Sustainable Utility Partnerships

Based on the model of United Nations Water Operator Partnerships, German water utilities, represented by the GWP’s working group “Operation and Capacity Development”, proposed promoting similar operator partnerships between German and international water operators. In cooperation with GIZ, SKEW and VKU, the idea of a new model for partnerships between German municipal operators and operators from developing and emerging countries was developed.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has taken up this approach and has been funding a pilot project since summer 2019. Within this project, partnerships with operators from Jordan, South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania and Ukraine are being developed and implemented.
The Operator partnerships are intended to enable a systematic approach to international cooperation that will be effective beyond the pilot phase, building on the practical experience of German operators.

The partnerships are part of the “Utility platform for strengthening partnerships of municipal utilities worldwide”. The platform is a contact point for municipal utilities that aim to get involved in international partnerships, providinig qualified advice and facilitates the networking of municipal enterprises.

Visit the official website of the operator platform: https://www.utilityplatform.connective-cities.net/en/

The pilot project “Utility platform for strengthening partnerships of municipal enterprises worldwide” is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and will be implemented from July 2019 as a joint project between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Engagement Global with its Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW). 

The operator platform is being developed and implemented in cooperation with the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) and German Water Partnership (GWP). 

News & Information

Season’s Greetings

German Water Partnership wishes you a happy Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year!

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International online conference BLUE PLANET Berlin Water Dialogues 2023 on „Closing the Loop – Circular Water Economy“

Titled “Closing the Loop – Circular Water Economy”, the BLUE PLANET Berlin Water Dialogues will focus on the important topic of closed water cycles on 8 November 2023. The consequences of global climate change and the increasing scarcity of resources call for new and holistic ways of managing water.

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Global WOPs Congress and WOP Forum – A week dedicated to international operator partnerships

The week from 22nd to 26th May 2023 was all about international operator partnerships: The 5th WOP Congress in Bonn kicked things off and GWP was actively involved in the event programme by co-organising two sessions about the utility platform.

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Global perspectives & partnerships: GWP at the Global Water Summit in Berlin

The Global Water Summit took place in Berlin from 8th to 10th May. The event provided an opportunity for German Water Partnership (GWP) and its members to engage in global networking in the heart of Berlin.

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