AWS MEMBERSHIP

START YOUR
WATER STEWARDSHIP
JOURNEY HERE
02 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP

THE WATER CHALLENGE

The UN Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) bring the world’s water-related
challenges into sharp focus and provide
a basis for many major organisations’
sustainability work.

Climate change is intensifying the 2.3 billion people lack soap and
water cycle. This brings more intense water for handwashing at home
rainfall and associated flooding, as (WHO/UNICEF, 2021)
well as more intense drought in many
regions. (IPCC, 2021)
Every minute a new-born dies from
infection caused by lack of clean
 or the last decade, the World
F water and an unclean environment
Economic Forum has placed water- (WHO, 2015)
related risks among the world’s top
five in its annual Global Risks Report
(SIWI, 2020) Freshwater species numbers have
declined dramatically: the freshwater
index shows an 83% decline since 1970
The cost of inaction on water risks (WWF Living Planet Report 2022)
is up to five times the cost of action
(CDP, 2020)
By 2030, there will be a 40% gap
between water demand and availability
In 2019, just 12% of companies (UN, 2016)
disclosing through CDP had a pollution
reduction target (CDP, 2019)
80% of the world’s wastewater is
returned to the environment untreated
With every $1 invested in WASH, (UNEP, 2016)
$4 is generated through increased
productivity (WHO, 2012)
03 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP
WHAT IS WATER STEWARDSHIP?
We define water stewardship as the use of water that is socially and
culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically
beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder inclusive process that
involves site- and catchment-based actions.
WHY WATER STEWARDSHIP,
NOT MANAGEMENT?
It is now widely recognised that water management alone is
not enough to address the water crisis. Site-based actions
such as efficiency measures are simply not enough. What use
is it to make your farm extremely water-efficient, if the next
water user downstream uses up the water instead? How can one
factory cleaning up its wastewater ensure that all factories in
the catchment do the same? This is where water stewardship
comes in. It involves taking all actions required on your own site,
but then going beyond that to work with others in the catchment
to address shared water risks and challenges.
Photo: Gigerwald lake, Switzerland. Credit: Donwogdo/ iStock.
AWS APPROACH
AWS is two things: we are a global membership collaboration and
a sustainability standard for robust, credible water stewardship.
Our members include global businesses and their supply chains,
international NGOs and civil society partners, development agencies
and other public sector offices, as well as think tanks and
researchers. Members are at the heart of AWS. They play a vital
role in our governance and drive forward the AWS System around
the world.
AWS Members unite behind a shared definition of water
stewardship, and a common approach to doing water
stewardship at a site and catchment level: the AWS Standard.
The AWS Standard is already being implemented at hundreds
of sites around the world, primarily in four sectors:
Agricultural Supply Chains, Food and Beverage Manufacturing,
Microelectronics, and Textiles and Apparel.
 OUR VISION
A WATER-SECURE WORLD
THAT ENABLES PEOPLE,
CULTURES, BUSINESS AND
NATURE TO PROSPER,
NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

OUR MISSION
WE IGNITE AND NURTURE
GLOBAL AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP
IN CREDIBLE WATER STEWARDSHIP
THAT RECOGNISES AND SECURES
THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC
VALUE OF FRESHWATER
05 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP

THE AWS STANDARD

An accessible ‘how to’ framework for

sites to implement water stewardship.

THE AWS STANDARD FRAMEWORK

IS BUILT AROUND FIVE STEPS:
1. GATHER AND UNDERSTAND
2. COMMIT AND PLAN
3. IMPLEMENT
4. EVALUATE
5. COMMUNICATE AND DISCLOSE

THE STANDARD
IS INTENDED TO
ACHIEVE FIVE
MAIN OUTCOMES:

First launched in 2014, the AWS Standard takes you on a journey to
understand site and catchment water risks, and then take action.
Because of this responsiveness, it can be used by any water user,
anywhere in the world. Certification against the Standard through
third-party verification enables certified sites to make credible
claims about their water stewardship activity.
The Standard is structured around five steps and five outcomes. In
each step, there are a set of criteria and indicators which a site must
achieve in order to be certified against the AWS Standard. We have
three levels of certification: Core, Gold and Platinum. To achieve
Gold or Platinum certification, a site must demonstrate that it meets
additional advanced indicators, which are also set out in the Standard.
Find out more about AWS Certification at a4ws.org/certification
06 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP

AWS MEMBERSHIP

WHAT IS AWS MEMBERSHIP?

