This session departs from our position that worker’s engagement and participation through peer-to-peer cooperation in WOPs is not only essential for a WOP to have a positive impact but also contributes to a wider societal support for, and sustainability of the partnership. We claim that utilities and WOPs must be grounded on worker participation to ensure sustainability of the service provision and the partnership. The session will show how worker participation can contribute to: 1) utility performance, 2) improved governance, and 3) the human right to water and sanitation. Workers from different utilities that have engaged in WOPs or another kind of international collaboration will give evidence of their experiences and tell their stories. The session aims to spark a discussion about worker participation and extend to a discussion about further citizen and civil society participation in the provision of water and sanitation services. It will provide insight in challenges and opportunities (social, technical, legal, political, etc.) in worker participation in WOPs at different levels and in different countries or regions.

The session has a learning objective and is targeted to all people that are engaged in WOPs and international cooperation, from workers at work-floor level to managers, and from politicians and policy makers in governments to NGO representatives and citizens. Workers are involved in virtually all areas where utilities and their stakeholders need to develop capacity. This goes beyond technical operations as workers have important knowledge to contribute even on questions of institutional decision-making and organisational reform.

The panelists in this session will be workers and citizens’/civil society representatives and highlight that rooted and impactful WOPs consist in peer-to-peer cooperation at different levels and distinguish themselves from WOPs aiming at management support. Also, an impactful WOP entails more than just involving workers at different levels. As water utilities are essential service providers in communities they are logically rooted in the community.

Worker participation and civil society engagement are means to ensure solidarity, social justice and democracy in the WOP and in the utility. Solidarity is a key element that needs to be fostered and nurtured to ensure that the WOP combats water injustices and focuses on protection and safeguarding of water as a common good, a public service and a right for all.