IWA’s ambitions for the coming years are set out in its Strategic Plan for 2025-2030. Kala Vairavamoorthy highlights the transformative opportunities that await and how members can engage on this important journey
At its core, a strategic plan is a bold act of vision – a bridge between where we’ve been and where we dare to go next. With IWA’s new Strategic Plan for 2025–2030, we are not merely continuing our journey; we are opening a dynamic new chapter, shaped by ambition and guided by purpose.
We’ve built this plan on a strong and proud foundation. For more than 75 years, IWA has been a global leader, powered by the passion and dedication of its members. Our last Strategic Plan, from 2019 to 2024, delivered remarkable results. Membership grew by 26%. We welcomed 14 new Governing Members, expanding our leadership community from 51 to 65. The number of our Young Water Professional (YWP) chapters more than doubled – from 22 to 50 – creating new spaces for the next generation of leaders to thrive.
We also broadened our global footprint, significantly strengthening our presence in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Along the way, we launched bold and meaningful initiatives – from Digital Water and Climate Smart Utilities to Inclusive Urban Sanitation. These successes didn’t happen by chance. They were driven by you – our members – and by the power of our connected, collaborative network.
What sets IWA apart is the way we bring people together. We are nimble, open and deeply collaborative. This spirit lives within a culture grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion – where every voice, across genders, generations and regions, has a clear path to leadership in our Association. Now, we carry that spirit forward, with renewed focus and shared purpose, into the future we are ready to shape – together.
From vision to action
This new Strategic Plan lands at a crucial moment, not just for IWA, but for the global water sector. The year 2030 looms large on the horizon, especially as the deadline for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. That urgency is reflected in our new plan, which was formally endorsed by the Governing Assembly during last year’s World Water Congress & Exhibition in Toronto, Canada.
Importantly, this plan is more than a vision – it’s a call to action. To turn ambition into action, the IWA Secretariat has developed a detailed operational plan that sets out how we will deliver on the strategy. This roadmap was reviewed and unanimously approved by the Board in February, reflecting their strong endorsement and shared commitment. It now provides a clear framework that guides the Secretariat’s work and defines the path ahead. But its success depends on the energy, engagement and leadership of you – our members. Your involvement is not just welcomed; it’s essential. Together, we will bring this strategy to life.
So, what’s different this time around? In many ways, our core identity hasn’t changed – we’re still a global network committed to sustainable water solutions – but the scale of our ambition has grown significantly. We’ve sharpened our focus on climate action, equity, digital innovation and cross-sector collaboration. And we’ve done so through 23 specific strategic goals that reflect not just where the world is going, but where IWA can lead.
Leading the change
Let’s start with a major ambition: establishing IWA as the global home for water and sanitation utilities. This is about much more than engagement – it’s about relevance. We’re creating dedicated programming for utilities at our Congresses, launching a Global Water Utilities Summit, and developing practical support for utilities facing today’s operational and climate-related challenges. New credentialed training and certification programmes will equip professionals with the skills they need to thrive. This all builds on the momentum we’ve created through initiatives such as Climate Smart Utilities, reinforcing our commitment to sector-wide transformation.
Alongside this, our Global Sanitation Initiative aims to elevate sanitation within the sector – and in the global conversation. Through a science-based Knowledge Hub, a new Global Sanitation Summit and targeted advocacy, we’ll put sanitation where it belongs: front and centre. And we are helping shape the post-2030 water and sanitation agenda, ensuring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 remains a global priority.
We’re also deeply focused on the people who power our network. For our Governing Members around the world, we’re introducing a Charter, new engagement tools, and a recognition programme that will showcase active members and the local initiatives they champion. New digital dashboards and annual action plans will support shared accountability and track our collective progress. We’ll also launch a focused outreach drive to welcome more Governing Members from currently underrepresented regions.
Equity, diversity and inclusion remain at the heart of our work. We’re strengthening the IWA Women’s Leadership Network, giving women across the Association greater opportunities for visibility, mentoring and leadership – across every programme, from sanitation to digital water.
And for our YWPs, we’re doubling down – expanding mentorship, leadership pathways and support for YWP Chapters, especially in underrepresented regions. Initiatives such as our LeaP Leadership Programme and the Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship are just the beginning. A new digital tracking platform will help YWP Chapters monitor progress, share learning and stay connected.
Another exciting frontier is cross-sector influence. Water connects to everything – agriculture, energy, industry – and we’re ready to expand our reach. A new initiative will build partnerships with key industries, sharing IWA’s expertise in reuse, low-carbon treatment, resource recovery and digital optimisation, to drive sustainability across sectors.