AWS Members contribute to the sustainability of local water-resources
through adoption and promotion of the AWS Standard. Members
play a pivotal role in growing and strengthening the stewardship
community of practice by implementing, developing shareable
learning and advocating the need for a common, independently
verifiable, multi-stakeholder inclusive Standard for water
stewardship.

OUR MEMBERS INCLUDE:

Businesses facing Supply chains, local

water risks relating stakeholders and end
to operations of line consumers

Investors and financial

Public sector
service providers
organisations working in
seeking to enhance risk
water-relevant policy
management processes

investors and financial Sustainability service

Development agencies development
providers whoagencies
support
service providers
and NGOs with water- the
and implementation
NGOs with water-
or
seeking to enhance risk
related programmes assessment of standards
related programmes
management processes and CSR programmes
07 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
WHY SHOULD MY ORGANISATION JOIN?

Join the organisations at the forefront of
water stewardship and draw upon experience
from peers, water-relevant initiatives and the
AWS team, who can help advise and connect
you to the right support.
Strengthen your water stewardship practices
by gaining unlimited access to the AWS
Tools Hub (tools.a4ws.org) for all employees
within your organisation (see page 8 for
more information).
Strengthen your organisation’s performance
on water-related goals and sustainability
ambitions, through engagement with AWS,
our membership, partners and wider
stakeholders.

Photo: Giant river otters, South America. Credit: Tristan Tan/ Shutterstock
08 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
AWS TOOLS HUB
The E-Standard and E-Guidance
The E-Standard and E-Guidance are online
user-friendly versions of the AWS Standard
V2.0 and its Guidance, formatted for mobile,
tablet and desktop.
Audit Ready Tool
This easy-to-follow interactive checklist
provides an indication of progress against
the AWS Standard to help teams decide when
to proceed with an AWS audit.
Online Learning Modules
Online Learning Modules cover key topics
common to all applications of the Standard,
from Understanding and Defining Catchments,
to Effective Consultation and Engagement.
AWS Member organisations
have unlimited access to the
AWS Tools Hub, home to the
AWS E-Standard and E-Guidance,
Audit Ready Tool, Online Learning
Webinars Modules and more.
The Tools Hub contains an archive of webinars,
sharing learning from particular geographies
and sectors, best practice guides to water-
stewardship-related themes and explaining
aspects of the AWS System.
Access to the Tools Hub
Anyone can access the Tools Hub by simply
heading to tools.a4ws.org and creating an
account.
As an AWS Member, you can use your unique
member coupon code for free, unlimited access.
If you don’t know your coupon code, you can
find this out from your lead AWS representative,
or by contacting us at info@a4ws.org
09 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP

WHAT INFLUENCE DO
I HAVE AS AN AWS MEMBER?

AWS provides a platform to connect

members to the most up-to-date
learning, initiatives and opportunities in
the evolving world of water stewardship.
We do this by convening meetings,
webinars, working groups and our annual
Global Water Stewardship Forum.

MEMBERS EVOLVE THE ALLIANCE FOR WATER

STEWARDSHIP THROUGH:

• Consultations on the strategic development of the organisation

• Multi-stakeholder collaborations over the evolution of the AWS
Standard and System
• Being elected to and voting on nominations to the AWS Board
or Technical Committee
• Voting in the AWS AGM, participating in the AWS Forum and
in Member working group

WHY IS BEING A MEMBER

ORGANISATION IMPORTANT?
Our members tell us that it is the multi-stakeholder nature of
our system that provides them with the confidence that they are
following the correct path. The different constituencies of AWS
continually challenge each other, and the system, to respond
to water-related issues in a way that is transparent, equitable,
sustainable and effective.
The ultimate strength of the AWS System lies in the diversity
of experience that the members bring to it, and from the
group sharing of hard-won, locally acquired knowledge on how
stewardship can tackle water-related challenges. It is this
shared insight, born from the multi-stakeholder nature of AWS
governance that gives us and our members a strong, credible
voice on water use and stewardship.

Photo: AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum 2023, Edinburgh.

