Water and Development Congress & Exhibition

The IWA Biennial Water and Development Congress & Exhibition focuses on addressing water and sanitation challenges in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing sustainable development and the equitable management of water resources. Organized by the International Water Association (IWA), this event brings together a diverse group of stakeholders including policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to share innovative solutions for improving water access, quality, and infrastructure in developing regions. With a focus on practical implementation and capacity-building, the Congress features technical sessions, case studies, workshops, and exhibitions, all aimed at accelerating progress toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 on water and sanitation for all.

Contributing Action Number

CA1.24

Primary Entry Point

1: Lead and inspire collective action

Additional Entry Point(s)

2: Engage better for countries

3: Align UN system support for integration

4: Accelerate progress and transformational change

5: Account through joint review and learning

Output(s)

Output 2.1: Expertise and resources are fully leveraged by the UN system to support countries, with emphasis on the water and sanitation needs of developing countries

Output 4.3: Institutional and human resources capacity development support that responds to national needs and priorities is provided by the UN system, contributing to a skilled water and sanitation workforce

SDG 6 Target(s)

Cross-cutting work on SDG 6

Water-related work on other SDGs

Type of Engagement

Capacity development and technical assistance

Convening of stakeholders

Policy advice and thought leadership

Geographical Scope

Global level

Estimated Annual Budget

1-10 million USD

More Information

https://www.waterdevelopmentcongress.org/

Leading Entity

International Water Association (IWA)

United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

The Contributing Actions are key initiatives supporting the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, aligning individual and joint efforts across UN entities and partnering organizations to advance global water and sanitation goals. These actions are integrated into the Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP) Results Framework 2025-2028, which provides a structured approach to achieving system-wide impact through coordinated UN efforts.
The Priority Collaborative Actions outlined in the framework focus on enhancing water security, improving governance, strengthening climate resilience, and accelerating progress on sanitation and hygiene. By fostering system-wide collaboration among UN agencies, these actions help drive policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing water challenges.