GWSP Newsletter - November 2025 Edition

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NOVEMBER 2025

A Note from the Program Manager

Dear GWSP Friends and Partners,

The growing urgency to safeguard water resources for present and future generations is shaping collective action around the world. From Burkina Faso to Eswatini to Sweden, public officials, water experts, and researchers have come together to rethink water and sanitation systems and define targeted strategies to address pressing challenges—especially water scarcity.

Amid this global momentum, real-world examples are offering hope and showcasing innovative solutions that are making a tangible difference. Our newly published immersive story, "Water Works: How Smarter Systems are Changing Lives", takes readers to rural areas in Benin and Pakistan to illustrate the transformative power of collaboration.

In Benin, Florence, a nurse, no longer has to worry about water shortages at her clinic. With clean water now available, she can focus on caring for her patients—especially mothers and newborns. In Pakistan, Safiya shares how improved sanitation has kept her children healthy and revitalized her village. These stories demonstrate what’s possible when water systems function effectively.

These local successes reflect a broader effort to build a water-secure future and improve lives. In this edition, we invite you to explore the insights and partnerships driving progress in water resilience. From policy dialogues to practical tools, the content reflects GWSP’s collective determination to turn knowledge into action. Together, we can help ensure that water works—for everyone, everywhere.

Enjoy the read.

Sarah Nedolast, GWSP Program Manager, Global Department for Water, World Bank.

HIGHLIGHTS

Defying Drought 2025: Turning Water Scarcity into Opportunity in West Africa

From September 29–30, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso became the epicenter of bold ideas and regional collaboration. The High-Level Forum on Defying Drought (D2) in West Africa addressed one of the region’s most pressing challenges: drought. The message was clear: water scarcity can be transformed into a catalyst for prosperity. With integrated solutions like early warning systems, proactive water management, and smart financing, West African countries are charting a path toward resilience and opportunity.

Organized by the Government of Burkina Faso, the World Bank, and the Institut International d'Ingénierie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement – 2iE, with support from GWSP, the Forum brought together senior officials from key ministries, academia and institutions across Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Chad, Mauritania, and Senegal. Experts from Brazil, Morocco, and Eswatini also joined to share practical lessons from other regions.

Read more here

New partnership between The World Bank and Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin Authority

When countries work together, transboundary waters can become engines of economic integration, resilience, and job creation. At the inaugural event of this new partnership, speakers highlighted the urgent need for innovative solutions and the importance of strong institutions to ensure sustainable, resilient, and equitable water management. This new partnership is fostering dialogue and action-oriented collaboration to tackle transboundary water challenges.

Drawing on the Murray–Darling Basin Authority's experience with cross-jurisdictional river basin governance, the discussion underscored the importance of knowledge sharing across countries; technical assistance and capacity building; inclusive governance with communities and Indigenous peoples; and, adaptive tools for managing climate variability.

Watch the replay

World Bank Group at World Water Week 2025

The World Bank Group actively participated in the 2025 Stockholm World Water Week under the theme “Water for Climate Action.” Throughout the week, WBG experts co-convened sessions on topics ranging from climate-smart irrigation and nature-based infrastructure to transboundary water cooperation and solutions to build resilient urban sanitation systems. The WBG exhibition booth served as a vibrant hub for connecting with global partners, showcasing publications, and engaging in meaningful exchanges.

A key highlight was the launch of two reports: “The Global Sanitation Crisis: Pathways for Urgent Action” and PPIAF-led “Financing Climate Adaptation and Nature-Based Infrastructure.” The event also offered a valuable opportunity to connect in person with several GWSP partners. In an informal exchange, colleagues from South Asia, Eastern Africa, and Europe and Central Asia shared latest updates and highlighted opportunities for further collaboration and broader impact.

Watch the replay of the sessions

BLOGS AND PUBLICATIONS

Publication | The Global Sanitation Crisis: Pathways for Urgent Action

This report examines the risks that inadequate sanitation poses to people, economic growth, and the environment. It outlines practical steps that cities and countries can take to accelerate progress toward universal access to resilient, safely managed sanitation—promoting healthy communities, sustainable environments and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, thriving economies, resilient cities, job creation, and greater human productivity.

Explore the report here

Knowledge series | New Water: Governance and Economics of Desalination and Water Reuse Policies

As water stress intensifies globally, investment in unconventional water sources like desalination and reuse is on the rise. Sustainable integration of these solutions into existing water management systems requires more than technology. Countries may need to rethink their institutional structures, regulatory frameworks, and management models. The World Bank has developed a five-volume knowledge series to help sector authorities mainstream these solutions effectively and sustainably.

This comprehensive series is packed with case studies, tools, and guidelines. These volumes focus on the following areas: 1) Policies and Regulations, 2) Sector-Level Governance Models, 3) Economic Appraisal, 4) Finance and Delivery Models, and 5) Management Models to Serve Remote Poor Areas.

