GWOPA Assembly Programme

Saturday, 2 November 2024

09:00 – 15:00 Integrity Training

A training session facilitated by Water Integrity Network (WIN) focusing on the TAPA Framework (Transparency, Accountability, Participation, Anti-corruption) to address integrity issues in water and sanitation services.

09:00 – 17:00 Operationalizing Sanitation Focused Operators’ Partnerships (SWOPs)

A meeting to discuss scaling SWOPs for sanitation, focusing on service provider needs and peer learning partnerships to improve sanitation service delivery.

17:00 – 18:00 GWOPA International Steering Committee (ISC) Meeting

Introduction of newly elected members, updates, and coordination for upcoming events, including COP29 and UNCCD COP16.

18:30 – 21:30 Nile Cruise Dinner

Reservation required. Cost: USD 25 per person. Includes transportation from the venue to the cruise location. Enjoy an evening of relaxation, dining, and networking on the Nile.

Sunday, 3 November 2024

07:45 – 08:45 Stronger Together! Women’s Networking Breakfast

A networking breakfast supporting female leadership in water and sanitation, with mentoring sessions and discussions on career advancement.

09:00 – 18:00 Assembly of GWOPA’s Members

Main assembly event for GWOPA members, with various agenda items and discussions.

18:30 – 20:00 Social Networking Event

Networking event with GWOPA representatives, celebrating GWOPA’s 15-year journey.

Registration desk will be open from 08:00 – 18:00

Please be sure to collect your name-badge!

09:00 - 15:00 - Integrity Training

Location: Room: Vienna

Closed meeting upon invitation only, in-person only

Languages: English, no interpretation available

The "Integrity Training" at the GWOPA Assembly on 2 November 2024, facilitated by the GWOPA member organization Water Integrity Network (WIN), presents a valuable learning opportunity for water and sanitation utility staff. WIN brings extensive experience in developing and applying water integrity tools with utilities, ensuring that participants benefit from expert guidance.

The training focuses on enhancing understanding of key integrity concepts in the sector, using the TAPA Framework (Transparency, Accountability, Participation, and Anti-corruption) to address how integrity failures impact service delivery.

By exploring real-life integrity dilemmas through group exercises and discussions, participants gain practical tools and strategies to navigate ethical challenges in their work. This hands-on approach, combined with networking opportunities, equips utility staff with the skills needed to foster a culture of integrity, thereby strengthening the delivery of water and sanitation services and upholding human rights in their communities.

 09:00– 17:00 - Operationalising Sanitation focused Water Operators’ Partnerships (SWOPs)

Location: Room: Picasso 2

Closed meeting upon invitation only, in-person only

Languages: English, no interpretation available

In March 2023, as a part of the Water Action Agenda, GWOPA has committed to scale up to at least 100 new WOPs/SWOPs by 2030. Aligned to this pledge, GWOPA’s complementary Sanitation Strategy puts forward a goal of:

• Using SWOPs as a mechanism to accelerate universal access to sanitation by transforming GWOPA’s approach to sanitation involving all sanitation stakeholders.
• Committing that at least 35 of the committed new partnerships by 2030 shall be focused on sanitation (SWOPs).

GWOPA, as a part of the commitment, would like to gather sanitation experts to discuss how to enable the scaling of SWOPs to expand sanitation services. Together we will discuss the background to development of SWOPs as an approach focussing on service provider’s needs, challenges and performance improvements that happen through peer learning partnerships. The outputs from this meeting will be used to set the stage for an expert group meeting on designing the SWOPs approach that can be a powerful, low-cost investment approach to increase efficiency and strengthen operators to provide efficient and resilient sanitation services.

