GWOPA sessions, partnerships and calls to action — Baku, 17–22 May 2026


Sessions organised or co-organised by GWOPA.

Sunday, 17 May

  • 14:00–18:00 One UN Room B
    GWOPA Assembly 17 years of strengthening utility capacities · State of the Global WOP Alliance · 2026–2029 Strategy
    GWOPA / UN-Habitat

Tuesday, 19 May

Wednesday, 20 May

Thursday, 21 May

Friday, 22 May

  • 07:00–08:00 Baku Beach
    SPLASH Morning Swim Event
    Swimmable Cities
Core messages
  1. Utilities are essential urban actors and need to be at the table. Water and sanitation utilities protect public health, support dignity, enable adequate housing, reduce inequalities and help cities prepare for climate shocks.
  2. Operators deliver global commitments locally. At least 285,000 water and sanitation utilities operate worldwide — essential to translating global commitments into practical results for communities.
  3. Stronger utilities help turn housing commitments into action. Adequate housing depends on serviced land and reliable basic services. Gaps in water and sanitation in informal settlements directly affect health, safety, dignity and inclusion.
  4. Water Operators’ Partnerships provide a practical solution. WOPs are not-for-profit, peer-to-peer partnerships that help utilities improve performance, reduce water losses, expand access and build long-term capacity.
  5. Capacity development is a vital companion to finance and policy. Utilities need skills, governance, data, operational systems, sustainable financing and enabling policies.

Calls to action

Recognise water and sanitation utilities as essential urban actors.
Include utilities and service providers in decision-making.
Invest in Water Operators’ Partnerships as a proven capacity-development mechanism.
Carry the voice of utilities from WUF13 to the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Overall message: Water and sanitation services are essential to adequate housing, public health, climate resilience and sustainable urban development. At WUF13, GWOPA calls for stronger recognition of water and sanitation utilities as frontline urban actors and for greater investment in Water Operators’ Partnerships to accelerate progress on SDG 6 and SDG 11.

GWOPA marks sessions organised or co-organised by GWOPA.

Sunday, 17 May

  • 14:00–18:00 One UN Room B
    GWOPA GWOPA Assembly 17 years of strengthening utility capacities · State of the Global WOP Alliance · 2026–2029 Strategy
    GWOPA / UN-Habitat

Tuesday, 19 May

Wednesday, 20 May

Thursday, 21 May

Friday, 22 May

Core messages
  1. Utilities are essential urban actors and need to be at the table. Water and sanitation utilities protect public health, support dignity, enable adequate housing, reduce inequalities and help cities prepare for climate shocks.
  2. Operators deliver global commitments locally. At least 285,000 water and sanitation utilities operate worldwide — essential to translating global commitments into practical results for communities.
  3. Stronger utilities help turn housing commitments into action. Adequate housing depends on serviced land and reliable basic services. Gaps in water and sanitation in informal settlements directly affect health, safety, dignity and inclusion.
  4. Water Operators’ Partnerships provide a practical solution. WOPs are not-for-profit, peer-to-peer partnerships that help utilities improve performance, reduce water losses, expand access and build long-term capacity.
  5. Capacity development is a vital companion to finance and policy. Utilities need skills, governance, data, operational systems, sustainable financing and enabling policies.

Calls to action

Recognise water and sanitation utilities as essential urban actors.
Include utilities and service providers in decision-making.
Invest in Water Operators’ Partnerships as a proven capacity-development mechanism.
Carry the voice of utilities from WUF13 to the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Overall message: Water and sanitation services are essential to adequate housing, public health, climate resilience and sustainable urban development. At WUF13, GWOPA calls for stronger recognition of water and sanitation utilities as frontline urban actors and for greater investment in Water Operators’ Partnerships to accelerate progress on SDG 6 and SDG 11.