The Strategic Objective (SO) of the GLOWS Program is to achieve increased social, economic, and environmental benefits through healthy aquatic ecosystems and sustainable water resources management. This objective recognizes the need to simultaneously address both water management for human use and conservation of freshwater ecosystems for their many other services. Realizing this objective requires coordinated work to 1) develop and implement best practices, 2) ensure equitable governance with strong public participation, and 3) increase economic opportunities for stakeholders. Meeting the SO beyond the project activities of GLOWS also requires 4) sharing our tools and lessons learned with international partners. These four elements to achieving our SO are the intermediate results laid out in our results framework.

Intermediate Result 1 - Improved water resources management and conservation across river basins through science, interdisciplinary approaches and the adoption of best IWRM practices.

Intermediate Result 2 - Equitable water resources governance and management of water resource conflicts.

Intermediate Result 3 – Increased economic opportunities through sustainable production, marketing and trade of water resource-based products and services.

Intermediate Result 4 – Strengthened international leadership in IWRM and advancement of national initiatives.