Africa faces severe water security challenges, exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and gaps in institutional knowledge and governance. The African Union’s Vision 2030 emphasizes climate resilience, sustainable resource management, and economic development, aligning with the SDGs, particularly SDG6. However, progress towards SDG6 remains slow due to data limitations, weak institutional frameworks, and fragmented implementation.
The Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales are a globally recognized methodology for rapidly quantifying issues with water access, use, and reliability (www.WISEscales.org). They address important gaps in traditional water measures; in 2024 they were recommended by JMP as a gender-specific indicator for SDG6.
We will discuss the role WISE data can play in advancing water security in Africa with a brief introduction to the WISE Scales—their global validation, their brevity (3 minutes, 12 questions) and rapid uptake. We will then present findings from WISE Scale implementation in at least 20 African countries. Participants will hear from stakeholders in the African Union, national governments, and NGOs, who have collected or used WISE data to make decisions about policy, resource allocation, and program evaluation. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to practice scale implementation and be given WISE Scale implementation materials in English, French, and Portuguese.

Water is a critical resource in agricultural supply chains, yet many companies struggle to manage water risks and drive sustainable practices effectively. The Agricultural Supply Chain Water Action Framework provides a structured, practical approach to help businesses identify, implement, and scale water and climate initiatives across global agricultural supply chains. This session will explore the framework's development, incorporating insights from agricultural traders, processors, downstream customers, and subject matter experts
Attendees will gain insights into key components of the framework, case studies, tools, and resources to integrate water and climate resilient best practices into supply chain and procurement functions.
The session will also discuss challenges and barriers businesses face in adopting water and climate resilient practices and exploring collaborative solutions in agricultural supply chains. Emphasis will be placed on real-world examples demonstrating successful initiatives, technologies and partnerships.
Expert panelists will share perspectives on collaborative water action, policy alignment, and corporate engagement. Participants will leave with actionable insights and access to a digital toolkit containing guidelines, case studies, and resources to help drive successful adoption and implementation of the framework.

Water risk has become one of the most urgent challenges for global corporations—directly impacting business continuity, community resilience, and long-term sustainability goals. To address this, Waterplan is helping Fortune 500 companies transform water stewardship by leveraging AI, cloud computing, and advanced analytics to measure, respond to, and report water risk across operations and supply chains. This session will showcase how leading organizations are using AI to break down silos, generate real-time insights, and align global strategies with local watershed realities.

Corporate water leaders from Amazon, Procter & Gamble, Suntory Holdings, AB InBev, and Waterplan will share practical lessons and case studies where technology has reshaped decision-making, from centralizing data into a trusted source of truth to quantifying and validating volumetric water benefits across diverse geographies. Panelists will also highlight best practices in designing locally relevant interventions, ensuring transparency in reporting, and building credibility with stakeholders through traceable, evidence-based outcomes.

From automated risk assessments to AI-driven restoration tracking, attendees will gain actionable insights into how companies are scaling water stewardship globally. The session will conclude with practical guidance for organizations beginning their digital journey—covering quick wins, common pitfalls, and the role of technology in ensuring resilient, community-centered, and sustainable water strategies.

By 2030, global freshwater demand will exceed supply by 40%, exacerbating existing challenges in water access, sanitation, and biodiversity loss. Climate change is intensifying these challenges, with increased floods, droughts, and water demand. In this session we will define joint actions to boost water resilience and define key messages to CoP30 and the UN Water Conference 2026. 

Several international programs initiate de-escalation of the global water and climate crisis to accelerate planning and actions towards climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable water management to achieve water security for all. The session brings together policymakers, experts, and practitioners to share experiences from around the world and lessons learned from multi-level and cross-sectoral dialogues. 

The international programs will be introduced and key questions for transformative changes to mainstream climate resilient water management in planning and strategies across sectors will be addressed through interactive panel discussions. Grounded in scientific analysis, the programs drive informed decision making on strategic planning and enhances access to financing, amplifying the effectiveness of water resilience initiatives. 

Recognizing that water resilience is essential for economic, social, and ecological stability, the added value of the programs in supporting policymakers craft coordinated climate actions that prioritize sustainable water management will be discussed. With cases around the world, participants will investigate the design of dialogues to seize opportunities for advancing water resilience and climate action collectively.

This session will explore how the Heads of State Initiatives (HoSI) together with WASH accounts can transform financial planning and accountability in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector. HoSI support presidents and prime ministers worldwide to make WASH a priority of their mandates. With over 75% of countries reporting funding gaps in implementing WASH plans, reliable data is essential to target limited resources and advocate for increased investment in line with HoSI commitments.
WASH accounts offer a standardized snapshot of annual financial flows, enabling governments to identify spending gaps, set realistic targets, track commitments and design credible financing strategies. Case studies from Nigeria and Mali highlight the practical impact: Nigeria used WASH accounts to pinpoint areas with cholera outbreaks and low per capita WASH expenditures, while Mali leveraged them to expose funding shortfalls and develop a national financing strategy.
As countries engage in HoSI, embedding country commitments in a robust monitoring framework is critical. By sharing country experiences, this session will demonstrate how WASH accounts facilitate mutual accountability among governments and partners, thereby accelerating progress toward SDG 6. Participants will also discuss strategies for building capacity to develop WASH accounts to track HoSI financial commitments.

In conflict-affected South Sudan, where scientific data is scarce but traditional knowledge is rich, integrating community insights with hydrological science offers game-changing flood protection solutions. Since 2022, through the Bor Flood Management Project, IOM, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Euroconsult Mott MacDonald have conducted participatory environmental and hydrological studies. These were corroborated by local flood perceptions, early warning mechanisms, and response strategies to design and implement community-led flood resilience initiatives. As a result, Bor—a city repeatedly devastated by floods since 2019—now benefits from locally driven flood protection infrastructure and capacity-strengthening efforts, ensuring safer, more sustainable communities.

