The source-to-sea approach recognizes that what we do on land and in rivers, lakes and aquifers can have impacts further downstream, along coasts and in the ocean. By taking these linkages into account, the approach applies a holistic view of the source-to-sea system, which will result in greater benefits for the entire system.
The Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management (S2S Platform) is a multi-stakeholder initiative to exchange and generate knowledge, and support joint action for improved management of land, water, coastal and marine linkages.
The S2S Platform strengthens partnerships between sectors and expands the understanding of source-to-sea challenges and of the solutions that will lead to sustainable development. It builds commitment so that policies and finance stimulate source-to-sea action on the ground.
The S2S Platform is open to organizations committed to holistic management of land, freshwater, coasts and the ocean. The Platform Secretariat is hosted and coordinated by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
Our vision
We envision a world in which land, freshÂwater, coastal and marine resources are managed holistically, balancing benefits for the environment, communities and economy from source to sea.
Our mission
We want to enable sustainable development across the land-freshwater-marine continuum through supporting the adoption and implementation of a source-to-sea approach to management at regional, national, and sub-national levels.
This is S2S Platform
The Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management is a network of organizations committed to promoting, implementing, and building expertise on source-to-sea management.
About the PlatformEvents for UN 2023 Water Conference & New York Water Week
Side event | Source-to-sea approach: from methodology to practice
- Date & Time: 22 March; 9:30-10:45
- Location: Room 200, The Nature Hub, Apella, 450 E 29th Street, New York
- Co-organizers: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Action Platform for Source-to-Sea ManagementÂ
- See details: https://www.fao.org/land-water/events/un-2023/s2s/en/
- Register here: https://hopin.com/events/2023-nature-hub-un-water-conference
Side event | Source-to-sea talk show SDG TV
- Date & Time: 22 March; 14:30-15:15
- Location: UN TV
Special event | Radical Collaboration for Water Resilience: Action with our greatest Allies in the Climate Crisis. Including viewing of the Journey of Water film
- Date & Time: 22 March; 15:00-18:00
- Location: Conference Room 2, UNHQ
Side event |The Source to Sea Approach: Ocean Literacy as a powerful tool to address climate crisis and promote sustainable blue businesses while encouraging cross-sectoral partnerships bridging SDG 6 and SDG 14
- Date and time 23 March; 8:00 – 9:15
- Location: Room B, UNHQ
- Co-organizers: Acqua Mater, OceanPact Marine Services, IOC-UNESCO and UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
- See details: https://oceanpact.com/en/sustainability/un-2023-water-conference/
UNWC Event, Interactive Dialogue 3
Water for Climate Resilience and Environment: Source to Sea, Biodiversity, Climate, Resilience and DRR
- Date & Time: 23 March; 10:00-13:00
Side Event | Stronger together: Building resilience and prosperity through integrated and evidence-based management of the ocean-water continuumÂ
- Date & Time: 23 March; 13:15-14:30
- Location: Conference Room 4, UNHQ and online
- Co-organizers: UNDESA, UN Oceans, UN Water, DOALOS/OLA, UNEP, UNESCO IOC, SIWIÂ
- See details: https://sdgs.un.org/events/un-water-conference-side-event-stronger-together-building-resilience-and-prosperity-through
UNWC Event, Interactive Dialogue 4
Water for Cooperation Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross Sectoral Cooperation, including Scientific Cooperation, and Water Across the 2030 AgendaÂ
- Date & Time: 23 March; 15:00-18:00
Side Event | Source-to-sea collaboration: A game changer for the whole water cycleÂ
- Date & Time: 23 March; 17:00-18:15
- Location: Conference Room 8, UNHQ and online
- Livestreaming in UNTV: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1wbt0l4ez
- See details: https://siwi.org/event/source-to-sea-collaboration-a-game-changer-for-the-whole-water-cycle/
- Co-organizers: Led by the Government of Greece and co-organized by the Government of Costa Rica, Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management, Global Water Partnership, Stockholm International Water Institute, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation, DHI,  Global Environment Facility, Japan Water Forum, NIREAS-IWRC / University of Cyprus, Ocean Sewage Alliance, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Plymouth Marine Laboratories, Swedish Agency of Marine and Water Management, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Environment Programme – Mediterranean Action Plan, Water Science Policy, Wetland International
Side Event | Journey of Water from Source to Sea
- Date & Time: 23 March; 18:45-19:45
- Location: Dutch Water House, 666 3rd Ave, 18th floor
- Registration: https://forms.office.com/e/ssR8BijWja
- Co-organizers: SIWI and WWFÂ
- See details: https://siwi.org/event/journey-of-water-from-source-to-sea/
Side Event | Promoting Private-Public Partnerships – a vehicle towards fulfilling SDG 6 and climate Actions
- Date & Time: 24 March; 8:00-9:15
- Location: Room C, UNHQ
- Co-organizers: Japanese Water Forum c/o NoWNET Secretariat, MLIT Japan (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Japan), The Secretariat of the Headquarters for Water Cycle Policy of the Cabinet Secretariat, Japan, Danish Water Forum (DWF), Finnish Water Forum (FWF), French Water Partnership (FWP), Stockholm International Water Institute, Korea Water Forum, World Water Council, Netherlands Water Partnership.Â
Side Event | Localising the Blue Economy: A City-Basin Approach
- Date & Time: 24 March; 8:00-9:15
- Location: Room 8, UNHQ
- Co-organizers: Brazil, State Government of Rio de Janeiro, Undersecretary of Water Security and Sustainability, France, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, Portugal, Ministry of Environment and Climate Action, South Africa, Water Research Commission, Department of Water and Sanitation, Spain, Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands, Deltares, International Association of Cities and Ports (AIVP), International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Latin American Development Bank (CAF), Resilient Cities Network, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), UN-Habitat, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Africa, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World BankÂ
UNWC Event, Interactive Dialogue 5
Water Action Decade Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action PlanÂ
- Date & Time: 24 March; 10:00-13:00
Side Event | Accelerating Blue financing of Nature-based Solutions for water security and disaster risk reductionÂ
- Date & Time: 24 March; 15:30-16:45
- Location: Room B, UNHQ
- Co-organizers: Royal Van Oord, WWF Netherlands, Rabobank, Royal Haskoning DHV, Conservation International, SIWIÂ
S2S Platform Strategy
The strategy focuses the activities of the Platform partners on four strategic areas needed to achieve the Platform’s mission and make progress toward its shared vision.
Download the strategyThe S2S platform is funded by:

