Day 1
Tuesday 2 May
All systems and people connecting
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We open with our symposium’s purpose. Experts, changemakers and decision-makers assemble to explore how connecting across boundaries and promoting systems leadership can enable us to achieve social justice and improved national systems.
C3.1 Making cents of the WASH finance gap: more than just numbers
Time: 11:30
Location: Central America, World Forum
WASH is plagued by a need for additional finance to address the gap between what is available and what is needed. WASH finance data is getting more sophisticated, but having data is only part of the equation. How do we equip WASH experts to use the available finance data to problem-solve?
C3.2 The role of repayable finance: financing different segments in the African WASH and water security landscape
Time: 13:45
Location: King Willem Alexander, World Forum
Let's close the gap! Come discuss the investment gap for water security in Africa and the need for system-wide innovation that integrates various financial streams and sources in an incremental manner to address specific segments of the gap.
W2.2 How to get customers to pay for your product or service: lessons learned from market-based approaches to sanitation and providing safe water
Time: 13:45
Location: Yangtze 2, World Forum
Market-based approaches are some of the most challenging to get right – but rewarding and sustainable if executed correctly. This section will bring together six organisations that have implemented market-based approaches to varying degrees of success to discuss what has worked, what has not, and what the future holds.
INTERACT Game time: designing strategies towards financing sustainable WASH services
Time: 15:00
Location: Princess Alexia INTERACT A, World Forum
Come play the Snakes & Ladders interactive boardgame with finance expert Catarina Fonseca, discuss and find out more on different strategies towards financing SDG 6; universal and sustainable WASH services for all.
C2.3 Understanding Loss and Damage - unlocking new flows of climate finance
Time: 15:30
Location: Central America, World Forum
Climate and humanitarian finance is often unpredictable. How can we collectively identify evidence and tools to generate actionable recommendations for loss and damage? How can we build on the global movement and ensure WASH is recognised?
C3.3 The role of finance intermediaries: blended finance for water
Time: 15:30
Location: North America, World Forum
The session will explore the different roles of intermediaries and the successes/failures of technology, outcomes-based financing, de-risking investments, and technical assistance to ultimately align the demand and supply value chain and attract water-related investments.
W1.3 Transition from community-based management: drivers and what this means for systems strengthening
Time: 15:30
Location: Yangtze 1, World Forum
Rural and small-town water supply is changing fast. Communities may no longer be able, or willing, to provide higher service levels that countries are striving for in policy. Join us to explore what drives this transition to alternative management models and what new challenges this poses for systems strengthening efforts.
W2.3 Policy and finance addressing inclusion in market systems
Time: 15:30
Location: Oceania Foyer, World Forum
The private sector plays an important role in delivering sanitation and handwashing products and services to households. This session showcases how government can create an enabling environment for businesses to inclusively reach poor households as potential customers (by implementing strategies to unblock barriers, ensuring equitable financial allocations, introducing smart/targeted subsidies).
Day 2
Wednesday 3 May
Strengthening all systems – building resilience with water, sanitation and hygiene
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Our systems journey continues as we explore and promote the role of resilient national water and sanitation systems, and the change agenda required to deliver them. Explore how water and sanitation can galvanise the development of wider public services.
C3.4 The role of finance intermediaries: blended finance for sanitation
Time: 11:30
Location: South America, World Forum
The session will explore leveraging public and development finance to harness commercial finance and scale-up sanitation service provision. We will discuss how blended finance fits in the overall financial landscape for sanitation and the key role played by intermediaries.
W2.5 Context is key: market-based approaches in Ethiopia
Time: 11:30
Location: North America, World Forum
We will look at different innovative WASH business initiatives that can ensure sustainable access to WASH products and services. Through different case studies in Ethiopia, we will try to understand the role of private sector aligned with WASH promotion approaches to effectively deliver WASH products and services in Ethiopia.
C3.5 Mobilising public finance: the role of NGOs and civic initiatives
Time: 13:45
Location: Amazon, World Forum
Come learn about NGOs and civic initiatives that have successfully unlocked and increased public finance for water and sanitation. The session will discuss the various roles civil society can play in mobilising public finance for the sector, and the extent to which that represents a systemic change in public finance.
C2.6 Tapping into climate finance flows for water and sanitation
Time: 15:30
Location: Africa, World Forum
Come explore different climate finance structures that increase the flow of climate funds toward the water and sanitation sector.
C3.6 Understanding and assessing the foundations for water sector investments: methods and tools
Time: 15:30
Location: North America, World Forum
The water sector requires increasing and sustainable finance from a diverse range of sources. To meet the financing challenge, governments should consider how existing policies and institutions might enable or prevent investments. We will share two tools for assessing the enabling conditions for investment in water.
Day 3
Thursday 4 May
Taking action as systems leaders
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We'll synthesise insights from the first two days, agree on actions and put you in the driving seat. With help from our Wisdom Council, you’ll take part in Action Assemblies and a final plenary to help define a post-event agenda while –hopefully – committing to your role in it.
C3.7 Bringing it together. Sector finance strategies: are they worth the effort?
Time: 8:30
Location: Central America, World Forum
We'll examine the use of national finance strategies to assess options and plan actions for reducing the finance gap for water, sanitation and hygiene. Following country examples and an expert panel, we'll reflect on the most promising paths forward in mobilising finance and the actions they require from various stakeholders.
W1.8 How regulators can enhance the delivery of onsite sanitation services
Time: 8:30
Location: Amazon, World Forum
The past few years have seen an acceleration in the provision of access to water on premise, moving away from public access points. This session explores the drivers of, and system requirements for, the provision of water at premise, a key element of safely managed services.
C3.8 Action Assembly: finance
Time: 11:00
Location: Oceania Foyer, World Forum
The past few years have seen an acceleration in the provision of access to water on premise, moving away from public access points. This session explores the drivers of, and system requirements for, the provision of water at premise, a key element of safely managed services.