Credit: Alliance for Water Stewardship / Jon Davey
10 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP

TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

MEMBER
Our members are drawn from all sectors: leading businesses,
non-profits, public sector agencies and academic institutes. By
connecting organisations at the forefront of collaboration on
water, AWS Membership acts as a forum to exchange learning
and advance the uptake of water stewardship worldwide. We
are governed by our members, who are eligible to nominate
and elect members to our board and technical committee and
help steer the development of the organisation and broader
AWS System. By joining AWS, you will be able to promote your
organisation’s support for responsible use of freshwater and
be part of crucial decisions that will affect the future of global View a full list of
water stewardship. AWS members here:
a4ws.org/members
FUNDING MEMBER
AWS Funding Members are organisations which have committed
additional resource beyond their membership fee to help further
the development of the Alliance for Water Stewardship. We are
very grateful for their commitment and support.

Photo: Boats on Lake Taihu, China. Credit: Pixabay

11 _ AWS MEMBERSHIP

AWS Membership is open to any

organisation, from any sector that
shares our aim of the responsible
use of freshwater.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Membership fees are an investment
in strengthening and growing the AWS
System. They are one of the primary
mechanisms in which organisations in
need of a water stewardship system
can ensure the viability of AWS.
Membership runs annually from 1 January to 31 December. Application to
join AWS as a member is made by completing this online form.
Fees for membership of AWS are designed to be responsive to the ability
to pay, reflective of the benefits accrued and reasonable relative to fees
of other membership bodies. Membership rates are decided by members
through multi-stakeholder decision making at the preceding year’s AGM.
All fee structures are completely transparent to reflect the principle
that as a multi-stakeholder organisation no individual member or
sector will have a greater or lesser say in our governance due to the
size of their financial contribution. If you have any questions about
membership, please get in touch.   bodies and government recognised academic and most higher learning
Upon receipt of your membership application, AWS will review it in line
with our member approval process to confirm the details you have
provided are sufficient for us to be able to process your membership,
and that your application is in line with our membership categories. AWS
will also undertake a risk assessment to ensure that your organisation
does not pose a reputational risk to our global membership collaboration.
Our membership categories and their definitions are:
Civil Society
Organisations which are not under the control or ownership of private
or public-sector actors, that have a distinct cultural, environmental,
political or social mission including, but not limited, to community groups,
indigenous groups, labour unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
and multi-stakeholder balanced membership bodies and platforms.
Private Sector
Organisations which are not under the control or ownership
of government that may be privately owned or controlled by
individuals or shareholders or businesses that primarily seek the
commercial and/or economic interest of themselves (or their member
organisations) including and not limited to individual businesses,
subsidiary companies, state-owned enterprises, social enterprises,
private sector membership organisations and platforms.
Public Sector
Organisations which are under the control or ownership of the
government, including and not limited to entities providing public benefit
such as independent government agencies, government linked regulatory
institutions, and whose primary aim is to pursue nonfinancial objectives.
Fees are waived for civil society and public sector organisations that
have a national, rather than transnational, focus. This is to enable
the broadest levels of participation by stakeholders rooted in the
places where water stewardship is practiced. Instead of contributing
a fee, these members are required to submit an annual statement on
how they have used the AWS System in the previous year.

AWS MEMBERS GBP 10,000 - Private sector, A (Annual turnover greater than GBP 10b)
– 2024 GBP 9,000 - Private sector, B (Annual turnover GBP 2b - 10b)
GBP 8,000 - Private sector, C (Annual turnover GBP 500m - 2b)
GBP 3,000 - Private sector, D (Annual turnover GBP 10m - 500m)
GBP 1,200 - Private sector, E (Annual turnover GBP 1m - 10m)
GBP 600 - Private sector, F (Annual turnover less than GBP 1m)
GBP 1,300 - Public sector agency, Transnational focus
FEE WAIVED - Public sector agency, National focus (Annual reporting of AWS System use in lieu of fee)
GBP 1,300 - Civil society organisation, Transnational focus, Large (Annual income greater than GBP 10m)
GBP 900 - Civil society organisation, Transnational focus, Medium (Annual income GBP 1m - 10m)
GBP 350 - Civil society organisation, Transnational focus, Small (Annual income between GBP 250k and 1m)
GBP 100 - Civil society organisation, Transnational focus, Micro (Annual income less than GBP 250k)
FEE WAIVED - Civil society organisation, National focus (Annual reporting of AWS System use in lieu of fee)

AWS FUNDING Private sector - GBP 35,000

MEMBERS Public sector - By arrangement
– 2024
Civil society organisation - By arrangement
Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) is a global
organisation with team members around the world.

Contact: info@a4ws.org

Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated

Organisation (SCO45894). Alliance for Water Stewardship, AWS and the water droplets logo
are the trademarks of Alliance for Water Stewardship.

Publication date: October 2023