Read the volumes here

Defying drought across the Sahel

Water is not just about survival; it is about prosperity. In this article co-authored by World Bank's Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, and Global Director for the Water Department, Saroj Kumar Jha, the authors discuss how knowledge-sharing and collaboration can help beat drought across Africa and beyond. These efforts aim to strengthen water resilience and foster job-rich economies to end poverty (originally published in French in Afrimag).

Read the article here

Sierra Leone’s path to a water-secure and WASH-improved future

The government of Sierra Leone and its partners are turning the vision of a water-secure and sanitation-safe country by 2035 into action through a transformative 10-year National WASH Sector Development Program, supported by The World Bank.

To achieve this vision, the program focuses on four key goals: achieving universal access to safe water; eliminating open defecation and achieving universal access to sanitation; strengthening water sector institutions and building capacity; and improving WASH sector financing.

The initiative calls for sustained leadership, strong partnerships, and reliable funding. We’re proud to support this effort, which goes beyond infrastructure—it lays the foundation for healthier communities and a stronger economy.

Mobilizing Nature-Based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience

The World Bank is helping client countries scale nature-based solutions (NBS), innovative and cost-effective measures that draw on natural systems to tackle these inter-related challenges. Since 2012, the World Bank has financed approximately 250 projects that have used NBS or combined natural and engineered approaches to reduce disaster risks, restore ecosystems, improve biodiversity, and boost local economies. In 2020, the World Bank launched the Global Program on NBS for Climate Resilience (GPNBS), systematizing support for NBS and partnering with other organizations to enhance impact. Active projects are expected to benefit 19.4 million people and restore 3.5 million hectares of nature and green space.

Read more here

How smarter irrigation is changing Nigerian farming

Across Kano and Jigawa states in northern Nigeria, irrigation is helping communities grow more food with less land and water. Through the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, led by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and supported by The World Bank, and GWSP, irrigation has been improved on 43,400 hectares of farmland. As Nigeria aims to irrigate 500,000 hectares by 2030, projects like TRIMING demonstrate how irrigation development can more than double yields while using less land and water. The project has modernized irrigation systems, improved water management, and upgraded critical infrastructure.

Read the story here

FROM OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

2030 Water Resources Group

Scaling Water Reuse: A Tipping Point for Municipal and Industrial Use

This report makes the case for investing in the treatment and reuse of water to create fit-for-purpose supply for municipal and industrial use, unlocking a valuable and sustainable source of new water. The report emphasizes the critical role of public policy, regulation, and funding in creating the enabling conditions needed to scale water reuse, while also mobilizing private sector participation and finance. The business case for reuse is strongest when wastewater is available close to the point of use, which tends to be the case for urban centers and industrial parks. The report draws on global data and real-world examples to show how water reuse stands out as a financially sound and environmentally responsible approach when supported by enabling frameworks.

Read more here

Official Launch: Water Reuse at the Center of Global Dialogue

The ‘Scaling Water Reuse’ report was officially launched at a high-level roundtable on Water Reuse themed ‘What if Water Had a Second Chance?: Scaling Reuse to Secure the World’s Future Water,’ which held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, co-hosted by 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) and the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. The event, with opening remarks by Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Axel van Trotsenburg, The World Bank’s Senior Managing Director, convened leaders from governments, municipalities, and the private sector to explore reuse as a solution for ensuring reliable water supply, driving economic growth and industrial development.

Read more here

CIWA

Disaster Risk Management and Drought Resilience (DRM) Forum 2025 in Eswatini

From September 15-19, the Government of Eswatini, in partnership with the World Bank Group, CIWA, GWSP, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hosted the “DRM Forum 2025: SADC Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Regional Drought Resilience Workshop.” Led by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), this key regional event brought together government officials, NGOs, private sector leaders, academics, and communities to strengthen collaboration on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

The forum featured plenary sessions, technical workshops, and expert panels focused on proactive risk governance, early warning systems, and climate adaptation. Highlights include honoring local drought champions, showcasing a community-led art project, and launching Eswatini’s new Centre of Excellence on Drought Resilience—a hub for research, policy innovation, and regional cooperation.

Access the event page and watch recaps

CIWA 2.0: Advancing Cooperation on Transboundary Water Management in Africa

After more than a decade of fueling cooperation on transboundary waters, CIWA is adapting to meet the ever-evolving challenges of water resource management in Africa. CIWA 2.0 reflects a strategic and targeted approach to ensure that research and analysis directly shape funding decisions while also remaining committed to preventing conflict through cooperation, building resilience, and achieving the SDGs on health, poverty reduction, and sustainable growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This new approach is built around six major changes: renewed strategic focus, enhanced cross-cutting themes, a diversified Investment portfolio, scaling up impact by leveraging World Bank lending and regional financing, enhanced community engagement, and revised Monitoring & Evaluation.

Read more here