Clean water and sanitation take centre stage in IVL’s new expert group

Inadequate water and sanitation systems create complex societal challenges around the world, many of which are further exacerbated by climate change. IVL WASH Governance combines governance expertise with technical and innovative solutions to develop long-term sustainable water and sanitation services in over 30 countries each year.

In the autumn of 2024, IVL took a significant step forward in the development of its international water expertise. Through an acquisition, approximately 20 experts in water, sanitation, and hygiene from the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) joined IVL.

In 2025, the new group – WASH Governance – has strengthened IVL’s capacity to ensure sustainable water and sanitation services worldwide. The goal is to address the complex challenges of the future related to water and sanitation, both locally and globally. We also hope to expand our range of services by collaborating with more groups within IVL.

Support for over 30 countries by 2025

We have been very warmly welcomed and have already begun to benefit from the expertise available within IVL. There is a great deal of technical expertise here that we, as governance professionals, can benefit greatly from says Alejandro Jiménez, Head of WASH Governance.

In 2025, the WASH Governance Group carried out projects in over 30 countries around the world. The work is based at the headquarters in Stockholm and at the regional offices in Amman, Jordan, and Bogotá, Colombia. In 2026, WASH expertise will be further expanded through recruitment at IVL’s India office.
UNICEF is the largest partner in WASH efforts, and in 2025, IVL and UNICEF signed a strategic partnership agreement that runs through 2028.

Since moving to IVL, however, the nature of assignments has broadened and opportunities have increased, both in terms of projects and collaboration partners. The focus remains on water management, but IVL’s practical expertise opens new doors for projects that combine management with technical expertise

We have started to think more broadly and collaborate with experts from more parts of IVL. Among other things, this has led to initiatives in other areas, such as health and agriculture, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). We hope to see more projects like this in the region says Manal Shraideh, regional manager for West Asia and North Africa.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNICEF remains the largest partner,
but projects are also carried out in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank and other institutions. The focus is on solutions that benefit indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups. During the year, a new project in an entirely different focus area, biogas, was also launched in Colombia. Several expert groups within IVL are collaborating in the project.

We hope to expand our work even further, both in terms of partnerships and focus areas. There is significant potential to increase support and strengthen countries’ capacity to work with water and sanitation, particularly through the development of innovative financial, social, technical and digital solutions says Sirly Castro, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Business opportunities across IVL

Alejandro Jiménez, Manal Shraideh, and Sirly Castro are optimistic about future business opportunities and developments in the WASH sector in their respective regions. At the same time, work on the WASH project often presents practical challenges. For example, certain countries and regions are plagued by conflict, making security a critical factor.

Our work can sometimes be challenging due to the political situation. At the same time, there is often an underlying sense of optimism and strong confidence in the future in the regions where we work. Syria is a good example. There is a high level of motivation there, and a strong drive to achieve the global goal of clean water and sanitation. Manal Shraideh

Alejandro Jiménez agrees.

Large parts of Syria have been destroyed, and many people are still internally displaced. They want to return to their villages, but there is no infrastructure for them to return to. We are now working with the government to identify the best governance strategies for restoring the quality of water and sanitation services. Going forward, the WASH Governance Group hopes to carry out more projects that bring together different areas of expertise within IVL.This might include waste management, biogas, water treatment, or environmental management issues. We are confident that our strong capacity enables long-term sustainable solutions that integrate a broader range of key environmental issues into our work, says Alejandro Jiménez