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The Umkhomazi catchment is a critical strategic water source area in KwaZulu-Natal, supporting 1.5 to 2 million people and high biodiversity. Despite producing 1,078 million m3 of water annually, only 15% is used due to seasonal flow patterns. The area faces threats from invasive alien plants, overgrazing, and abandoned farming. To address these, the Umkhomazi Catchment Working Group (UCWG) coordinates restoration efforts, including invasive species management, erosion control, and regenerative agriculture. Additionally, the Umkhomazi Water Project plans to construct two large dams, including the Smithfield Dam, to enhance water security for Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

The brief evaluates 62 of 95 water investments established between 2013 and 2018 in Kenya's ASAL regions, finding that functionality generally declined between 2019 and 2023 due to poor maintenance funding, governance gaps, and insufficient climate data. It recommends integrating indigenous knowledge, securing dedicated operations and maintenance budgets, and adopting landscape-level management to ensure long-term resilience.

The report argues that South Africa has failed to translate its constitutional right to water into reality for millions of poor households. While physical access to piped water has increased since 1994, the state has substituted a comprehensive human-rights definition of access with a narrow focus on physical infrastructure. The report finds that the Free Basic Water (FBW) policy is inadequate because its 6kl monthly allocation is well below WHO minimums and is often restricted to a small number of registered indigent households. Furthermore, the report highlights a fundamental contradiction between municipal financial sustainability and affordable access, noting that high tariffs force poor households to sacrifice food expenditure to pay for water. It recommends revising the minimum water allowance to 75l per person per day, establishing a national indigent policy, and creating an independent water regulator to enforce concrete affordability standards.

The report identifies a capacity gap in the Canadian Prairies where the demand for natural infrastructure is growing, but the workforce remains primarily trained in 'grey' (human-made) infrastructure. It argues that scaling natural infrastructure requires a multidisciplinary approach involving engineers, planners, biologists, and skilled trades. The document proposes expanding professional development through industry associations, linking training to climate resilience and federal funding, and integrating Indigenous rights-based approaches to ensure sustainable and equitable project delivery.

A Union of Concerned Scientists analysis of non-transportation BIL awards in California from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 indicates that local investments are likely falling short of Justice40 goals. Depending on the screening tool used, only 9.4% to 18.2% of analyzed local funding is flowing to designated disadvantaged communities. The report highlights significant data gaps, particularly regarding statewide formula funding, and recommends a transparent, unified tracking system and a clear definition of 'benefits' to ensure equitable infrastructure spending.

The document describes a spatial and recipient-based analysis of federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding in California from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2023. It compares two environmental justice screening tools—the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) and California's SB 535—to identify disadvantaged communities. The analysis focuses on non-transportation grants, as transportation spending accounted for over 88 percent of the total obligated spending ($16.07 billion) and is tracked separately by the state. The authors highlight significant data limitations in USASpending.gov, including agency non-reporting and inaccuracies in 'place of performance' fields, which may hinder the tracking of Justice40 goals.

The Cambodian Climate Financing Facility (CCFF) is a US$ 109 million initiative designed to accelerate Cambodia's transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. It consists of a US$ 100 million Lending Facility and a US$ 9 million Technical Assistance (TA) Facility. The program targets high-priority sectors including energy, transport, agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU), and water. The Lending Facility, hosted by the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB), provides wholesale and direct green loans to local financial institutions and private sector actors. The TA Facility, managed by Mekong Strategic Capital (MSC), focuses on institutional capacity building, project preparation, and the development of climate finance policy frameworks. The program expects to reduce 11.1 million tCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions and benefit 1.3 million people.

South Africa faces a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030, driven by climate change, population growth, and poor governance. The country's water infrastructure is at significant risk of failure due to reactive maintenance and maladministration, with 41% of municipal water classified as non-revenue water. Governance failures have led to critical risks in wastewater treatment and public health crises, such as the 2023 cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal. The document recommends implementing water conservation measures, developing climate adaptation plans, enhancing governance legislation, and prioritizing infrastructure investment in rural areas.

Earthjustice urges New York State to increase funding for water infrastructure and environmental protection while accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to electricity. The testimony specifically advocates for the NY HEAT Act to downsize the gas system, the RAPID Act to speed up electric transmission, and the Green Transit, Green Jobs bill to electrify bus fleets. It also calls for urgent action on childhood lead poisoning and the reduction of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, while opposing 'false solutions' like hydrogen and renewable natural gas.

