Kizito Masinde highlights what delegates can expect from the upcoming edition of IWA’s flagship event for 2025, the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition.
As the global water community prepares to convene in Bangkok, Thailand, on 8-12 December, for IWA’s 2025 Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (WDCE), anticipation is building for what promises to be another landmark event. Organised in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology, this year’s Congress will again put the spotlight on the water and sanitation challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries while showcasing the innovation and solutions driving progress.
Guided by the overarching theme of ‘Water, Sanitation and Innovation – Pathways to Progress and a Resilient Future’, the 2025 edition will feature a robust, multidisciplinary programme. Topics will span critical areas such as improving water and sanitation services, the strategic role of water in urban resilience, strengthening city-basin connections, and accelerating climate adaptation and mitigation through water-related interventions.
Held towards the close of the year, the timing of the Congress offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on collective progress during 2025, celebrate achievements, and reassess solutions and strategic priorities as we look ahead to the 2030 deadline of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will also be fertile ground for encountering cutting-edge research, emerging technologies and practical approaches tailored to context-specific challenges.
An extensive programme
The response to the ‘Call for Submissions’ has been unprecedented. Compared with the previous edition in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2023, overall submission volumes have surged – more than doubling. This outstanding increase signals a growing global momentum around the Congress and the critical role it plays in shaping water and development discourse. With such a high number of submissions, the Bangkok edition is poised to be the most dynamic and impactful yet.
Access to technical insights
Submissions of abstracts for technical presentations rose by almost 140% for Bangkok, reaching 734 this time around. This significant surge underscores the growing global engagement and the expanding knowledge base around water and sanitation challenges in low- and middle-income contexts.
As with the previous edition in Kigali, submissions provide the basis for comprehensive coverage of the core programme themes. ‘Advancing wastewater treatment and sanitation services: Sustainable solutions for all’ and ‘Smart water management, highlighting the integration of technology and data into water systems’ received particularly high submissions, as did ‘Ensuring safe drinking water’, which remains central to public health and the SDGs.
The other two themes – ‘Enhancing utility management and operations for sustainable growth’ and ‘Strengthening governance and financial systems for long-term development’ – also attracted strong submissions.
The 2025 programme is structured around 18
cross-cutting topics distributed across these five themes. Authors were also asked to indicate up to three topics most relevant to their abstract, ranked by priority.
Our analysis of the first-choice topics gives an insight into the development areas in which authors are currently most keen to share insight. New technologies for water treatment and supply was the most frequently selected topic, reflecting ongoing innovation in this domain, closely followed by data-driven decision-making in water management, and resource recovery and reuse in water and sanitation.
Other topics that featured strongly included
low-cost and decentralised water and sanitation solutions, and water quality monitoring and early warning systems.
This all suggests a dynamic and technologically forward-looking research and practice agenda among water professionals, with strong interest in practical, scalable and resilient solutions. Alongside this, the diversity and volume of submissions also reflect a maturing global dialogue around integrated and sustainable water resource management.
An evolving focus for workshops
WDCE 2025 will again feature a strong workshop programme, built around the more than 100 proposals received. While the subject focus of the workshop submissions in 2023 very closely aligned with the pattern of abstract submissions, this time around we have seen a stronger representation in the workshop proposal under the theme ‘Strengthening governance and financial systems for long-term development’. This underlines the importance of the enabling role of governance and finance in delivering sustainable water and sanitation outcomes. There is an enduring priority for technical solutions, but effective governance, sound financing and institutional resilience are vital pathways to progress in the water and sanitation sector.
As with the abstract submissions, workshop proposals were categorised under 18 cross-cutting topics.
Topping the categories indicated was ‘Partnerships and multi-stakeholder collaboration in water management’, selected in 20% of workshop proposals. This strong interest highlights the increasing value placed on integrative, cross-sectoral approaches to water governance and implementation, recognising that systemic challenges demand collaborative solutions.
The topics ‘Innovations in sanitation for underserved communities’ and ‘Data-driven decision-making in water management’ also ranked highly, closely followed by ‘Climate-resilient water and sanitation systems’ and ‘Nature-based solutions for integrated water supply, sanitation and stormwater management’ – a signal of increasing alignment with ecological design principles.