This session will showcase the Asian Water Development Outlook 2025’s comprehensive approach to water security assessment.
It will delve into critical areas such as access to safe drinking water, sustainable water management, urban resilience, and environmental protection. It aims to provide a holistic framework for understanding the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in the water sector across Asia and the Pacific. By addressing these key areas, the session will highlight the importance of integrated water resource management and the need for collaborative efforts among governments, private sectors, and communities.
The session will offer a forward-looking outlook on emergent and future issues that will impact water security in the region. Topics such as gender and heat stress, glacial melt, and the integration of water resource management with Sustainable Development Goal 6 will be explored. This foresight into water security will help professionals anticipate and address pressures on the horizon, ensuring a resilient and sustainable water future. The session will also present a strengthened response through water assessments in seven countries across regions in Asia and the Pacific. It will provide guidance for completing AWDO assessments in these countries, offering tailored recommendations to address specific water security challenges and opportunities.

Laundry is one of the most time-consuming and water-intensive household tasks, disproportionately affecting women in underserved regions. With 50% of the world’s laundry done by hand, it requires extensive labor and exposes people to unsafe water and harsh chemicals. The Laundry Initiative for Transformation and Unparalleled Scale (LIFT-Us) aims to revolutionize laundry practices. This initiative enhances water quality, achieves significant energy and water savings, and promotes economic opportunities, health outcomes, and social empowerment. The workshop delves into key questions:
Why haven't laundry practices changed in the last century?
What is needed to transform laundry practices?
How can we achieve a broader impact?
Who should be involved?
Participants are introduced to the bigger picture of laundry, study results on demands and options, discuss the questions, and collaboratively develop a way forward. There is a walk-around exhibition of innovations to connect stakeholders. Through strategic partnerships with the private sector, LIFT-Us can foster innovations in water-saving technologies, eco-friendly detergents, and textiles. Participants will be inspired by the scale, demand, and opportunities to transform this forgotten burden; leaving motivated to explore ways to involve others and initiate a movement towards sustainable and innovative laundry practices that enhance water resilience and climate action globally.

There is widespread lead contamination in drinking water supply systems throughout sub-Saharan Africa and other global settings at levels of human health concern. Since lead exposure can have profound and life-long impacts, immediate action must be taken to reduce lead exposure through drinking water. This interactive session will present the latest evidence on lead contamination in drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa and other global settings (sources, scope, and levels); review the health impacts of lead exposure; and discuss specific steps governments, international organizations, and development partners can take to prevent and mitigate lead exposure in drinking water. Country case studies, along with evidence-based strategies to detect and prevent exposure to unsafe products, such as plumbing products, will be presented. Opening remarks will be made by country and stakeholder representatives followed by a panel discussion by selected representatives from government and civil society, as well as technical experts and other sector partners. Participants will then discuss challenges unique to their context with the goal of developing situation-specific responses.

Climate change is impacting freshwater resources globally, leading to increased scarcity and competition among users across various sectors, particularly in regions like MENA. This pressing challenge necessitates a robust approach to integrated water resource management, which is essential for ensuring equitable allocation and sustainable use of natural resources. Water Accounting plus (WA+) offers a systematic tracking of the current status and trends in water availability and consumption in specified domains, providing the foundation of sound water management decisions. By tracking water use and availability, decision-makers can develop strategies to adapt to changing climate conditions. The session will introduce the Water Accounting concept and tools, sharing example case studies. The session will center around two key questions:

• What are the resilience-building possibilities offered by WA+?

• How can WA+ tools be institutionalized within governance structures to support sustainable water management?

Through presentations and audience interaction, the session aims to foster dialogue and exchange on how data-driven approaches like WA+ can contribute to climate resilience and improved water governance.

WASH in HCFs is crucial for preventing infectious diseases and achieving SDGs. This session provides an opportunity to discuss WASH in HCFs in three countries—Madagascar, Tanzania, and Nepal—each having different climates and cultures. JICA and WaterAid jointly conducted a pilot initiative involving WASH improvement activities in 45 HCFs. The activities included tangible changes, such as toilet restoration, water supply system installation, installation of handwashing facilities in each point of care, and promotion of key hygiene behaviors through branded comprehensive hygiene campaigns for HCF staff. Based on the initiative’s results, we will present the increase in handwashing rates during critical moments, factors behind this, and difficulties in maintaining WASH services status. We will also share important suggestions for future WASH improvement activities in HCFs. Additionally, we will present the results of our analysis that reveal the field situation of WASH in HCFs, particularly, in Malawi. This presentation will demonstrate the importance of WASH in HCFs in the context of mitigating climate change impacts, such as floods. This session consists of the two parts with some presentations, and the audience can experience the game activities in part 1. At the end, there will be a Q&A session to exchange opinions with participants.

New insights have emerged about how water resources can be leveraged as the connective tissue between sectors and institutions, while resilience thinking teaches us about seeing systems and understanding how those systems can dynamically evolve and transform. Water resilience has developed as an innovative and integrative approach to using water resources as the instrument and medium for resilience policies, investments, and programs. These insights have led to new analytical, policy, and economic tools and frameworks, such as how we perceive and measure the materiality of water risks to financial systems, and how we can ensure that economies and political systems can prosper despite shifts in an uncertain water cycle. This session will present these tools and frameworks and show they are producing new insights, impacts, and evidence of how to navigate the increasingly uncertain waters of our time at global, national, and subnational levels. We will use the session as a way to engage the water community and financial institutions to validate these trends and find alignment to broaden and accelerate the transformative power of water resilience.

