WaterLinks Participates in GWOPA Assembly at WUF13 in Baku

WaterLinks is currently at the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan, alongside members, partners, and stakeholders from across the global water and sanitation sector. Represented by Ms. Yolanda Gomez, WaterLinks participated at the GWOPA Assembly on 17 May 2026, being the regional platform for Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) in Asia and a member of the Steering Committee of the GWOPA.

The Assembly convened participants to take stock of 17 years of efforts to strengthen utility capacities through WOPs, while also reviewing the current state and future direction of the global WOPs movement.

Discussions highlighted the continued importance of utility partnerships in building stronger, more resilient service providers and in supporting equitable access to safe water and sanitation services worldwide.

Ms. Gomez, WaterLinks’ Senior Partnership Coordinator, facilitated discussions in Group 3 reflecting on how to further strengthen GWOPA in the coming years. The discussion explored priorities for scaling WOPs, strengthening collaboration among utilities and regional platforms, and reinforcing GWOPA’s role in advancing sustainable and inclusive water and sanitation services globally.

The Assembly also served as a key moment to renew collective commitments to scaling up WOPs and strengthen the voice of water and sanitation operators within the World Urban Forum process and in the lead-up to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.