At the World Urban Forum in Cairo, UN-Habitat and the European Union unveiled the second phase of the European Union Water Operators' Partnerships (EU-WOP) Programme, marking a major effort to scale up global water and sanitation solutions through peer-to-peer collaborations. With an additional €14 million in EU funding, this phase will extend from 2025 to 2030, building on the successes of the initial phase, which benefited 53 million people through capacity building for 35 utilities across 20 countries.
“This new phase of the EU-WOP will build on the successes of Phase I by establishing new partnerships and enhancing existing ones, focusing on improving linking partnerships with investments, digitalization and advancing the human rights to water and sanitation,” said Sergio Oliete Josa of the European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships.
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, emphasized, “Water and sanitation are global challenges that demand local solutions. The new phase of the EU-WOP Programme will become the biggest EU-UN-Habitat collaboration to date.” This next chapter aims to empower utilities, foster collaboration, and leverage digital tools to ensure water access for all, while upholding the human right to water and sanitation.
Following the press launch, the Programme was launched in a stakeholder event the link to infrastructure investments, digitalization and human rights-based approaches to water services. The dialogue centered on engaging political leaders and utility managers, discussing strategies for leveraging financing, and fostering efficient, resilient water utilities to achieve SDG 6.
Following the press launch, the Programme was officially introduced during a stakeholder event, emphasizing its connection to infrastructure investments, digitalization and human rights-based approaches to water services. The dialogue focused on engaging political leaders and utility managers, exploring strategies to leverage financing and fostering more efficient, resilient water utilities to achieve SDG 6.