This session will take a deep dive into the role of water (hydrological cycle) in climate resilience, focusing on its contribution to climate mitigation through carbon sequestration in aquatic ecosystems such as wetlands, lakes, and rivers. Case studies will illustrate the impact of green and blue water management on both ecosystem and community resilience. The session will also address how the degradation of these systems exacerbates climate vulnerabilities and will explore solutions to protect these ecosystems from both climate change and human-induced threats.

1. Water availability (too much or too little) is one way climate change impacts human and ecological communities. To enhance community resilience to climate-induced changes, solutions must facilitate the maintenance and restoration of natural environments that retain water and promote ecosystem services. This session shows how models and model-based tools are being used to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change through actions that safeguard natural processes and restore more natural flow regimes in Louisiana, which saw the first US climate refugees, and across the US Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts, where climate change is affecting ecology, society, and economy. We demonstrate how using Nature-Based Solutions can help communities across the southeastern US reduce flood risk, adapt to or mitigate climate induced environmental changes, preserve biodiversity, and promote environmental justice. We also review how to mitigate climate-related flooding in agricultural landscapes, while still growing food. Finally, we explore the process of working with communities, industries, and government partners, through training and project design, to make practical use of complex data to create a common bond around solutions and discuss a broader holistic vision of using science to adapt to climate change globally, especially in data-poor regions of the world.

A recent report by The Nature Conservancy and Forest Trends found investment in NbS for water security doubled over the last decade, reaching USD 49 billion by 2023. While investment trends are strong – maintaining momentum even through economic downturns and major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic – systemic barriers to scaling NbS still persist, and policy and regulation has an outsized role to play.

This session will share global and regional insights from “Doubling Down on Nature: State of Investment in Nature-based Solutions for Water Security” by Forest Trends and The Nature Conservancy and “Beyond Barriers: Creating enabling conditions that unlock investment in NbS” by The Nature Conservancy, SIWI, Arup, and IVL to discuss the role of policy – including regulation and legislation – in reducing barriers to investing in NbS.

Join regulators, funders, development finance institutions, and NGOs from across the world who are leveraging nature to improve the resilience and reliability of our water supply systems. Take a deep dive into successful cases and best-practice policies for NbS.

The water and wastewater sector received $7 billion in adaptation finance between 2021 and 2022—68% of tracked adaptation finance. Yet, this remains far below what is needed for resilient global water infrastructure. This session will explore how cities can strengthen risk identification, leverage insurance mechanisms, and foster public-private partnerships to unlock investment in urban water resilience.

It will open with Arup and Resilient Cities Network introducing urban water resilience challenges, with a case study from Lagos demonstrating how inclusive risk assessments inform resilience planning. 

Then Fathom will discuss how robust flood modelling and risk data enable insurers and cities to better understand, price, and manage climate risks, ultimately unlocking finance and catalysing action on resilient infrastructure. This will build on the foundations of Fathom's collaboration with Swiss Re, demonstrating how creating technical foundations to climate insurance enables more precise risk transfer mechanisms, incentivising proactive adaptation measures as a driver for infrastructure development that reaches the threshold for climate insurance access. 

British Expertise International will close by showing how public-private collaboration, underpinned by strategic risk assessment, can attract climate finance to urban water systems. They will illustrate this through examples from their member organisations Climate Sense and Pegasys, experts in leveraging climate financing. 

Water challenges are complex, but collective action makes real change possible. This session introduces a multi-stakeholder initiative that unites farmers, climatechs, corporations, local governments, and NGOs to drive local and regional collaborative water stewardship, grounded in a technical assessment and territorial study that established a baseline for action.Through this initiative, we have:Aligned local multi-stakeholders under shared water stewardship goals.Improve agricultural practices through training and technology to enhance water efficiency.Developed a methodology to establish a baseline to measure and track impact.Created financial incentives to support farmers in adopting sustainable irrigation practices.The results? Improved water security, stronger climate resilience, and a scalable model for collective action. This session will share key lessons on breaking governance barriers, ensuring financial sustainability, and expanding localized interventions into long-term climate solutions.By fostering collaboration and leveraging data-driven strategies, we demonstrate how cross-sector partnerships can transform water security from a challenge into an opportunity for resilience and sustainability. This session serves as a blueprint for regions worldwide, proving that local action can lead to global impact.

The proposed session will explore how solar irrigation technologies can enhance climate resilience, improve water security, and support sustainable agriculture in South Asia and East Africa. As climate change disrupts water availability, smallholder farmers face increasing challenges in accessing reliable irrigation sources. Solar-powered irrigation pumps (SIPs) offer a low-carbon, climate-smart alternative, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, promoting sustainable food production, and supporting resilient livelihoods. Through case studies and expert insights, this session will demonstrate how integrating solar irrigation into water policies can help countries achieve their climate and water security goals, while ensuring social inclusion and financial viability. In light of growing concerns around the links between solar irrigation and groundwater use in some parts of the Global South, the discussion will highlight lessons from SoLAR’s “Living Labs”, innovative financing solutions, and policy frameworks that promote sustainable water use for agriculture.

The key objectives of this session will be to: 

1. Share evidence and demonstrate key lessons learned from South Asia and East Africa on the effectiveness of solar irrigation as a viable strategy for water and climate resilience. 
2. Share innovative ideas for mobilizing finance and scaling solar irrigation in an equitable and inclusive manner.
3. Discuss strategies to integrate solar irrigation sustainably within water policies while managing groundwater resources

Water-related risks are increasingly critical for corporates, requiring proactive water management at both site and watershed levels. Danone has developed SPRING, a structured methodology that enhances site-level water management from watershed to wastewater treatment and local stakeholder engagement. With 20+ years of application, Danone will launch at this World Water Week event the public release of its approach to support corporate operations in building resilience.

