Business Leaders’ Open Callto Accelerate Action on Water
Supporting Document
This note clarifies key aspects of the Open Call related to the basins offocus, and how companies might approach implementation of key aspects ofthe call including details on direct operations, supply chains, andcollaboration. Expectations of companies will not shift, but additional
resources to guide companies in making progress against these expectations
will be added as they become available.

Key Elements
100 BasinsWhen developing the list of 100 basins, co-organizing corporate water stewardshipinitiatives looked to identify those basins with high water quality, quantity, and accessibility
risks in addition to biodiversity importance and future climate risks in terms of drought andflood. Basins were further prioritized according to those with economic relevance,
significant corporate presence and interest in collaboration, as well as the presence of
local partners to enact programs that address local water challenges and bring about
positive change.
Signatory companies are not expected to take action in all 100 basins listed, but rather asubset of those that have been identified by the company as priorities based on direct
operations, supply chains, and key markets.
It is also recognized that companies may also have water stewardship activities orcollective actions outside of the initial list of 100 identified basins. As such, the coorganizers will be looking to expand the list over time to ensure that we capture thosecollective action activities that have a positive impact.
The 100 basins list should be thought of as dynamic and responsive to changing conditions
and actions by companies and other actors. The goal of having a positive impact in 100
basins will remain as the “north-star” we strive for.

To facilitate collective action and to understand how we will be measuring positive impact, several
documents and tools have been developed as practical guidance. For companies who have justbegun the process, we direct you to the following:

Water Action Hub to find interactive maps of the 100 initial prioritized basins, potential
partners, and implementers.
Guide to Water Related Collective Action
Guide to Managing Integrity in Water Stewardship Initiatives

www.wateractionnow.org

Basins Diagnostic Guide to understand how positive impact at the basin level will bemeasured by implementersEnterprise Level Actions
To support companies’ commitments in direct operations and supply chains, companies can take avariety of practices as relevant to their business over time including by taking the following
actions:In Direct Operations
1)
2)

3)
4)
5)
6)

Implementing water-related standards.
Integrating context and/or science into target setting practices. Recognizing that
guidance on science-based target setting is just being released in early 2023, companies
will need time to assess and implement updated water targets in line with best practice.
Implementing best in practice water efficiency and wastewater management.
Implementing proven innovative technologies for water reuse, recycling, and circularity.
Ensuring safe, resilient access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for employees;
andImplementing practices that optimize for climate-energy-water co-benefits and ensure
ecosystem protection.

In Supply Chains
1)2)

Understanding where the greatest water dependencies and impacts exist within supply
chains and setting appropriate internal targets and plans to ensure long-term resilience;
andWorking with suppliers in water-stressed basins to improve water efficiency, wastewater
management, and the provision of safe resilient access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in
the workplace.

Working collaboratively may entail a number of actions and activities including:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Working with public sector actors, integrating best practices in data information andtransparency to inform decision-making;Engaging with local communities, including frontline, Indigenous, and under-represented
communities, to improve conditions by taking a human-rights based approach;
Identifying and advancing new co-financing mechanisms with governments andmultilateral funding agencies to close the financing gap; andApplying companies’ unique expertise and innovation through supporting curation anddevelopment of key technologies that can bring new tools and solutions to scale.

For more guidance and resources to implement these activities and actions, please visit the Water
Action Hub at https://wateractionhub.org/.
The Hub will guide you to resources developed by a wide range of water stewardship
implementers.

www.wateractionnow.org

For those companies who are members of the Water Resilience Coalition, the Open Call is acontinuing commitment to the pledge signed by members.

www.wateractionnow.org

Tracking ProgressThe primary focus of tracking the progress of the open call will be around measuring basin
level improvements over time against the three dimensions of water: water quantity,quality, and accessibility. As one of the main co-organizers of the Call, the CEO Water
Mandate will be developing digital monitoring systems to provide real-time monitoring ofbasin conditions across the dimensions of water quantity, quality, and accessibility.

For those companies who are also part of the UN Global Compact, this open call will be partof the SDG Movements and companies will be able to share actions they’ve taken to help
achieve the Open Call through a UN Global Compact portal.

www.wateractionnow.org