Objectives of the Meeting:

• Share experiences and approaches for SWOPs and its link to urban development and planning
• Discuss how peer learning can strengthen capacities of sanitation operators
• Assess demand, constraints and opportunities for peer learning among sanitation service providers

Expected Outcomes:

• Likelihood of performance improvements in utilities through SWOPs laid out through evidence base and input from practitioners
• Demand for SWOPs and its role in accelerating SDG 6.2 with focus on low-income communities are clarified from practitioners for designing SWOPs through Expert Group Meetings.
• Action plan for operationalising SWOPs is well established and rolled out.
• GWOPA has adequate background information to scale up sanitation-focused partnerships, learning, and exchange.

 17:00 – 18:00 - GWOPA Transitional Steering Committee (SC) Meeting

Location: Room: Picasso

Introduction of newly elected members and roles and responsibilities of the ISC

• Vote of thanks for SC members stepping down
• Updates and strategic direction
• Review of Assembly program and role of ISC members
• Coordinating upcoming events, including UNFCC COP29 and UNCCD COP16

 18:30 – 21:30 - Nile Cruise Dinner

Cost: USD 25 per person. Transportation from the venue to the cruise location will be provided.

Glide along the iconic river Nile, taking in breathtaking city views as you enjoy an evening of relaxation, great food, and lively conversation with fellow attendees. For USD 25 per person, your evening includes transportation from the event venue to the cruise location and dinner, making it a convenient and unforgettable way to immerse yourself in the heart of Cairo. Don’t miss this unique chance to unwind, connect, and savour the timeless beauty of the Nile!

Registration desk will be open from 07:15 – 18:00

Please be sure to collect your name badge!

 07:45 – 08:45 - Stronger Together – Women’s Mentoring Breakfast

Location: El-Khan Restaurant

Co-Conveners: African Women Sanitation Professionals Network (AWSPN), African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA), Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA), and the Stronger Together! Coalition

In support of Sustainable Development Goal 6, this women-only breakfast event is dedicated to enhancing female leadership and representation in the water and sanitation sector. Addressing the current gender disparity, the Stronger Together! Women’s Mentoring Breakfast will offer a unique, informal setting for mentorship and networking, empowering female professionals to connect, grow, and collaborate.

The session will feature a speed-mentoring format, where participants will exchange experiences, and discuss strategies for overcoming gender-specific challenges. Through peer support and professional guidance, attendees will build relationships that foster both career advancement and the collective resilience needed to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated field.

 09:00 – 18:00 - Assembly of GWOPA’s Members

Location: Imperia Room

Interpretation in Arabic, Spanish, and French

Welcome coffee and registration: 08:00-09:00

Opening of the Assembly: 09:00-09:45

09:45-11:00 - Agenda item 1: Updates on GWOPA’s Governance

Representatives of GWOPA's Steering Committee:

• Mr. Thomas Odongo - Managing Director, Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company, Kenya (Utilities)
• Ms. Mai Flor - Executive Director, Waterlinks (WOP Regional Platform)
• Mr. Igor Santiago Ruz - President, Federacion Nacional de Cooperativas de Servicios Sanitarios, Chile (Community Operators and Cooperatives/National WOPs)
• Mr. David Boys - Utilities Officer, Public Service International (Trade Unions)
• Ms. Martha Owiredu-Baah - PA to Executive Director, Integrated Social Development Center, Ghana (Civil Society Organizations)
• Mr. Neil Dhot - Executive Director, AquaFed (Private Operators)

10:35-10:55 - Q&A on governance topics, facilitated by the Chair

10:55-11:00 - Conclusion and Adoption of the Charter

Background documents: Background Note on Governance Structure and Membership; GWOPA Charter

For Decision: Endorsement of new International Steering Committee; Adoption of the Charter

11:00-11:15 - Group photo session and coffee/tea break

11:15-12:30 - Agenda item 2: GWOPA Strategic Directions

• 11:15-11:30 - Water Operators and the United Nations: Framing the needs, opportunities and role of GWOPA in the UN system
  Mr. André Dzikus, Chief, Urban Basic Services, UN-Habitat
• 11:30-12:00 - Localizing the SDGs: Utilities in the Home Stretch of Agenda 2030
  Moderator: Ms. Shipra Narang-Suri, Chief, UN-Habitat