SPRING aims to:

• Empower site teams to take ownership of water management.
• Co-design actionable water plans using a structured framework.
• Improve water maturity through continuous learning and progress.

This interactive session will explore SPRING’s methodology and its role in bridging corporate water goals with site-level action, filling a critical gap in the Food & Beverages sector and beyond.

It will include a presentation of SPRING, a panel discussion with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Pacific Institute, followed by a practical exercise, allowing participants to experience SPRING themselves and share first impressions. 

This introductory session provides an overview of the Planetary Boundaries framework, highlighting how water intersects with multiple boundaries to support life on Earth. Experts and practitioners will discuss the urgent need to maintain freshwater resources within safe limits for a growing global population. By setting the context for the seminar series, this session ensures that all participants share a common understanding of the interconnected challenges facing water, climate, and broader sustainability goals.

Managing shared water resources equitably and sustainably amid climate challenges requires robust governance structures like basin organizations. Key factors include legal frameworks, mandates, adaptability to climate-induced changes, and sustainable financing to foster cooperation and prevent conflicts as water availability fluctuates.This session will unite representatives from basin organizations (e.g., Danube, Mekong, Nile, Okavango, Zambezi), national governments, international bodies, and civil society to explore governance models and evolving arrangements for shared basin management. Discussions will center on four critical dimensions: (1) legal frameworks and their adaptation to shifting basin and climate conditions, (2) organizational mandates and core functions aligned with strategic goals and climate resilience, (3) financial sustainability through member contributions and innovative funding (including climate funds), and (4) engagement of non-member riparian states in basin management and climate-informed water diplomacy.Following four ignite talks on these topics, participants will join world café-style round tables, each led by a basin organization representative. Attendees can rotate through two tables before reconvening for final reflections in a plenary session.

In this session, participants will learn about how instead of just "doing WASH" and working with the government to gain blessing and buy in - we are taking a different approach to work with the government from the start. "Seize the Water" project engages directly with staff of multiple government ministries to review and reflect on personal biases, cultural norms and WASH coverage data, to influence how decisions are made and where funding is prioritized.

Join us for a dynamic 60-minute virtual session that explores the synergies—and potential unintended consequences—of innovative water management technologies and practices for both climate adaptation and mitigation.

Through a critical and engaging discussion, the session addresses the attempts to balance mitigation and adaptation through agricultural water solutions, while also examining how benefits, responsibilities, and risks are distributed across food and water systems.

Using a Hotseat format, the session begins with a brief introduction and live audience poll. Then, four short, pre-recorded innovation cases will showcase real-world examples. Speakers will participate in a live Q&A, responding to audience questions including those submitted in advance via LinkedIn.

Whether you're a policymaker, researcher, or practitioner, this session will leave you with fresh insights and questions about what it really takes to drive effective, equitable water solutions in a changing climate.

The session -presentation and expert panel discussion - will explore the fundamental role of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in protecting child health and rights from severe climate change threats experienced in Eastern and Southern Africa. It will consider the child-health nexus within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus approach to Africa's development investments. 
Leveraging our significant regional experience, and our work for UNICEF on children’s climate resilience, we will unpack how climate change is driving water scarcity and contamination, significantly increasing child health risks. These impacts reverberate across children’s developmental cycles, often staying with them for life. The discussion will highlight how inadequate WASH services in schools and communities further compound these risks, straining national healthcare infrastructure, and impacting children’s education, nutrition, and overall well-being.
The session will culminate in an examination of the solutions, e.g.: the development of innovative policies for identifying and prioritising children’s unique developmental needs; the importance of child-disaggregated data used for policy design; and how to enhance the enabling environments necessary for climate investment in safe and sustainable WASH services. Through best practice examples, borne out of our work on the ground in Botswana, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa, the session will demonstrate how finance for children’s health is not a zero-sum game, but a sound long-term investment for any resilient society.

Water projects often face unforeseen challenges. This session presents a collaborative exploration of how to successfully adapt when initial plans falter. We’ll examine multiple case studies, revealing effective strategies for agile project management, proactive community engagement, and responsive adaptation to environmental and social dynamics. Learn from best practices to build more robust and sustainable water solutions that thrive even in the face of adversity. Interactive

Climate change will impact the quality, quantity, timing, and use of water in ways that will affect human health and other interconnected determinants. This could happen directly (e.g., the relationship between temperature and consumption for maintaining proper hydration) or indirectly (e.g., changing precipitation patterns lead to crops with lower nutritional value or extreme variability leading to increases in on-site storage that provides breeding grounds for vectors carrying diseases). This session will explore the connections between water, climate and health with the goal of better understanding how these complex systems interact and the impacts they can have on human health and other interconnected determinants.

A UN-Habitat report on global sanitation and wastewater management in cities, revealed the disturbing state of fecal sludge management in cities. It reveals that there is misalignment in many cities in middle- and low-income countries between the predominance of onsite sanitation and inadequacy of facilities capable of treating fecal sludge. It added that these cities are generally reporting lower levels of wastewater treatment, and that data may be absent completely for fecal sludge treatment, despite the overwhelming prevalence of onsite sanitation.
This session will show the poor state of faecal sludge treatment in African Cities, how this affects the resilience of these cities in the face of weather events fueled by climate change and how to accelerate progress.
It will also highlight the socio-economic aspects, human and environmental health implications of fecal sludge management in Africa.
The session will present the state of faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTP) in Africa and the institutions investing in FSTP development.
Experts panel discussions will highlight the steps to accelerate progress towards safely managed climate resilient sanitation services for all.
Case studies will be used to show the coordinated set of actions to be taken across the sanitation chain to make progress.

