The International Water Management Institute and WaterAid marked a significant step toward more equitable water governance with the launch of the “Principles for Just Water Partnerships” at COP30 in November. The launch translated an emerging global concept into an actionable framework aimed at embedding justice and social equity at the center of water-related investments. Just Water Partnerships were first proposed by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water in its 2023 flagship report, which called for coordinated national platforms to support water access, resilience, and sustainability in low- and middle-income countries while advancing both national development priorities and global public goods.
The principles respond to a deep and persistent financing and governance gap in the water sector, estimated at around US$140 billion annually, even as water-related risks account for the vast majority of natural disasters worldwide. Declining development assistance, increasing climate pressures, and weak regulatory capacity have left many countries struggling to manage existing resources and increasingly exposed to future shocks. To address these challenges, IWMI and WaterAid led an extensive design process involving governments, utilities, civil society organizations, and private-sector actors to refine principles covering water planning, financing, governance, and investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Nearly 500 institutions across 34 countries contributed to shaping the principles, with strong representation from the Global South. National dialogues in Ghana, Madagascar, and Nepal ensured the framework was grounded in real policy environments, while surveys and reviews drew lessons from comparable initiatives in energy transitions, water governance, and valuation of water. This broad consultation helped ensure that the principles were informed by both global experience and local realities.
Stockholm World Water Week provided a critical forum to test and refine the principles ahead of their formal launch. Through facilitated expert discussions, participants assessed whether the principles were practical, adaptable, and relevant to diverse national contexts. A central focus of these discussions was defining what “justice” means in practice, with strong emphasis placed on grounding the framework in the human right to water and sanitation, recognizing informal settlements, and prioritizing vulnerable and marginalized groups. Localization, cultural context, and the costs of accountability were repeatedly highlighted as essential to achieving real impact.
Clarifying leadership, ownership, and accountability emerged as another core concern. While national governments were widely seen as the appropriate leaders of Just Water Partnerships, stakeholders stressed that accountability must extend to co-owners, communities, and local authorities. Clear institutional mandates, sufficient capacity, and explicit identification of responsible ministries or agencies were viewed as critical to turning principles into action. Representation and legitimacy also featured prominently, particularly around how youth, Indigenous peoples, and local communities are meaningfully included, and how researchers and evidence systems can strengthen government-led processes without duplication.
Discussions also highlighted persistent policy tensions around affordability, cost recovery, and tariff design. Many water systems struggle to recover operational costs while still ensuring equitable access, underscoring the need for better governance, clearer distinctions between WASH and water-resources financing, and stronger links to locally led adaptation. Stakeholders emphasized transparency beyond public budgets, calling for greater visibility of private-sector and multilateral financing, alongside citizen monitoring and independent oversight mechanisms that are sensitive to political and institutional contexts.
Across consultations, a consistent message emerged: the principles must remain simple, actionable, and measurable, clearly define who leads and who pays, and align with existing commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals, human rights obligations, and climate and adaptation frameworks. Participants also called for stronger recognition of nature and biodiversity within the principles, and clearer articulation of how Just Water Partnerships complement national adaptation plans and just transition efforts while encouraging cross-ministerial collaboration.
With the principles now launched, attention is shifting toward country-level engagement and implementation. The coming year is seen as decisive, with opportunities to anchor Just Water Partnerships in preparations for the UN 2026 Water Conference and the post-2030 global agenda. While significant challenges remain, IWMI and WaterAid have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting countries in moving beyond paper principles toward practical, inclusive, and accountable action on water justice.
