The Steering Committee provides strategic guidance to the GWOPA Secretariat. It helps shape the Alliance’s direction, reviews progress and offers critical feedback on implementation. Members are elected for a four-year term. Only institutional members are eligible to vote and serve on the Committee.
What is the Steering Committee?
Established in 2009, the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) is a coalition of organizations dedicated to promoting and supporting peer-to-peer solidarity exchanges between water and sanitation operators, to support them fulfil their mandates as providers of basic services that enable progress across global development goals.
From public utilities that supply water and sewerage services to millions of customers in capital cities, to small units in local governments of towns and community-based operators in rural areas or informal settlements, water and sanitation operators are diverse, and as a result, their needs vary.
Key governance objectives of the Steering Committee
- Represent the diversity of stakeholders and geographical contexts;
- Provide strategic guidance and recommendations to the Secretariat by conveying the needs and views of the different constituencies;
- Amplify the role and mandate of the Secretariat; and
- Embody the nature of GWOPA as an Alliance.
Role of elected Steering Committee members
- Serve as focal points for GWOPA in their respective regions and communities of practice;
- Advocate for GWOPA within their constituencies;
- Are elected by members of their constituency for a four-year term;
- Are elected on a staggered basis to help ensure continuity in the work of the Steering Committee.
Who are the Steering Committee members?
The Steering Committee comprises a fixed number of representatives from each stakeholder category: public water operators and associations representing different regions, development partners, civil society organizations, labour unions, private operators, international multi-stakeholders organizations and networks, development cooperation agencies, development finance institutions, national and subnational governments, research and learning institutions, regulators, asset holding companies. Financial partners of GWOPA also have seats on the Steering Committee. The composition of the Steering Committee reflects the geographical and institutional diversity of the Alliance as established in the GWOPA Charter and is chaired by the UN-Habitat Executive Director.
Members of the Steering Committee
| Constituency | Organization |
| Public water and sanitation utilities - Africa |
Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company, Kenya* Nyeri Water and Sanitation Company, Kenya |
| Public water and sanitation utilities – Asia, Pacific, including Arab States |
Tirta Mayang Jambi City Indah Water Konsortium, Indonesia Indah Water Konsortium, Malaysia Office National de l’Eau et de l’Électricité, Morocco* Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Bethlehem, State of Palestine |
| Public water and sanitation utilities – Eastern Europe | Budapest Waterworks, Hungary |
| Public water and sanitation utilities – Latin America and the Caribbean |
Unidad Municipal Aguas de Siguatepeque, Honduras Dominica Water and Sewerage Company, Dominica |
| Public water and sanitation utilities - Western Europe |
Società Metropolitana Acque Torino, Italy World Waternet, Netherlands |
| Public water and sanitation utilities- Other states (North America) | Not filled |
| Community water and sanitation operators and cooperatives | Not filled |
| Private water and sanitation utilities and their associations | International Federation of Private Water Operators (AQUAFED)* |
| Civil society organizations |
Enginyeria Sense Fronteres (ESF), Spain* Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Ghana* |
| Worker and trade unions |
Public Services International (PSI)* Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV), Netherlands |
| Others** |
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Water Integrity Network (WIN) |
* Mandate closing in 2026
** (UN organizations, international multi-stakeholder organizations and networks, development cooperation agencies, development finance institutions, national and subnational governments, non-governmental organizations, research and learning institutions, regulators, asset holding companies)
Regional WOP Platforms
| Region | Organization |
|---|---|
| Africa | Africa Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) |
| Asia | Waterlinks |
| Caribbean | Cari-WOP, hosted by Caribbean Waste and Water Association (CAWASA) |
| Europe | Aqua Publica Europea (APE) |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | WOP LAC, hosted byAgua y Saneamientos Argentinos (AySA), Argentina |
| Pacific | Pacific Waste and Water Association (PWWA) |
National WOP Platforms
| Region | Organization |
|---|---|
| Asia |
Persatuan Perusahaan Air Minum Seluruh (Perpamsi), Indonesia Pakistan Water Operators’ Network (PWON), Pakistan |
| Latin America | Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Agua y Saneamiento (ANEAS), Mexico |
Financial Partners
| Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany |
| European Commission, Directorate General International Partnerships (DG INTPA) |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Netherlands |
| United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Ukraine Country Office |
| Gates Foundation (GF) |
Read more about the role and functions of the Steering Committee and Rules of Procedure of the GWOPA Steering Committee in the GWOPA Charter here (Pages 11-13 and Annex 3 pages 27-30).
2026 Steering Committee Elections
GWOPA is inviting applications for available seats on the Steering Committee. The election process will be conducted electronically in advance of the GWOPA Assembly, to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 17 May 2026.
Elections will be held for the following constituencies:
| Constituency (Seats on the Steering Committee) | Seats up for election in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Public water and sanitation utilities – Asia Pacific: Asia (2), Pacific (1), Arab States (1) |
1 (Pacific) 1 (Arab States) |
| Public water and sanitation utilities – Latin America and the Caribbean: Latin America (2), Caribbean (1) | 1 (Latin America) |
| Public water and sanitation utilities – East and Southern Africa (2) | 1 |
| Public water and sanitation utilities – West and Central Africa (1) | 1 |
| Public water and sanitation utilities – Other States (North America) (1) | 1 |
| Community water and sanitation operators and cooperatives (1) | 1 |
| Private water and sanitation utilities and their associations (2) | 2 |
| Civil society organizations (2) | 2 |
| Worker and trade unions (2) | 2 |
| Others (2)* | 1 |
* UN organizations, international multi-stakeholders organizations and networks, development cooperation agencies, development finance institutions, national and subnational governments, non-governmental organizations, research and learning institutions, regulators, asset holding companies
Who can apply for the Steering Committee?
- Only institutional members of GWOPA are eligible to apply for the Steering Committee.
- Applications must be submitted by organizations rather than individuals.
- Representatives of applicant organisations must be duly endorsed by their organizations.
- In accordance with the GWOPA Charter, Steering Committee membership is guided by geographical and stakeholder balance, gender parity and rotational representation. The Election Committee will also ensure that no two elected members are from the same country.
Candidate Qualifications
Candidates are expected to have substantial knowledge and experience in water, sanitation, hygiene and related fields, including health, institutional development, sustainability and human rights. They should possess recognized leadership abilities and the capacity to serve as ambassadors and advocate for GWOPA within their communities and networks.
Ethical Standards
Candidates must have a proven record of ethical conduct and integrity. They are required to perform their duties, roles, and responsibilities in accordance with the highest ethical standards and carry out their functions with transparency.
Why apply to serve on the Steering Committee?
Serving on the GWOPA Steering Committee offers institutional members an opportunity to help shape the Alliance’s strategic direction, contribute to its advocacy, and bring the perspectives of their peers into its work. It also offers visibility for member organizations and highlights their engagement in advancing cooperation in the global water and sanitation sector.
Election Timeline
Call for applications
26 March to 14 April 2026
Notification to applicants
15 April 2026: Candidates will be informed of the outcome of the review by the Election Committee following the application assessment.
Publication of candidate organizations
17 April 2026: The list of candidate organizations, together with their campaigning messages, will be published on the GWOPA website and social media.
Electronic voting period
Voting will open on 17 April and close on 22 April 2026.
Announcement of results
24 April 2026: The provisional election results, subject to endorsement by the Assembly, will be communicated to the candidates and published on the GWOPA website and social media.