Reliable water and sanitation services are a global challenge – particularly under the pressures of climate change, resource scarcity, and rapid urban growth. A proven approach are Water Operator Partnerships (WOPs): long-term collaborations between public utilities that focus on peer-to-peer learning and building long-term capacity. This session presents practical experiences from different regions, discussing how water operators can enhance their performance through partnerships, how private companies can contribute technological solutions, and how development agencies can use WOPs as an effective tool to achieve international sustainability goals. The session highlights the opportunities WOPs create for all stakeholders and demonstrates how they contribute to secure, resilient, and sustainable water and sanitation services worldwide.

Panel discussion:

Welcome and introduction: Thomas Abel, Managing Director Water Management, Association of Local Public Utilities (VKU)

Lars Selwig, Head of the Water and Circular Economy Department, Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)

Panelists:

• Dr. Franziska Meinzinger, Director Infrastructure Development, Hamburg Wasser
• Patrick Nzamba, Managing Director, Kahama Shinyanga Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Tanzania
• Birgit Königsheim, Vice President Sales, Diehl Metering GmbH
• Heiko Heidemann, Project Manager, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Moderator:

Boris Greifeneder, Managing Director, German Water Partnership