As President of IWA, I know I am in an extremely fortunate position, of being able to help guide the progress of our amazing organisation. Our recent, hugely successful Water and Development Congress & Exhibition held in Bangkok, Thailand, in December, was one of those occasions where I could not only know how fortunate I am, but truly feel it as well.
I could feel it in part because of the depth and breadth of the agenda and ambitions that brought several thousand participants together from around the world – keen minds and determined souls, all with the intention of transforming lives in the Global South.
Added to that is the huge support we receive – visible in particular in Bangkok through the event being co-organised with the Asian Institute of Technology and the involvement of key partners such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and South Africa’s Water Research Commission.
Then there is the relevance of the event. Our Congress is international, but the Bangkok edition resonated with the concerns of the region. The Congress theme, ‘Water, sanitation, and innovation – pathways to progress and a resilient future’, was highly appropriate in a region experiencing water and sanitation challenges, exacerbated by climate change and natural disasters, but determined to innovate and share knowledge with those facing similar challenges across the world.
On top of all of this, IWA Board members and I could feel the growing sense of confidence around the role of IWA and the contribution and leadership we can offer the world. So, I was particularly excited that, during the Bangkok Closing Ceremony, we were able to announce that IWA is to stage a dedicated Global Sanitation Summit in South Africa in early 2027. Also, a high-level summit was held during the Congress and the key messages from this have been captured in the ‘IWA Bangkok Communiqué on Water Security and Resilience’, providing a reference point for shared direction and ambition to strengthen water security and resilience.
These last two examples – the Global Sanitation Summit and the communiqué – are signs to me that I can look forward to more of the feeling of being fortunate that I experienced in Bangkok.
I know, of course, that I will again feel hugely fortunate when I attend our World Water Congress & Exhibition in Glasgow, UK, later this year. The Global Sanitation Summit early next year will add an important extra dimension to the contribution we make through our global events programme.
As for the communiqué, the next dedicated UN Water Conference is due to take place at the end of this year. The high-level preparatory meeting for that conference was held in Dakar, Senegal, in January. A team from IWA participated in the event, including Executive Director Kala Vairavamoorthy contributing to plenary sessions there. Dakar was the perfect environment to gain exposure for the Bangkok Communiqué. Discussions in Dakar showed that the communiqué’s call to action aligns with the momentum building towards the December UN Water Conference.
The Dakar meeting also provided an opportunity to flag IWA’s forthcoming Glasgow Congress as a forum to give practitioner exposure to the themes and options being carried into the UN Water Conference. With Glasgow also set to feature a high-level summit with a focus on financing and the role of water sector governance, our ability to provide a practitioner focus is both relevant and timely.
The current wave of momentum means the possibilities are rich for 2027 and beyond. As the pace quickens, IWA and its network stand ready to contribute. Add to that our ability to connect with organisations that share our commitment, I am confident we can help influence outcomes.
This wider contribution of IWA is more diffuse than the clarity of our events. I am confident that the IWA Board, Governing Assembly, Management, Members and Partners have much to look forward to – I can feel it!
Hamanth Kasan, President, IWA