Panelists:

• Ms. Elin Adolfsson, Global Commission on the Economic of Water
• Representative from UCLG
• Mr. Anton Earle, Global Coordinator, Water Systems, ICLEI
• Mr. Azuan Ahmad Zahdi, Chief Corporate Officer, Indah Water Konsortium, Malaysia

12:00-12:15 - Preparations for GWOPA’s 2026-2030 Strategy
GWOPA Secretariat

12:15-13:00 - Mentimeter for membership consultation and open discussion

Background documents: GWOPA Strategic Plan 2020-2024; GWOPA Mid-term Evaluation; GWOPA Revised Results Framework

13:00-14:00 - Lunch break

14:00-14:45 - Agenda Item 3: State of Utilities: Emerging Trends and Capacity Needs

Overview of the State of Water and Sanitation Utilities
Mr. John Butterworth, Director, IRC Global Programme, based on the forthcoming Global Report Overview

Espresso presentations:

• Services in low-income settlements - Ms. Faustina Boachie, Head of Low-Income Customer Support Unit, Ghana Water Company Limited
• Climate adaptive solutions - Mr. Ignatius Jean, Executive Director, Caribbean Waste and Water Association
• Post-disaster recovery - Lusia Sefo-Leau, Pacific Water and Wastewater Association
• Digitalization for Effective Utilities - Dr. Sophie Naue, Urban Innovation and Technology Specialist, UNITAC
• Gender and inclusion - Ms. Leticia Ackun, Gender Specialist, African Water and Sanitation Association

Open discussion, including other key issues for utilities

Background documents: Summary extract of Global Report Inception

14:45-15:30 - Agenda item 4: State of S/WOPs: Emerging Trends and Priorities

Overview of Special Issue on Water Operators’ Partnerships
Ms. Julie Perkins, Programme Management Officer, GWOPA/UN-Habitat

Espresso presentations:

• The opportunities of South-South and Triangular WOPs - Mr. Subekti, Director, Association of Indonesian Water Supply Companies, PERPAMSI
• Creating an enabling environment for WOPs - Mr. Armando Quazzo, CEO, Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A
• Operationalizing SWOPs - Mr. Golden Manyanga, Branch Manager, Luapula Water and Sanitation Company
• Full Water-Cycle WOPs - Mr. Frodo van Oostveen, CEO, World Waternet

15:30-15:45 - Coffee break and move to breakout groups

15:45-16:45 - Agenda item 5: Accelerating joint action to scale up WOPs towards achieving SDG 6 (Breakout sessions)

Three parallel breakout sessions, and one for online participants:

• Advocacy – how to collectively build political support for utilities and WOPs?
• Alliance building – how do we work together? Opportunities to engage, fundraise, lobby, and achieve our 2030 water pledge
• Knowledge Management – what knowledge and tools are needed to support effective WOPs at scale?

16:45-18:00 -Agenda item 6: Ways forward for the Alliance

• 16:45-17:15 - Plenary discussion for Outcome note - Renewed endorsement of Water Action Agenda and how to implement it as Alliance
• 17:15-17:30 - Alliance Messages we are bringing to WUF12, COP29, COP 16 and beyond - Lothar Mikulla, Senior Communicators and Advocacy Consultant, GWOPA
• 17:30-17:50 - Closing Mentimeter: Reflections and commitments
• 17:50-18:00 - Closing statement - His Excellency Eng. Sherif El-Sherbiny, Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities (TBC)

18:30-20:00 - Social Networking Event

Dr. Rose Kaggwa, Chair of the Assembly

Ambassador or Deputy Ambassador of Germany in Egypt, tbc

Ms. Yasmine Mostafa, UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States

GWOPA representatives on the 15-year anniversary journey