World Water Week 2026: Water for People and Progress

IVL at World Water Week 2026

At World Water Week 2026, IVL takes an active role as co‑convenor, moderator, presenter, and tool developer in the seminar series “Advancing Gender Equity and Gender‑Transformative Approaches in Water.” The series brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society leaders from across regions and sub‑sectors, with a strong focus on learning from real‑world experience and translating insight into action.

IVL will also be represented with a booth throughout the conference, offering a space to meet IVL experts, learn more about our ongoing research and initiatives, and engage in informal dialogue on water, climate, equity, and sustainability.

The seminar series is grounded in concrete case studies, research evidence, and hands‑on methodologies. It recognises progress made in advancing gender equity in the water sector, while also addressing the complexity of implementation and the lessons learned from outcomes that differed from intentions. Transformative leadership serves as the connecting thread across all three sessions.

Programme – IVL’s Participation

Session 1 – Online 

How has gender equity evolved in the water sector, and what have we learned?
Sunday, 11:00–12:00 (CEST) - Online

This opening session sets the scene for the seminar series by tracing how gender equity approaches in the water sector have evolved over time. Through keynote input, lived experiences, and interactive dialogue, the session reflects on achievements, barriers overcome, and lessons learned across the water cycle — including WASH, irrigation, water governance, and climate adaptation.

The discussion foregrounds positive examples of change, while also creating space to reflect on complexity, unexpected outcomes, and where further transformation is still needed. The session establishes the shared learning foundation that will inform Sessions 2 and 3.

Session 2 – Hybrid 

What kind of leadership is needed to enable gender transformation in the water sector?
Monday, 11:00–12:30 - Hybrid (onsite & online)

This high‑level session focuses on leadership as a driver of gender‑transformative change. Through research insights, Mentimeter‑based engagement, and a diverse expert panel, the session explores how leaders navigate complexity, respond to the unexpected, and create the conditions for lasting, equitable change across different regional and sectoral contexts.

IVL contributions highlighted:

• Alejandro Jiménez (IVL) – Session Moderator
• Virginia Mariezcurrena (IVL) – Research presentation on gendered climate vulnerabilities and adaptation solutions developed by women in more than 50 countries

The session brings together perspectives from Europe, Africa, and Asia and examines how policy frameworks, innovation, data, governance, and norms can be leveraged to accelerate progress on gender equality in water.

Session 3 – Onsite Workshop 

Designing for Equity: Tools for Gender‑Transformative Practice
Wednesday, 11:00–12:30 - Onsite (Stockholm)

The final session translates insight into practice through a hands‑on design lab. Participants work in small groups to explore and apply tools that support gender‑transformative approaches across WASH, irrigation, and climate adaptation contexts.

IVL contribution highlighted:

• Gender Landscape Assessment tool (GALA), implemented by IVL, presented and applied as part of the design lab

Participants test tools against real‑world scenarios, surface blind spots, challenge assumptions, and reflect on what it would take to implement these approaches in their own programmes. The workshop concludes with shared reflection and individual commitment‑setting.

From Infrastructure to Systems: Strengthening WASH in Institutions for Resilience
Sunday, 23 August, 16:00-17:30

This session focuses on how to move beyond infrastructure and strengthen sustainable, resilient WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services in schools and health facilities. Despite progress in infrastructure, many institutions still face challenges related to governance, financing, service delivery and climate resilience.

The discussion will highlight integrated approaches from Latin America and global experiences, and engage participants in identifying how to scale sustainable and well‑financed WASH services in institutions.

Speakers include experts from AECID, UNICEF, WHO, IVL and country representatives from regions such as Latin America and North Africa.

IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet is a convenor of the session, together with the Spanish Cooperation Agency for International Development, UNICEF and WHO.

Shifting the Lens: WASH from Indigenous Peoples
Tuesday, 25 August, 14:00-15:30
 

This session explores how WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) initiatives can better reflect the perspectives, governance systems and priorities of Indigenous Peoples. Moving beyond conventional approaches, it highlights participatory and culturally grounded models that strengthen community ownership, integrate traditional knowledge and support sustainable development and climate resilience.

Through dialogue between international organisations and Indigenous representatives, the session shares best practices from Latin America and beyond, with a focus on inclusive, community‑driven approaches.

IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet is a convenor of the session, together with the European Union, IADB, AECID, SIWI and the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We warmly welcome participants to join IVL both in our sessions and at our booth throughout World Water Week 2026, and to take part in shaping a more equitable and transformative future for water.