The SWA partnership and other partners will organize a side-event during the 2026 UN Water Conference in the UAE to provide Heads of State and Government, Ministers and partners with a forum in which to share progress achieved since 2023, agree priorities for the period 2026–2030, and welcome new countries into HoSI.

With SDG 6 significantly off track, and with climate, conflict and financing pressures mounting, a side event focused on political leadership would create inspiration, identify concrete commitments and increase solidarity among front runner countries as well as mobilize partnerships necessary for follow-up. This can place political leadership and action at the heart of the conference discussions, reinforcing the message that implementation must follow ambition.

Convenors: Government of Nigeria, Government of Brazil, Government of Zambia, Government of Netherlands, Government of the United Kingdom, UNICEF, Sanitation and Water for All, WaterAid, Riva.

More information to come.

This side event aims to mobilize partners on key Flagship initiatives to be announced during the Interactive Dialogue F on “Investment for Water”. It will hence create momentum and launch political outcomes to catalyse a common vision on priorities to enable long term investment pathways that are sustainable, inclusive, and equitable.

Co-sponsors (TBC): South Africa, UNITAR, IFAD, World Bank, UN-Water, UN Special Envoy for Water, SWA, GCF, GEF, OECD (PDB4Water), WEF.

More information to come.

This high-level roundtable will bring together ministers, multilateral development banks, philanthropies, private sector leaders and technical partners to explore how Water Forward, a global coalition led by the World Bank Group and partners to improve water security for one billion people by 2030, together with country-led Water Compacts, can translate political commitments into investable programmes and measurable improvements in water security. The discussion will focus on strengthening governance, cross-sector coordination, project preparation and investment pipelines to accelerate SDG 6. Expected participants include ministers, the World Bank, African Development Bank, WaterAid, Sanitation and Water for All, philanthropic partners and youth representatives.

Co-conveners (TBC): Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), World Bank, Sanitation and Water for All, WaterAid, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

More information to come.

Water needs investment, but investment needs good governance. Clear mandates, capable institutions, credible regulation and strong leadership reduce risk, improve affordability and turn finance into lasting results. Drawing on recent OECD evidence and country practice, this high-level side event will highlight how good water governance can enable lasting investments that respond to future water challenges, while navigating trade-offs and uncertainties.

The discussion will shed light to the governance–finance nexus: how effective governance improves investment readiness and the efficiency of public and private finance, while financing arrangements create incentives for implementation, accountability and sustained policy outcomes. The event will provide a platform to bring concrete recommendations to the 2026 UN Water Conference.

More information to come.

This side event will explore how climate risk assessments can be embedded into water investment planning at international, national and subnational levels, and translated into finance-ready investment proposals. It will highlight the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework’s key accelerators—data, finance, capacity, innovation and governance—and showcase approaches to turning climate risk assessments into actionable investment pipelines.

The event will also feature the proposed South Asia Climate Finance Hub, a platform connecting governments, private financiers and multilateral institutions around water investment opportunities in the region, while supporting the Sanitation and Water for All Head of State Initiative and commitments under the UN Water Action Agenda.

More information to come.

The event will showcase the progress achieved since the launch of the Global Coalition for Better Policies and Regulation of Water and Sanitation Services, Portugal's voluntary commitment to the UN Water Action Agenda presented at the 2023 Conference.

The proposed event will present how this commitment has evolved into a growing international platform bringing together governments, regulators, development banks, international organisations, and knowledge institutions to strengthen water governance worldwide. It will highlight concrete achievements, including the establishment of global partnerships, the development of the WaterGov Platform, the launch of international leadership and capacity-building programmes, and the provision of technical support to countries undertaking governance reforms. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss future priorities and strengthen international cooperation to accelerate progress towards SDG 6.

More information to come.