Water Operators’ Partnerships are effective, low-cost strategies for tackling critical challenges around water and sanitation. The case for scaling them is very strong. What’s needed to make that happen?

Europe is home to thousands of effective water and sanitation operators who have the capacity and goodwill to help their struggling peers to improve.  The likelihood of European water utilities get involved in WOPs, however, depends to a large extent on the existence of enabling factors. A number of factors can, individually or combined with one another, facilitate the implementation of WOPs, ranging from political motivations to international recognition.

This session, the first in a series of gatherings focusing on Enabling WOPs in Europe, will hear practical and inspirational examples from countries and cities through Europe that are mobilizing to do WOPs. What are their motivations? What are the legal, financial and political approaches they are using to make these partnerships happen? How might these inspire and inform others trying to do the same in other European countries, and beyond? What can these countries do together to further build the momentum and enabling conditions for these partnerships?

The session will draw on new and ongoing developments taking place in the EU arena to boost the WOP practice to the next level, especially the EU WOP Programme whose 22 WOP projects are currently getting underway. It is addressed to all stakeholders, utilities, governments, financial institutions, development partners, civil society and anyone interested in making it easier for water utilities to help their peers through WOPs.

Co-conveners: