025. World Water SeriesReport #2. Kassel, Centre for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel.Bakkes, J.-A.; Van Den Born; G.-J.; Helder, J.-C.; Swart, R.-J.; Hope, C.-W.; Parker, J.-D.1994. An Overview of Environmental Indicators: State of the Art andPerspectives. UNEP/EATR.94-01; RIVM/402001001. Nairobi EnvironmentalAssessment Sub-Programme, United Nations Environment Programme.Bosch, P. 2001. Guidelines for the Data Collection of the Kiev Report. Technical report66, European Environment Agency.Bossel, H. 1999. Indicators for Sustainable Development: Theory, Method, Applications.A report to the Balaton group. Winnipeg, International Institute for SustainableDevelopment.