On 26 – 27 November 2019, the World Water Council participated in the 5th meeting of the Roundtable on Financing Water in Manila, Philippines, which was hosted by the Asian Development Bank. With more than 100 people in attendance, this second regional meeting of the Roundtable was focused on the Asian region. 

WWC Bureau member, Mrs. Qiuchi Shi, from the Ministry of Water Resources of China, gave opening remarks on behalf of the World Water Council. She reiterated the dedication of the Council to propose solutions for water financing issues.

“Now more than ever, it is important to further promote concrete and operational recommendations at all levels, to mobilize more capital towards investment in sustainable water infrastructure, but also to better manage the funds that are available,” she stated.

The Roundtable addressed issues such as private sector participation, enabling environments, managing water-related risks and the mobilization of commercial finance, among others. Several country examples were also presented, enabling the dissemination of good practices and case studies that worked in the region.

The Roundtable on Financing Water is a joint initiative of the OECD, the Netherlands, the World Water Council and the World Bank. 

Today is World Toilet Day. It’s not a joke.

Around the world, 4.2 billion people – more than twice the global population – live without safely managed sanitation (1). 

Access to sanitation is a human right and part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This means that by 2030, open defecation must end, and everyone must have access to toilets, for improved dignity and living conditions.