GWOPA members work together to strengthen public water and sanitation utility capacity and performance to provide sustainably managed services for all.

GWOPA members support, advocate for, or participate in, Water Operators' Partnerships (WOPs) - peer partnerships between utilities carried out on a not-for-profit basis. With the principle of solidarity at its core, GWOPA membership unites organizations and individuals worldwide to build awareness of the critical role of utilities, promote effective WOPs and maximize collective impact.

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Why become a member.

Learn and improve
The core activity of GWOPA is peer-learning between utilities.
Show solidarity
Connect to a diverse and inclusive alliance in which all members adhere to a shared vision of solidarity.
Act
Engage in activities that directly support universal access to water and sanitation, aligning with the goals of SDG 6 for a sustainable future.
Raise utilities voices
We are the foremost platform for utilities within the UN space. Join us and let your organization’s voice resonate globally in the pursuit of water and sanitation goals.
Participate
All members can engage in the GWOPA Assembly, where we collectively review and shape the strategic direction of our alliance.
Decide
All members exercise the right to vote and stand as candidates for elective positions in the GWOPA Assembly, Steering Committees and other committees.

GWOPA membership is free and open to institutions and individuals interested in water, sanitation, and related issues and are committed to GWOPA's overarching objectives and principles. All GWOPA members must subscribe to the GWOPA Charter and embrace its vision and mission.

GWOPA's primary constituency is Public Water and Sanitation Utilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 1. Embrace GWOPA's Vision and Mission, and Charter
  • 2. Contribute to the objectives of the Alliance through one or more of the following:
    • WOPs – engaging in a partnership in accordance with GWOPA’s Code of Conduct
    • Knowledge – supporting the development of knowledge resources
    • Support – contributing to WOPs or GWOPA activities through outreach or other resources
    • Outreach and visibility – advocating for utilities, WOPs and GWOPA.

Yes, it is. There are three bodies constituting the organisational structure of GWOPA, namely:

  • The GWOPA Assembly;
  • The GWOPA Steering Committee; and
  • The GWOPA Secretariat

All GWOPA Members, Individual and Institutional, are Members of the GWOPA Assembly. Institutional Members have a right to vote and to stand as candidates for elective positions in the GWOPA Assembly, the Steering Committee and other committees, in accordance with the established rules and procedures.

GWOPA channels water and sanitation operator' concerns within the UN system. It advocates for strong public service providers and workers. It promotes capacity focused partnerships between water and sanitation operators to sustainably strengthen their performance for the benefit of all.

Many water and sanitation utilities are struggling to face growing challenges linked to climate change, finance and capacity. As GWOPA's membership base grows, our voice becomes stronger and we can call for increased resources for utilities and WOPs to help utilities that are struggling. With a broad and active membership, GWOPA can effectively lobby for utilities and WOPs at the highest level to secure resources, policies and opportunities that help utilities do their job effectively.

Yes. Although GWOPA's membership is composed primarily of public water and sanitation utilities, other organizations that support progress towards sustainable access to water and sanitation are part of the membership, namely:

  • Community water and sanitation operators and cooperatives and their associations;
  • Water and sanitation utilities with private shareholders;
  • Associations of water and sanitation utilities;
  • Civil society organizations;
  • Worker and Trade unions;
  • Non-governmental organizations;
  • United Nations organizations;
  • International multi-stakeholder platforms/network organizations;
  • Development cooperation agencies;
  • Development finance institutions;
  • National and sub-national governments (including Public Asset Holding Companies);
  • Research and learning institutions; and
  • Water and sanitation regulators.

Private utilities and their associations can apply for GWOPA membership but need to adhere to the UN Global Compact, the GWOPA Code of Conduct and the objectives and principles of GWOPA.

GWOPA is mainly an alliance of organisations. However, individuals with or without affiliation with an organization may also join. Individual members can participate in GWOPA activities to learn and share their expertise. Some use individual membership as a first step to securing institutional membership. Individual members do not participate in decision-making or elections at the GWOPA Assembly.