The Water, Sanitation, and Climate Action Convergence in Madrid
Madrid is set to become the global hub where water, sanitation, and climate action come together under one conversation. Recently, the Spanish capital hosted the Sector Ministers Meeting (SWA) of Sanitation and Water for All, a forum aiming to align global policies to ensure the human right to water and strengthen resilience against climate change.
Breaking Policy Silos: Uniting Political Leadership for Integrated Water, Sanitation, and Climate Action
The central theme, “Breaking Silos: Uniting Political Leadership for Integrated Water, Sanitation, and Climate Action,” reflects an urgency to leave behind the fragmentation of policies and investments that hinder effective solutions. Muyatwa Sitali, interim CEO of SWA, explains: “The SMM 2025 presents a historic opportunity to strengthen policies that guarantee the human right to water and sanitation. We seek to generate simultaneous benefits for health, economy, food security, and climate resilience.”
Prioritizing Water as a Climate Action
The most pressing challenge, according to Sitali, is sustainable financing. “Integrating water, sanitation, and climate actions requires innovative approaches that prioritize transparency, efficiency, and local impact,” he asserts. This involves strengthening public and private budgets and involving communities in decision-making processes.
The key is ensuring that every investment translates into tangible results: public health, infrastructure, and genuine climate adaptation. “When financial systems and public services function efficiently, every dollar yields more and transforms lives,” Sitali notes.
Inspiring Examples
Some countries are paving the way. Kenya has incorporated water and sanitation into its National Adaptation Plan, enhancing water security in key basins like the Lake Victoria. Jordan, a nation facing severe water stress, has directly integrated climate risk into its national water strategy by coordinating policies across ministries and sectors. Meanwhile, Grenada, a small island state, uses international climate financing to build a resilient water sector, demonstrating that global cooperation can yield local results. These examples, Sitali says, “show that it’s possible to translate climate adaptation priorities into concrete and sustainable actions.”
Mexico faces a critical situation, with nearly half its population experiencing varying degrees of water scarcity, according to INEGI. Sitali acknowledges progress — with treatment plants and water integration in climate policies — but believes “there’s still room for improvement.”
“The experiences of countries like Jordan or Namibia show that safe water reuse can turn scarcity into resilience,” he comments. “Mexico can learn from these models, mobilize climate financing, and make water and sanitation its climate change adaptation strategy.”
SWA’s Global Alliance and Accountability Mechanism
SWA promotes a global alliance with over 500 verifiable commitments from governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society. Through its mutual accountability mechanism, the organization measures progress, publishes global reports, and encourages public participation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of the SWA meeting in Madrid? The primary focus is to break down policy silos and unite political leadership for integrated water, sanitation, and climate action.
- Why is sustainable financing crucial? Sustainable financing enables innovative approaches prioritizing transparency, efficiency, and local impact in integrating water, sanitation, and climate actions.
- Which countries are leading the way in integrating water and climate action? Kenya, Jordan, and Grenada are examples of countries effectively incorporating water and climate action into their policies.
- What challenges does Mexico face regarding water scarcity? Nearly half of Mexico’s population experiences varying degrees of water scarcity, but progress has been made through treatment plants and integrating water into climate policies.
- What role does SWA play in promoting accountability? SWA fosters a global alliance with verifiable commitments and uses a mutual accountability mechanism to measure progress, publish reports, and encourage public participation.