This session will explore the potential for scaling nature-based solutions (NBS) to enhance water security and strengthen climate resilience in arid and semi-arid regions. As the world grapples with increasing water scarcity, climate change, and environmental degradation, NBS offer cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to conventional infrastructure. The discussion will highlight how strategies such as wetland restoration, reforestation, and sustainable agricultural practices can address critical water challenges while mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Using a case study approach, the session will showcase real-world examples of NBS implementation across Asia and Africa. These examples will illustrate how NBS deliver tangible benefits that support national and regional water policies, improve community well-being, restore ecosystem health, and boost local economies. The session will also examine key enablers and challenges for scaling up NBS, including supportive policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, and institutional capacity development.

A particular emphasis will be placed on the impacts of climate change on the hydrological cycle and the implications for the long-term sustainability of NBS at the local level. Participants will gain practical insights into integrating NBS with existing grey infrastructure in water supply systems, helping to build more adaptive, resilient, and sustainable water management in the face of a changing climate.

Desired impact & session outcomes

Integrating NBS into water and agricultural frameworks has the potential to transform water security and climate resilience by empowering communities, building local capacities, shaping effective policies, and fostering economic sustainability throughout Asia and the MENA regions.

Motivation

We will be inviting female speakers and youth from these regions.

WWF is at the forefront of addressing complex climate and water risks across global supply chains and ecosystems. Our innovative strategies reduce climate vulnerability while strengthening resilience and adaptation to both climate and water challenges. In partnership with communities, governments, the private sector and academia, we will showcase transformative integrated water management initiatives in the vital Indus River basin. This basin is a lifeline for more than 160 million people; it sustains rich biodiversity and irrigates 80% of Pakistan's 21.5 million hectares of agricultural land.
Our collaborative efforts with partners, emphasizes strengthening climate resilience and adaptation through water stewardship and nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, empowering women, and enhancing community health and well-being. Through these efforts along with advocating for locally relevant nature positive policies, we unlock a wide range of benefits for local communities, businesses and critical ecosystems.

Made up of three teams: legacy, reality, and possibility, this dynamic Q&A panel session will envision a climate-positive future for the UK, identify drivers for climate action, and explore how the UK’s infrastructure legacy provides both challenges and opportunities for climate resilience. The session will begin with a welcome from Mark Fletcher, Chair of British Water, followed by a keynote introduction to UK Climate Resilience efforts from [org tbc]. Following this, one person from each team will join a series of three panels exploring a total of six themes. The questions will begin with set questions from the moderator and then begin to integrate audience questions throughout.

• Theme 1: Is our inherited infrastructure a burden or a blueprint? Are our inherited water systems and policies holding us back or are they the foundation we need to build a resilient future?
• Theme 2: Whose values shape the future of water? Should water decisions be driven by historical precedent, present-day needs, or future values we aspire to?
• Theme 3: Can we adapt fast enough to climate extremes? Is our current pace of adaptation enough to meet the urgency of too little, too much, too dirty water?
• Theme 4: Who should lead water governance- institutions, communities, or technology? Where should power and responsibility lie in driving water policy and regulation
• Theme 5: Digital futures- are we building a legacy of collaboration or complexity? Will digital tools and data-sharing transform water resilience- or are they creating new silos and dependencies?
• Theme 6: Can we truly integrate water thinking across sectors? Is a holistic, interdisciplinary approach achievable, or just a buzzword?

In the Arab region, 19 out of 22 countries meet official definitions of water scarcity. This challenge is exacerbated by climate change impacts and conflict, which leads to overdrawn groundwater resources and damage to key water infrastructure. Cities are at the forefront of the water scarcity challenge due to growing urbanization and climate change and conflict induced displacement. 

This session will launch with a keynote address by a representative from the National Council for Scientific Research and Ministry of Environment of Lebanon sharing experiences confronting water scarcity, climate change, and conflict impacts from a policy perspective. Subsequently, panelists from the Directorate General of Urban Planning of Lebanon, the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and UN-Habitat will summarize their experiences using climate mainstreamed urban planning, including urban vulnerability assessments and the application of climate change projections in municipal planning, to address the urban water and climate challenge.  

The session will include 20 minutes of moderated Q&A to engage with audience members on their experiences with urban planning for water scarcity in their communities.

Urban centers in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are at the forefront of the climate change battle, with cities responsible for around 70% of the region's greenhouse gas emissions and bearing over 80% of losses from climate-related disasters. Urbanization in LAC is projected to reach 89% by 2050 and cities, in particular low-income households and marginalized communities, face the challenge to rapidly adapt to increased climate risks, associated with water scarcity, floods and increasing temperatures.
This session explores innovative, adaptive, and integrated strategies and technologies to build and finance sustainable urban water systems that embrace climate resilience. The discussion will offer an overview of: (i) methodologies on the water demand side, focusing on behavioral change approaches to identify underlying factors and support the design of interventions that promote sustainability; (ii) robust decision-making approaches for water utilities to address climate risks as part of complex interactions between urban and peri-urban areas; (iii) coordination mechanisms with local water utilities to enable new strategies, incentive schemes for innovation, and water resilience plans to strengthen water systems; and (iv) governance structures for vulnerable water resources, highlighting the key role of local communities for enhancing planning and decision-making.

The water sector in Asia and the Pacific plays a critical yet often overlooked role in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, driven by energy-intensive water supply, wastewater treatment, irrigation, and methane from reservoirs. Decarbonizing water infrastructure offers a strategic opportunity to advance climate and development goals. This session will explore high-impact pathways to cut emissions while building resilience, equity, and sustainability. Experts will share tools, case studies, and strategies spanning sanitation, renewable energy, efficiency, water-smart agriculture, and basin-scale resource management.

