Urban Water Catalyst Initiative (UWCI) – A Game-Changer for Sustainable, Just and Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Utilities

Innovation and partnerships to unlock finance for water security

Germany, with the support of other international partners, including the Government of the Netherlands and the European Union, is establishing a highly transformative approach to addressing the global access gap to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH): the Urban Water Catalyst Initiative (UWCI).

Implemented through a global grant facility, UWCI will provide tailored support to reform-minded utilities selected on a competitive basis through technical assistance and operational finance offerings. At the same time, a loan and guarantee window will offer direct corporate loans for infrastructure investment and guarantees to support local commercial financing. This will help to close the SDG 6 financing gap by:

• accelerating urban water utility turnarounds in low- and middle-income countries, and
• mobilizing additional large-scale public and private finance (blended finance) to improve performance, invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, and expand access for underserved population groups.