Water and sanitation are central to public health, food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development. BRICS recognises the need to address water access, flood and drought management, sanitation, pollution control, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable water resource management (BRICS South Africa, 2018). Under the BRICS Environment Track, Clean River of BRICS Program focuses on improving river ecosystems and combating marine litter. The BRICS Environmentally Sound Technology (BEST) Cooperation Platform promotes innovation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building across different sectors, including the development and application of sustainable solutions relevant to water and sanitation. It aims to bring partners, science organisations, civil society, private sector and financial institutions to extend cooperation within BRICS. Those initiatives will advance cooperation in river ecosystem conservation, pollution control, and environmentally sound technologies through knowledge sharing, technical cooperation, technology exchange, joint research, and capacity building.

As highlighted in the General Strategy for 2022-2026 of NDB, Water and Sanitation is one of the key areas of operational priorities (NDB, 2022). By the end of December 31, 2025, active project portfolio for water and sanitation is USD 3.2 billion and accounts for 9% of the total project portfolio, spanning water supply and sanitation, water resource management, and irrigation (NDB, 2026).

As at the end of 2025, NDB’s active portfolio is expected to result in construction or upgradation of 1,400 kms of water tunnel and canal infrastructure, addition of 664,000 m3/day of drinking water capacity and 721,000 m3/day of sewage treatment capacity (NDB, 2026). Looking ahead, NDB will continue to finance projects that can contribute to achieving universal access to adequate water and sanitation services, modernisation of irrigation systems, and smart and integrated water resource management. These investments will help reduce exposure and vulnerability to floods, droughts, and other water-related disasters while building resilience to climate change.