Key discussion areas include:

Integrating water demand into climate strategies to align clean energy, carbon sequestration, and sustainable water management with Paris Agreement goals
Cutting GHGs from sanitation, rice production (via AWD), and irrigation through efficiency, solar deployment, and strong groundwater governance
Achieving basin-scale carbon neutrality by optimizing dams, water systems, and forests,
Leveraging carbon markets and global standards such as the FAST-Infra Label to attract private capital and ensure transparent ESG and climate performance
Reaching net-zero through emissions accounting, least-cost abatement, and cross-sector planning supported by digital tools for MRV
Evaluating trade-offs, co-benefits, and cost-effective solutions

The session will show how Asia-Pacific leadership can accelerate the global transition to low-carbon water systems.

This interactive workshop explores case studies of sanitation initiatives that enhance climate resilience. The climate challenges faced by isolated rural communities, such as drought, heavy rains, heat waves, and more, affect progress towards reaching universal access to safe sanitation. We incorporate markets, governments, and communities in nature-based innovations.
In the high Andean valleys of Peru and Bolivia, Water For People partners with communities to solve sanitation issues by building and protecting wetlands to restore ecosystems and safely manage wastewater. In Peru, communities work together on community-sized wastewater treatment systems that integrate wetlands for low-cost treatment. In Bolivia, families invest in household sanitation systems that biodigest and treat waste in constructed wetlands, saving them money for sludge extraction services and providing water that can be reused for irrigation. These initiatives integrate climate-resilient sanitation practices, nature-based solutions, circular economy principles, and community ownership.
Water for Good supports local WASH facilitators in Tanzania to increase demand for rural sanitation services. Facilitators conduct door-to-door training and monitoring of household sanitation investments over 15 months of engagement. In Ethiopia, WASH master planning and market-based sanitation make allies for collective action out of

The climate crisis is a water crisis. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as the richest hydrological region in the world, is particularly vulnerable to the increasing intensity of climate hazards. Between 2000 and 2019, more than 150 million people in LAC were affected by 1,205 natural disasters including 548 floods, 330 storms, 74 droughts, 66 landslides, and 50 extreme heat events. In addition, between 2020 and 2022, 88% of the 175 events that affected the region were climate, atmospheric, or hydrologic in nature.
This year’s Focus on the America’s program will focus on the link between climate change and water management in LAC not only from the perspective of the challenges that it poses to the region, but also from the point of view of the opportunities that it creates and the lessons that can provide to other regions.
This Live Talkshow will start our program with an overview on the challenges and opportunities in the LAC region, and a discussion on the collaborative work, best practices, innovative mechanisms, and successful interventions for better adaptation, mitigation and sustainability in the water sector in the face of climate change.

Gamification refers to the application of game elements—such as points, challenges, and rewards—to non-game activities, thereby making them more engaging and motivating. 

In this session, we explore how gamifying rainwater education can inspire and mobilize youth for climate action. Through the Rain School Initiative and similar programs in Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Korea, speakers will share how competitions, cultural performances, and digital tools turn rainwater management into an exciting learning experience.

Drawing on both historical wisdom and modern strategies, the session will show how rainwater can be a fun, accessible, and unifying solution for climate resilience, empowering youth to lead change in their schools and communities.

With water scarcity becoming more frequent and severe, groundwater is proving to be a critical yet often overlooked resource. Despite its benefits knowledge of sustainable use, recharge and governance of groundwater are lagging way behind that of surface water. Not only do we all too the see groundwater tables drop from over-use, but even more silently groundwater quality is threatened and in many instances an entire unknown. Climate change contributes to increasing salinization especially in drylands and coastal areas while industrial and urban uses are sources of bacterial and persistent pollutants. This session brings together global experts, project leaders, and youth advocates to showcase innovative strategies that leverage groundwater for climate action adaptation and resilience. Through engaging discussion, attendees will explore how regions worldwide, from Africa to Asia, Latin America to the Mediterranean, are implementing cutting-edge groundwater solutions to mitigate water scarcity, protect water quality, secure livelihoods, and strengthen climate adaptation.
The session will highlight real-world projects that are transforming groundwater governance, including glacier-fed aquifers, transboundary cooperation, nature-based solutions, and advanced monitoring technologies. Join us for an interactive and solutions-driven conversation on how groundwater can be the key to safeguarding water security in a rapidly changing world.

As climate change accelerates, increasing hydrological variability and water scarcity in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) present significant threats to agricultural productivity, food security, and economic stability. This session will provide a data-driven regional assessment of water scarcity across croplands, integrating AI, remote sensing, and ground data to identify priority areas for a strategic transition to irrigation that enhances climate resilience and supports sustainable agricultural intensification.
With declining precipitation patterns and shifting climatic conditions, reliance on rain-fed agriculture is becoming increasingly untenable. This session will examine the spatial distribution of water deficits, highlighting key agricultural hotspots across ECA where transitioning to irrigation is both hydrologically and economically viable. Preliminary modeling results will be presented on the expected economic and food security benefits of irrigation adoption, considering regional climate projections and hydrological constraints.
Additionally, the session will analyze irrigation-related energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions, differentiating between surface water irrigation (gravity flow) and lift irrigation. It will quantify energy efficiency gaps and explore pathways to optimize irrigation energy use while minimizing environmental externalities. By integrating climate science, hydrological analysis, and energy modeling, this session will provide evidence-based insights into sustainable irrigation transitions for enhanced resilience and food security.

The humanitarian sector is facing an unprecedented funding gap, with 47% of needs left unfunded in 2024. Climate change and conflicts are set to exacerbate these demands, particularly in the water sector. With 80% of humanitarian needs being recurrent and protracted, there is a critical opportunity to shift some funding burdens toward public-private investments. As the pool of traditional donors shrinks, looking beyond grants is no longer optional. 

