This outcome note captures the highlights of the 2026 GWOPA Assembly, held on 17 May 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of the 13th World Urban Forum, the first time the Assembly featured within the official WUF programme. Convening members and partners at a pivotal moment for the Alliance, the Assembly took stock of 17 years of work to strengthen utility capacities, reflected on the achievements of the 2019-2025 Strategy, and shaped strategic orientations for 2026-2029 in alignment with the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan.
The GWOPA Annual Report 2025 presents the Alliance’s work to strengthen water and sanitation operators through solidarity-based, peer-to-peer cooperation. The report highlights how Water Operators’ Partnerships are helping utilities address operational challenges, improve service delivery and contribute to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.
Global Outlook on Water and Sanitation Service Providers: Water for Sustainable Cities is the first global assessment to put water and sanitation utilities at the heart of sustainable urban development. Produced by GWOPA/UN-Habitat in partnership with IRC, the report shows how strong, well-governed and well-resourced utilities are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring resilient, inclusive cities.
UN-Habitat’s 2024 Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance Annual Report highlights global efforts to strengthen public water and sanitation utilities through solidarity-based peer support. The report showcases how Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) are helping utilities deliver better, more inclusive services – advancing sustainable urbanization and the human right to water and sanitation.
On this day, GWOPA commemorates the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s theme, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now”, reminds us that human rights affect everyone, every day, everywhere.
Clean water is not just a necessity; it’s a fundamental right for every individual.
Currently, the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) is leading a transformative three-year EU-WOP partnership to improve the Bahir Dar Water and Sewerage Services (BDWSS) functionality in Ethiopia. One of the key objectives of this initiative is to provide low-income households (LIHs) with improved access to water.
Organizations Involved
Servicio Nacional de Saneamiento Ambiental (SENASA), Paraguay — Lead Mentee
Programa Nacional de Saneamiento Rural (PNSR), Perú — Lead Mentor
Inter-American Development Bank
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Funder
SDGs
6.1Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.2Access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all
“I am afraid that I would pass infection or disease to my children. Our living standard is very bad, and because they think we do a dirty job, no one wants to rent a house to us.” Saraswati Kumal, waste collector at the seminar organized by the EU-WOP partners
As we continue to celebrate World Toilet Day 2023 at the UN in Bonn, GWOPA recognises two partnerships under the EU WOP Programme on Accelerating Change- the theme of this year.