Working Group for the Thematic Process 11th World Water Forum

WWSN Engagement in the 11th World Water Forum – Call for Member Participation

We are pleased to share that the Women in Water & Sanitation Network (WWSN) is actively engaged in the preparatory process for the 11th World Water Forum, to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. This engagement positions WWSN within a key global platform shaping the future of water policy, finance, and governance, and provides an important opportunity to ensure that women’s expertise and leadership are visible within the Forum process.

This engagement builds on WWSN’s contribution to the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, where we coordinated two sessions, and reflects the growing recognition of our network as a credible contributor to international water dialogues. For the 11th Forum, WWSN is now involved in the coordination of three thematic sessions.

Under the Forum’s overarching theme, “Action for a Better Tomorrow,” WWSN contributes as a member of the Topic Coordination Working Groups in the following areas:

Theme 1 – Water Security (Topic 1D): Closing the Loop in Water Resources Management
Focus: Enhancing demand efficiency, promoting water reuse and circular economy principles, and strengthening resilience through non-conventional water resources.

Theme 2 – Water Finance (Topic 2A): Applying Innovative Water Financing Mechanisms
Focus: Advancing innovative tools such as fintech solutions, green and blue bonds, adaptive tariffs, and ecosystem-based payment mechanisms beyond blended finance.

Theme 6 – Value of Water (Topic 6A): Valuing Water for Sustainable Economic Growth
Focus: Strengthening recognition of the full economic, social, and environmental value of water for sustainable development and climate resilience.

To support this engagement, WWSN is convening a World Water Forum internal working group. This working group is established as a WWSN member initiative, providing members with a structured space to contribute to and inform WWSN’s input into the Forum process. It also reflects the value of WWSN membership as a pathway to engage meaningfully in global water policy discussions such as the World Water Forum.

Possible Areas of Contribution within the WWSN World Water Forum Working Group

Participation in the working group may include, subject to members’ availability, interest, and the evolving needs of the Forum process, possible contributions in the following areas:

• Supporting the development and refinement of session content

• Suggesting or recommending potential female speakers

• Contributing to Forum sessions where attendance and roles allow (to be defined at a later stage)

We are at an early stage of the 11th World Water Forum process and have recently held an initial coordination call with the global Forum team. This is therefore a timely moment for members who wish to engage to do so from the outset, while recognizing that levels of involvement may vary over time.

Next Steps

Members interested in joining the WWSN World Water Forum working group are invited to complete this form by 14 January 2026, confirming their membership status and areas of interest.

Members who are aware of women professionals who may be interested in contributing to this work are warmly encouraged to share this opportunity with them. Interested individuals are welcome to apply after registering as WWSN members, in line with the working group’s member-based structure.

We will follow up with further details on working group coordination, timelines, and next steps.