Humanitarian Blended Finance (HBF) offers a pathway to attract additional capital by aligning public and private sector interests with humanitarian and development needs on the ground to deliver sustainable solutions through long-term investments. This approach leverages humanitarian resources to catalyse concessional finance and encourage broader private and public sector participation, ensuring a durable impact for affected populations. 

This session will explore how HBF can address water needs in protracted crises. It will present four pathways for humanitarian actors to engage in these multisector partnerships: Enabling, Convening, Advising, and Implementing.  Representatives from different organisations will explore the benefits and complementarity of the approach, drawing from their experience in long-term water projects and identifying additional pipeline opportunities. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A. 


 

The climate crisis is urgent, with rising global temperatures fueling extreme weather events that threaten lives, economies, and ecosystems. Without swift action to cut emissions and build resilience, the world risks crossing irreversible tipping points with catastrophic consequences.
Effective climate policy requires integrating mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (strengthening resilience). Addressing both together prevents unintended consequences, such as adaptation efforts increasing emissions or mitigation strategies overlooking vulnerable communities. Coordinated planning aligns financial, institutional, and technical resources, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement emphasize mitigation, while National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) focus on resilience. Without coordination, efforts may become fragmented, missing synergies and creating conflicts. Embedding adaptation within mitigation strategies—and vice versa—maximizes benefits, lowers costs, and enhances effectiveness.
This session will examine how policymakers can operationalize the Nexus to boost resilience, optimize investments, and ensure sustainable resource management. Experts from policy, academia, and the public sector will present case studies and discuss practical pathways for integrating the Nexus into national climate strategies, water governance, and financing mechanisms.

Globally, there is a growing recognition of the significance of Indigenous leadership in water stewardship. Indigenous-led approaches provide transformative pathways to addressing current and future water challenges, particularly in the face of climate change. These challenges threaten Indigenous communities’ traditional food sources, sacred sites, and economic opportunities. However, Indigenous peoples are not merely impacted stakeholders—they are leaders in water management, environmental conservation, and climate adaptation.

This session will examine how local initiatives in the Pacific, Australia, Brazil, and Canada can broadly influence water policy, providing a pathway for other nations and lessons for collective global action. By showcasing real-world case studies, this panel will highlight how Indigenous leadership in water governance models can integrate Indigenous Knowledge systems with contemporary policy frameworks.

Participants will gain insights into the role of Indigenous Knowledges in shaping governance structures, collaborative strategies for designing water policies, and approaches to embedding Indigenous-led reforms into subnational and/or national approaches. The discussion will also explore opportunities to apply these lessons globally, fostering a collective movement toward sustainable and equitable water governance to meet climate challenges.

This session will explore landscape-based solutions that integrate ancestral knowledge and ecological practices to enhance biocultural diversity and water security. Through real-world case studies from around the globe, participants will gain insights into how traditional land and water management practices could contribute to contemporary biodiversity and water conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. An expert from an indigenous community in Nepal and one from an environmental organization in Colombia together with a landscape architect connected to a research insitute will present innovative approaches, including watershed restoration, agro-ecological transitions, and landscape-based solutions for climate adaptation. The session will feature short pitches, participatory mapping exercises, and an audience-driven dialogue to foster cross-sector collaboration. By highlighting the role of ancestral knowledge in landscape stewardship, the session aims to inspire new partnerships and policies that support biocultural diversity in water resource management.

What if urban rivers were more than hidden, polluted waterways? What if neglected harbours could become spaces where communities shape their climate future? 

This session explores the transformative potential of urban water bodies to drive social, environmental, and economic benefits while enhancing flood resilience and biodiversity, playing a pivotal role in climate action. Through three dynamic presentations and audience participation, the session will showcase projects from concept to full-scale implementation.

Firstly, Arup will demonstrate two concept projects: Canary Wharf and the cultural and social benefit offered by the daylighting of historic watercourses and lakes in Copenhagen.
The Rivers of the City initiative executed by The Collective Foundation (Bulgaria) will illustrate how people can actively participate in transforming cities’ relationships with their rivers to shape climate-responsive urban spaces.

Finally, The City of Durban from C40’s global network and C40 will share real-world examples of urban river restoration, showcasing how revitalised waterways enhance biodiversity, strengthen climate adaptation, and empower local communities.

The session will conclude with a panel discussion, synthesizing key insights and inspiring attendees to commit to reimagining their local waterways as thriving, climate-adaptive spaces.

This online session establishes the foundational evidence for integrating sanitation with climate action. It will articulate how climate change, through events like water scarcity and flooding, disrupts sanitation infrastructure and services, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. Participants will learn how safely managed, climate-resilient sanitation enhances community resilience and climate adaptation. The session will delve into the latest science on greenhouse gas emissions from the sanitation sector, identifying major sources across the service chain (direct, indirect, and embedded emissions; Scope 1, 2, and 3) and showcasing its significant mitigation potential with examples from a case study in Lahan, Nepal. The goal is to motivate participants to engage further in climate-resilient sanitation initiatives and understand its critical role in both adapting to climate impacts and reducing sectoral contributions to climate change.

Join us for an insightful event on scaling up agroforestry and other sustainable rainfed agricultural practices to secure productive and resilient landscapes and healthy communities through integrated, landscape-wide approaches and innovative finance. This event will explore solutions to the pressing challenges caused by climate change and the disruption of the hydrological cycle due to deforestation, land degradation and poor management practices. 

We will showcase approaches that can enhance green and blue water availability, recharge groundwater and improve dry-season water flows, transform local livelihoods and ecosystem services such as rural water supply, soil fertility and moisture retention, and biodiversity recovery. 