Looking across the workshop proposals, the prominence of collaboration, innovation and resilience-related topics points to a sector actively aligning itself with the complex demands of sustainable development and climate adaptation.
A diverse array of contributions
The submissions for technical presentations and workshops have been received from those working across the sector, including from the academic community and the professional sphere, especially engineers and technical experts, as well as senior decision-makers and institutional leaders.
This profile reflects a well-balanced blend of academic insight, technical expertise and institutional leadership that should ensure the Congress fosters a dynamic and evidence-informed environment for advancing water and sanitation solutions in low- and middle-income countries. The strong showing from early-career academics also suggests a promising future pipeline of innovators and thought leaders in the sector.
Given the high level of interest in the Congress, competition for inclusion in the programme is intense. In Bangkok, 28% of abstracts submitted and 29% of workshop proposals are set to find a space on the main oral and workshop technical programme.
At the same time, we recognise the critical importance of sharing as much of the valuable research and practical insights proposed as possible. With this in mind, to promote inclusivity and broaden dissemination opportunities, we have designed the programme to accommodate a diversity of contributions. Each technical session will feature two poster pitches – concise, three-minute presentations by authors highlighting the essence of their posters. In addition, an engaging and well-curated poster area will provide authors with a valuable platform to visually present their work and engage directly with delegates in meaningful dialogue.
The Congress programme
The Congress will officially kick off on the afternoon of Monday 8 December with an inspiring Opening Ceremony, setting the stage for an exciting week ahead. This will be followed by the grand opening of the International Exhibition, where more than 100 global exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge innovations and solutions. Designed as the central hub for networking and exchange, the exhibition floor will then host the Welcome Reception – an ideal setting for delegates to connect in a lively and informal atmosphere.
From Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 December, the heart of the event unfolds with a rich and dynamic technical programme. Each morning and evening will feature thought-provoking keynote addresses from leading voices in water and sanitation, followed by topical panels that frame the issues of the day. Across 10 parallel streams, over 110 sessions – including technical sessions, hands-on workshops and thematic forums – will offer diverse insights and opportunities for dialogue.
Complementing the main programme, technical tours will run throughout the week and culminate on Saturday 13 December, offering participants a first-hand look at innovative practices in the field. A highlight of the social calendar, the Gala Dinner will take place on the evening of Thursday 11 December, bringing the community together in celebration. The Congress will officially conclude with a Closing Ceremony on Friday afternoon, marking the end of a week of shared knowledge, collaboration and inspiration. The event promises to be an amazing opportunity to share insights and build your network. We look forward to welcoming you in Bangkok.
The author:
Kizito Masinde is IWA’s Director of Global Events and Awards
More information
To find out more about the Water and Development Congress and Exhibition, visit: www.waterdevelopmentcongress.org
2025 Congress technical programme in figures
Total submissions: 836
Submission growth: +101%
Abstract submissions: 734
Workshop submissions: 102
Accepted abstracts for oral presentation: 208
Accepted workshops: 30
Countries represented in submissions: 72
Outstanding opportunities to sponsor and exhibit
The international trade Exhibition in Bangkok will provide an outstanding opportunity to showcase your company or organisation to an influential global audience.
With more than 100 exhibitors expected, sponsorship provides a way to further elevate your presence through:
- Branding of your company
- Targeted promotion by IWA to its global network
- Business forums to present to a high-level audience
- International media exposure and publicity
- Participation in structured networking events.
See website for Exhibition and Sponsor details
A global event with regional relevance
WDCE 2025 is being co-organised with the Asian Institute of Technology, underpinning the regional relevance of the event.
Professor Thammarat Koottatep, Co-Director of the Global Water & Sanitation Centre at AIT, says: “The Development Congress represents a vital platform for advancing solutions to global water challenges, fostering innovation and strengthening regional collaboration focused on the Global South. For Southeast Asia, it offers an unparalleled opportunity to address pressing water issues, sanitation challenges, build resilience, and drive sustainable development in our communities. I am confident that the event will leave a lasting impact by bringing together diverse expertise and actionable ideas.”
