The 2024 GWOPA Assembly at the Triumph Luxury Hotel brought together a vibrant mix of about 100 water and sanitation leaders, advocates and experts representing GWOPA’s membership, for the first such gathering since the endorsement of the new Charter. The event, that also welcomed several new members and newly elected Steering Committee representatives, was as inspiring as it was impactful. This hybrid gathering provided a dynamic platform to get updated on GWOPA’s governance structure and strategic direction and to reflect on accelerating action to advance Sustainable Development Goal 6 through Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs).
Celebrating a legacy of impact: The Assembly opened with welcoming remarks by the newly elected GWOPA Assembly Chair, Dr. Rose Kaggwa. Key speeches from distinguished leaders, such as Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, and H.E. Prof. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt underscored the importance and recognition of the work that GWOPA is doing and the opportunities for further scale-up and partnerships on WOPs in global cooperation. Echoing this at the evening reception, Dr. Alexander Solyga, Country Director of GIZ Egypt, highlighted Germany's strong commitment to GWOPA's work and its financial support for initiatives such as the Assembly.
Deep dives into emerging trends: GWOPA members and partners gained valuable insights from panels that tackled urgent topics for utilities like climate resilience, digitalization, post-disaster recovery and inclusive service strategies in low-income areas. The Assembly included a series of engaging Espresso Presentations, offering participants fast-paced insights into transformative water and sanitation strategies, such as South-South and triangular WOPs, financial linking, operationalizing SWOPs, full water-cycle WOPs, and strategic collaboration and vision. Engaging breakout sessions allowed attendees to explore themes critical to the future of GWOPA’s work on advocacy, alliance-building, and effective knowledge management. These interactive discussions laid the – groundwork for scaling up partnerships and aligning efforts to achieve the 2030 water pledge “100 utilities for 100 million people”, fostering an environment where ideas turned into actionable strategies.
Looking forward: With renewed enthusiasm and a strengthened network, the Assembly concluded with a set of recommendations that will inform GWOPA’s priority areas and strategic direction as it begins preparations for its 2026-2029 Strategy. Participants left with a shared commitment to championing sustainable water and sanitation solutions, empowered by a sense of collective mission and partnership.
The 2024 GWOPA Assembly was not just a meeting – it was a milestone event that brought the membership together to celebrate achievements of its 15 years journey, meet old friends and make new ones, sparked new ideas and set a proactive course for its upcoming work.