The project supported 885 people in lower eastern Kenya, focusing on regenerative farming, syntropic agroforestry, and water infrastructure to improve biodiversity, soil health, and economic output for female smallholder farmers. Key achievements include the rehabilitation of 1.01 hectares for a demonstration farm, the installation of 43 household vertical gardens, and the construction of 3 water pans, alongside the training of 177 people in sustainable agriculture and 17 young men in water infrastructure maintenance.

The 2023 study found that none of the five water infrastructure investments in Garissa County were fully functional, with three partially functional and two non-functional. The primary drivers of failure were a lack of dedicated budgets for operations and maintenance (O&M), capacity gaps in local management, and limited early engagement with water institutions. The report recommends establishing sustainable financing mechanisms, integrating renewable energy to lower costs, and strengthening the technical and project management skills of local site committees.

The 2023 study found that only two of nine assessed water investments were fully functional, with many others limited by inadequate maintenance, vandalism, and resource-based conflicts. While community-led planning and local knowledge improved sustainability, the report highlights a need for dedicated maintenance financing, better technical siting, and genuine gender inclusivity in management committees.

A 2023 study of 12 water infrastructure investments in Kitui County, Kenya, found that 59% were functional or partially functional, while 16% were non-functional due to lack of maintenance. The report highlights that most investments failed to provide adequate water during dry seasons and suffered from insufficient funding for operations and maintenance. While local knowledge was integrated into planning via Ward Climate Change Planning Committees, the study recommends better integration of hydrogeological data, landscape restoration, and institutionalised project audits to ensure long-term sustainability.

A 2023 study of 13 water infrastructure projects in Makueni County, Kenya, found that most remain functional seven years after implementation. The success of these locally-led adaptation investments is attributed to the integration of local knowledge with technical data and strong partnerships between the county government and communities. While the projects have improved water access and increased agricultural incomes, challenges remain regarding siltation, funding for major repairs, and the need for green energy transitions to reduce production costs.

A 2023 longitudinal study of 23 water infrastructure projects in Wajir County, Kenya, found that boreholes are significantly more resilient to climate shocks than water pans, which accounted for all non-functional projects. While community involvement in planning fostered ownership, the study identified critical gaps in technical capacity for maintenance, a lack of climate information during the design phase, and a failure to budget for ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

The longitudinal study evaluates water projects in Kenya's ASAL regions, finding a decline in functionality from 2019 to 2023, while highlighting the benefits of community-led investment and the critical need for dedicated operations and maintenance funding.

The 2022 Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics, held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, examined how to scale nature-based solutions to address aging water infrastructure in Canada's Prairies. Participants identified that a stronger business case for natural infrastructure requires tailored metrics and data to make economic benefits visible in regulatory and funding decisions. The forum highlighted the urgency of addressing an investment deficit in crumbling water infrastructure to mitigate risks from flooding, drought, extreme heat, and wildfires.

The natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies contributed over CAD 4.1 billion to GDP and employed over 33,000 people directly in 2022. In Manitoba, the sector directly employed over 5,700 people and contributed over CAD 540 million to the provincial economy in 2022. Investment scenarios for Manitoba suggest that annual investments of CAD 10 million or CAD 25 million could increase direct jobs by 8% to 21% and direct GDP by 7% to 17%. Similar growth potentials are identified for Alberta and Saskatchewan, where natural infrastructure is viewed as a means to bridge water infrastructure gaps and increase resilience against floods, droughts, and wildfires.

The document highlights the economic value of natural infrastructure in the Canadian Prairies, noting that in 2022, the sector directly employed over 33,000 people and contributed over CAD 4.1 billion to the region's GDP. In Saskatchewan specifically, the sector directly employed over 5,800 people and contributed CAD 640 million to the provincial economy in 2022. The report argues that increased annual investments—such as CAD 10 million or CAD 25 million in Saskatchewan—could significantly boost direct jobs and GDP while addressing water infrastructure gaps and increasing resilience against climate impacts like floods, droughts, and wildfires.

The document highlights the economic contributions of natural infrastructure in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, noting that the sector provides jobs and GDP growth while increasing resilience to climate-related weather extremes. In Alberta specifically, the sector directly employed over 21,000 people and contributed CAD 2.9 billion to the provincial economy in 2022. The report argues that increased annual investments—such as CAD 20 million or CAD 50 million in Alberta—would further drive job creation and GDP while addressing water infrastructure gaps and buffering against floods, droughts, and wildfires.