The 10th World Water Forum, held in Bali, Indonesia, brought together international leaders and experts to elevate water's significance on the political agenda and generate commitments for improved water management.
From May 18-25, Global Leadership Council Members, including Laura Chinchilla, former president of Costa Rica and Han Seung-Soo, former Prime Minister of South Korea, as well as SWA CEO Catarina de Albuquerque, led impactful panel discussions, emphasizing the critical need for political will and investment in climate-resilient water and sanitation services.
Throughout the forum, SWA and its partners drove home the message of prioritizing water and sanitation at the highest political levels. “At the World Water Forum, we have one issue on our agenda, one message, one call to action: namely to make sure that in all countries, all leaders at the highest level prioritize water and sanitation for all, always and everywhere,” said de Albuquerque.
Bandung Spirit Water Summit
Held during the World Water Forum, the Bandung Spirit Water Summit provided a special dedicated platform for global leaders to discuss the political dimensions of water and sanitation. This summit emerged from the legacy of the historic Asia-Africa conference held in Bandung in 1955, which promoted principles of equality, human rights and justice.
Dr. Han Seung-Soo, Chair of the Bandung Spirit Water Summit, opened the event with a powerful message: “We are in a global crisis. A crisis of peace, food, energy, health, climate change, biological and natural hazards, immigration, human rights, and social harmony and integrity that cannot be addressed without due attention to water.”
Key SWA partners also speaking at the opening included representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Government of Indonesia as well SWA’s Global Leader Laura Chinchilla. They collectively highlighted urgent challenges including melting glaciers and monsoons causing severe floods, droughts threatening water security, and over 2 billion people still lacking access to proper sanitation services.
High-Level Panel Session on Water and Sanitation for All
The Bandung Spirit Water Summit also included a special High-Level Panel Session chaired by SWA. This session aimed to galvanize action towards achieving water and sanitation for all. Esteemed speakers and participants engaged in dynamic discussions, reiterating the necessity of political will, multi-stakeholder decision-making, and good governance in realizing universal access to water and sanitation.
This panel session featured prominent figures such as Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica, János Áder, former President of Hungary, and Yves Leterme, former Prime Minister of Belgium, who shared their experiences in promoting water and sanitation initiatives during their terms. It also featured H.E. Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Senegal, representatives from UNICEF, the World Bank and the government of Indonesia and youth experts.
The leaders of today, and tomorrow, have the opportunity to see water and sanitation as not only a public expense, but a critical investment in the health of communities and economy of the nation,” said Chinchilla, who chaired the event.
Addressing Fragile and Humanitarian Contexts
Other standout sessions included, “Finance Delivery Models that Serve the Unserved,” organized by Athena Infonomics, which focused on innovative financing strategies to expand and sustain water services. Key insights were shared by panelists from the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) and other experts, highlighting successful models and the importance of engaging political leaders to adopt proven solutions.
At a breakfast organized by UNICEF and attended by SWA partners, including the governments of Indonesia and Cambodia, de Albuquerque emphasized the partnership's efforts to coordinate the sector's voice to ensure water and sanitation are included in climate action.
Finally, during a session on “Realizing SDG 6 in Fragile and Humanitarian Contexts,” SWA highlighted the water and sanitation complexities faced by nearly half of its partner countries, which are classified as fragile. The session showcased practical examples of linking relief efforts to long-term development goals. Panelists discussed the necessity of maintaining basic services and the role of multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening resilience.
Calling for Ambition, Action, Accountability at the World Water Forum
Throughout the week, SWA also engaged in bilateral meetings with various delegations. For example, discussions with Hon. Vangelis Peter Haritatos of Zimbabwe and Norio Saito of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) focused on mobilizing finance and attracting private sector investment. SWA also met with country delegations such as the Special Water Envoys from Finland and France, as well as with Minister Jeevan Thondaman from Sri Lanka.
As the 10th World Water Forum wrapped up, the collective message was clear: addressing water and sanitation challenges requires urgent action, comprehensive planning, and unwavering political commitment. SWA and its partners remain dedicated to supporting global leaders in developing and implementing strategies to ensure that water and sanitation are prioritized for everyone, everywhere.