A stronger, smarter network
To thrive as a network, we need to be more connected, inclusive and digitally empowered. That’s why we’re transforming member engagement through smarter tools and more meaningful experiences.
Our Connect Plus platform is evolving into an interactive hub where members can connect via a global map, searchable directory and real-time messaging. New virtual networking events, digital competitions and focused micro-communities will bring members together around shared interests and regional priorities.
A standout initiative is the Digital Ambassadors Programme, designed to empower emerging leaders – especially those facing barriers to in-person participation. By providing training in digital engagement, content creation and personal branding, we’ll help these ambassadors build influence, lead virtual events and represent IWA’s mission across platforms. Their voices and stories will be elevated through IWA channels, helping shape a more inclusive and globally connected water community.
Equally important is how we recognise contributions. Whether mentoring, sharing knowledge or leading discussion, members will be celebrated through spotlight features, digital tokens and recognition across IWA platforms. Gamified experiences will offer points, badges and new ways to showcase professional engagement.
Innovating how we learn and meet
Knowledge is at the heart of IWA – and we’re taking a leap forward with this core dimension. AI will help us make insights more accessible, with multilingual translations, clear audience-specific summaries, and interactive formats tailored for policymakers, operators, students and others.
Our conferences are being reimagined as smart events. AI will support programme design, reduce content overlap and deliver personalised session recommendations. Real-time feedback tools will let us adapt and extend high-interest sessions on the fly, making the experience more relevant and dynamic for everyone.
And, yes, The Source is getting a digital refresh. Our flagship publication will feature multimedia summaries, tailored content and AI-powered tools for easy, on-demand access – in multiple languages and aligned to member interests.
Turning strategy into action
Great plans are only as powerful as the people who bring them to life. While the Secretariat is already hard at work delivering the roadmap, the real momentum will come from you – our members – turning ambition into action across every corner of our network.
This strategy was shaped through your insight, energy and ideas. Governing Members, Specialist Groups, YWPs and partners from around the world all contributed to its development. That same spirit of shared leadership now needs to carry us forward.
So, this is our invitation: get involved. Whether it’s leading a local activity, mentoring a future leader, contributing to a Specialist Group or amplifying our voice in your region – your action will help shape the impact we make together.
There’s space for every kind of contribution. And there’s no better time to step in. This Strategic Plan is an ambitious statement of intent. It’s about how we lead, how we connect, and how we shape the future together. What comes next will be defined by our collective commitment – by how we show up, share knowledge, collaborate across borders, and keep equity and innovation at the centre of all we do.
So, I invite you to step in. Be part of what comes next. With your energy, your voice and your leadership, I believe we can do something truly transformative.
Together, we are ready!
The author: Kala Vairavamoorthy is the CEO of the International Water Association
IWA Strategic Plan 2025-2030
Our vision
A world in which water is wisely, sustainably and equitably managed.
Our mission
To grow and empower a member network of water and allied professionals, channelling the network’s energy and insights to: develop and disseminate knowledge and good practices; drive innovation, build capacity and nurture leadership; and support action by the global community on the SDGs and climate change, and preparations for the post-2030 agenda.
IWA in five years’ time – our objectives
Driving change: Uniting voices for water sustainability
Sustain a vibrant, diverse membership across IWA’s spectrum of water interests, promoting connectivity, inclusivity, impact, influence, professional growth, and shared success within the global water community.
Elevating water wisdom: Leading the charge for sustainability
Solidify our role as a trusted authority and global hub for water knowledge, adeptly addressing and raising awareness on core water supply and sanitation needs, of wider emerging trends and issues, and championing sustainable outcomes worldwide through pioneering thought leadership and impactful programmes.
Empowering solutions: Tailored content for the global water sector
Have diligently curated and delivered an expansive spectrum of professional content and programming, bolstered by empowering our members and precisely tailored to meet the evolving demands of the water sector around the world.
Global collaboration for water innovation and leadership development
Leverage the participation of global leaders in research and practice in its network, to drive water sector innovation, advancing governance and partnerships to achieve this, while at the same time supporting strengthening of sector capacity and leadership to facilitate tangible progress.
Navigating the world’s water challenges: Leading advocacy and collaboration
We will strengthen our position as a leading advocate for water within global communities, prioritising informed action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change, while also preparing for the post-2030 agenda, by fostering a secure environment for sharing water management knowledge and celebrating impactful collaborations.
