The Government of Austria has given $5.4 million (£3.2m) to a World Bank scheme for supporting water-related projects across the globe.

It will scale up the World Bank’s efforts to help countries become more resilient to climate change and achieve their development goals through improved water management and services.

Austria has become the fourth donor to the Water Partnership Programme (WPP) – a trust fund set up in 2009 – joining the UK, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Harald Waiglein, Director General at the Federal Ministry of Finance of Austria said: “Countries will not be able to achieve their goals – human development, liveable cities and food and energy security – without improving the way they manage water and provide adequate water services to their people.

“We all have the responsibility to help countries protect their people and economies.”

One in five people currently live in countries with water scarcity, the World Bank said.