Local communities and organizations, including those preserving traditional and indigenous knowledge, are essential for the long-term sustainability and success of restoration initiatives. By integrating financial innovation with local stewardship, we can create sustainable and scalable solutions that foster resilient water resources, landscapes and vibrant, healthy communities. 

The discussion will focus on leveraging innovative finance to drive sustainable investment in landscape restoration. Participants will discover how sustainable business models can align financial incentives with enhanced resilience and sustainability of livelihoods dependent on rainfed agriculture, agroforestry systems, and pastoralist/rangeland areas. This event is an essential opportunity for professionals, policymakers, community leaders, investors, and anyone committed to sustainable landscape management, climate resilience and reaching SDG6.1 in rural areas.

Utilities sit between escalating climate risk and opaque finance. This session seats NWSC Kampala and the City of Cape Town across from the Green Climate Fund and the Gates Foundation, with two researchers lending a systems lens and translating the climate-finance maze into concrete moves. Together we’ll test appetite for risk, surface what funders actually need to say “yes,” and outline the minimum viable finance office any utility can stand up fast. You’ll leave knowing which conditions to push back on, what a realistic blended structure looks like in your context, and the first 90-day role or pilot that unlocks momentum. 

Live voting. No slides.

You’ll leave with:
• One tactic you can use tomorrow (tariff-path modeling, blending levers, or faster diligence).
• Clarity on which conditions to push back on, and which to keep.
• A simple roles stack inside the utility (scan ? write ? partner) plus a small pilot that unlocks more.

By 2030, an estimated 700 million people may be displaced by drought, while over 46,300 species face extinction threats. The accelerating climate crisis further intensifies these pressures, underscoring the urgent need for integrated urban resilience strategies. 

Cities are where humanity, biodiversity, and governance intersect—making them critical arenas for addressing the crises of water insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Rising sea levels, urban flooding, and unequal access to water resources disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially women and marginalized communities, making a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion approach more important now than ever. 

This session positions cities as catalysts for transformative change, demonstrating how holistic integration of water, biodiversity, equity, and climate resilience can drive meaningful impact. A dynamic panel of global experts and urban leaders will present pioneering strategies and successful case studies. Participants will gain insights into overcoming key structural barriers, such as funding gaps and policy fragmentation, while exploring innovative solutions and partnerships with the private sector that empower cities to lead at this crucial nexus.

Rural water interventions in sub-Saharan Africa often reach only small pockets of communities, leaving millions without reliable service. In Uganda, around 20 million people still lack adequate water access. Achieving full “saturation” coverage is essential to normalizing willingness to pay for water services, which underpins financial sustainability and reliable 24/7 supply of safe water. Several countries, including Uganda, are developing national regulatory frameworks for rural water service delivery. Uganda’s framework focuses on professionalizing service provision through a performance management approach. High-performing utilities are rewarded with larger service areas, while poor performers lose territory. Experience has shown, however, that utilities are only one part of the system. Sustainable and equitable rural water services require coordinated performance from multiple actors, including investors in new infrastructure, local and central government, national politicians, and NGOs and donors. An effective regulatory framework therefore needs well-defined KPIs and rewards for these multiple actors with cost-effective and accurate measurement systems. This session will share lessons from Whave’s work with central and local government in Uganda to co-develop such a regulatory system, to deliver climate-resilient, financially sustainable rural water services in line with SDG6.1.

Valencia’s recent DANA floods are not just a wake-up call—they present a critical opportunity to drive systemic change. Rather than focusing solely on short-term reconstruction, this session calls for a long-term perspective that addresses the root causes of flood risk through integrated, forward-looking strategies.

In the ongoing post-DANA recovery, a clear tension has emerged between traditional protection-based approaches and alternative strategies focused on adaptation or even relocation. At the same time, promising initiatives—such as the development of river parks—have surfaced, offering multifunctional solutions that not only absorb floods but also provide recreational spaces and enhance ecological connectivity.

This session places that broader debate—protection, adaptation, or relocation—at the center, inviting participants to think beyond conventional solutions and co-create responses that are inclusive, effective, and future-proof.

Through a serious role-playing game, participants will take on the roles of diverse stakeholders and simulate complex decision-making scenarios. Together, they will develop integrated strategies that balance technical feasibility, governance challenges, and community needs—producing actionable recommendations for Valencia’s recovery, with broader relevance for other regions facing similar risks.

Drawing from global best practices and lived experiences, the session will encourage participants not only to embrace new ways of thinking, but also to reflect on the importance of integrated pathways and no-regret measures for climate adaptation.

Building on the success of last year’s session, this workshop once again uses serious gaming as a powerful tool to explore how Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) can drive systemic change in urban water management.

If you believe that water and disaster management require more voices—and more inclusive thinking—than ever before, then this is your session.

This dynamic session builds on a successful ‘Shark Tank’ format from 2023 and 2024 SWWW. The games-show begins with an overview of investing in WASH innovation to achieve SDG 6 in climate-impacted contexts.

A scenario featuring the fictional ""City of Lodah,"" struggling with sustainable WASH services due to extreme weather and climate impacts, highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions and non-traditional partnerships. Three ""sharks"" – representing an international development bank, national government and impact investment group – will evaluate four pitches from innovators. 

The audience will also ""invest"" virtually. A facilitated discussion with the sharks will explore their investment rationale and the drivers for climate-resilient WASH solutions, with audience participation.

The session directly addresses the critical need to accelerate the scaling of climate-resilient WASH innovations – with a focus on investment and partnerships. It features diverse perspectives, encourages audience participation, and focuses on actionable outcomes with potential for significant impact.