Access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is recognized as a fundamental human right by the United Nations General Assembly, reinforced through Sustainable Development Goal 6: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” Access to safe water and sanitation, and sound management of freshwater resources, are priority challenges that will determine the achievement of other sustainable development goals through close linkages with climate, energy, cities, the environment, food security, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and health improvement, amongst others.

Climate change primarily leads to a water crisis, affecting the availability of freshwater resources to meet the standard water demand. Half of the global population is currently estimated to live in water-stressed areas. The global climate change crisis is increasing variability in the water cycle, thus reducing the predictability of water availability and demand, affecting water quality, exacerbating water scarcity, and threatening sustainable development. This in turn poses risks for energy production, food security, human health, economic development, and poverty reduction, thus seriously jeopardizing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It is against this background that the Water and Sanitation Providers Association (WASPA) and her partners the Ministry of Water, Sanitation & Irrigation, Council of Governors, and the County of Mombasa proposes to host the Kenya Water & Sanitation International Conference & Exhibition, June 23-27, 2025

The overarching goal of the conference will be to convene experts, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, community organizations and other relevant stakeholders to foster collaboration, share knowledge and showcase technological innovations aimed at achieving climate-adaptive, efficient, and sustainable water and sanitation systems.

Specific Objectives

1. To advance policy dialogues and commitments toward resilient, sustainable water and sanitation solutions.
2. To examine emerging technologies that enable sustainable water and sanitation access amid climate impacts.
3. To highlight sustainable finance models to drive climate-resilient infrastructure projects and innovations.
4. To share insights from successful case studies in climate-resilient water and sanitation solutions
5. To foster collaboration and partnerships between technology providers, policymakers, research & academia, NGOs, and communities in provision of water and sanitation solutions

Innovation & Technology for Sustainable Pathways to Climate-Smart Water and Sanitation Solutions

Proposed Sub Themes:

1. Policy Innovation and Governance for resilient, sustainable water and sanitation
2. Innovative Financing for climate-resilient Water and Sanitation
3. Emerging Technologies for Climate-Resilient Water Resource Management
4. Innovations, Technologies and Market Opportunities for Climate-Resilient Sanitation
5. Climate Impacts on Water Resources, Irrigation and Sanitation: Research & Capacity Strengthening for Sustainable Climate-Smart Solutions