Governments unite in tackling water security alongside WaterAid, private sector and young climate leaders

• Yesterday (Thursday 13 March) the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) International Development Minister chaired a water security roundtable of high-level decision makers from around the world
• Separately, water and climate priorities for COP30 were agreed among young climate leaders and business leaders, as WaterAid united actors from around the world, hosting two other pivotal roundtable events
• These events follow the release of WaterAid’s flagship report, unveiling extreme shifts in floods and drought patterns across the world’s most populated cities 

Seven Ministers from around the world, alongside representatives of multilateral and UN organisations, have united in a new show of leadership to tackle the global water crisis, as part of a ministerial roundtable hosted by the UK government on Thursday 13 March. 

Attendees of the ministerial roundtable agreed to integrate water security, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) into their climate, nature and development policies ensuring the most vulnerable communities are prioritised, with an outcome statement declaring water security as “a critical resource that underpins – and catalyses key sectors of the economy.” 

This roundtable – which included Ministers from Malawi, Bangladesh, Morocco, Nepal and Senegal as well as UN and World Bank representatives - was chaired by new Minister for International Development, Baroness Jenny Chapman and supported by WaterAid, a week before World Water Day.  

It was preceded by fifteen young climate and water campaigners and twenty business leaders in two other roundtables, marking a pivotal moment for global action on water, and a crucial moment of cross-societal and global climate solidarity ahead COP30 in November in Brazil. 

Across the world, 703 million people – almost 1 in 10– don’t have clean water close to home and climate change is making the situation worse, with more extreme floods and droughts threatening water sources. By 2040, 1 in 4 children will be living in places where there isn't enough clean water to meet demand. If we don’t address the water and climate crisis now, young people of today will face the consequences in years to come. 

Commenting on the Ministerial roundtable, UK International Development Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman said:  

“Water is at the core of how many people experience climate change. From devastating droughts and floods, to causing havoc to access to sanitation and hygiene.  

We can only tackle this by working together globally, with other governments, the private sector and civil society. I’m pleased to have met with international partners to agree a shared way forward.” 

The Ministerial Water Security Statement, agreed in the Ministerial roundtable, includes plans to build and sustain leadership on water security, sanitation and hygiene, and on working with investors and development banks to deliver climate resilient investment in water. Coordinated global action and multilateral collaboration was recognised as critical to tackle rising water insecurity, as attendees agreed to use key moments over the year ahead, including COP30, to drive scalable and innovative solutions to the water crisis that reach the most vulnerable.  

Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive of WaterAid UK said:  

“All three roundtables marked a powerful statement of ambition from government, corporate and financial institutions, and young campaigners to scale up action and investment in water to support the world's most climate-vulnerable people. 

“And the UK Development Minister’s commitment to build and sustain leadership on water security, sanitation and hygiene is a welcomed signal of the UK’s leadership in this area.” 

Young leaders Roundtable 

Fifteen young campaigners representing ten countries, including Bangladesh, Zambia, and Burkina Faso, discussed solutions for communities on the frontlines of the water and climate crisis. Including Dr. Vee Kativhu, Activist and founder of Empowered by Vee, Rita Nishimwe, a leader from the Rwanda Young Water Professional and Michael Kakande, founder of Resilient40, attendees agreed on a shared set of 8 priority areas to take to COP30 and ask global leaders to act upon. This included advocating for investment into climate resilient infrastructure, building on community-based initiatives, and calling for inclusive decision making which recognises the role of women and girls in tackling the climate crisis.  

Attendees emphasised the power of youth-led digital storytelling and social media as a tool for education and awareness raising, and the need to increase funding for content creators and youth groups to facilitate this. These priorities will contribute to a drumbeat of campaigning work between WaterAid and the young leaders in the run up to COP30, including a global Open Letter, to hold governments accountable for their action on water and climate. One attendee said “We represent the faces and names from around world – it goes beyond us. We want this letter to travel the world.” 

Driving Change Roundtable  

Understanding water risk, especially amongst rising climate shocks, was at the heart of the private sector roundtable, attended by twenty leaders from the business and finance sectors and co-chaired by Amy Hepburn, CEO, Investor Leadership Network, and Ewan Andrew President, Global Supply Chain & Procurement and Chief Sustainability Officer at Diageo. 

There was a clear willingness across multiple financial actors – including corporates, insurers, banks and investors - to collaborate on new business models for water – with all attendees agreeing on the need to both quantify and value water to better understand and attract water investment. In fact, one private sector representative said, “if you can value it, you can price it. If you can price it, you can finance it.” 

Roles and responsibilities between the private and public sector were also discussed as part of this, following recent aid cuts globally. Private sector leads expressed concern over not being able to separate development finance from private finance, with aid playing a key role in creating a healthy fully functioning society – the conditions needed to enable market growth. 

Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive of WaterAid UK added: 

“The story doesn't end here. In these uncertain times, we need global collaboration like this more than ever. WaterAid is committed to work with the UK and global governments, as well as multilateral organisations and private sector leaders, to ensure today’s pledges are seen through, in the run up to COP30 and beyond. Change starts with water.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors: 

Ministerial Roundtable on Water Security, 13 March 2025: outcome statement

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact senior media officer Lucy Cowie, [email protected], or contact the press office on 020 7793 4537, or [email protected].

The full WaterAid report, titled ‘Water and climate: Rising risks for urban populations,’ is available here, which revealed that 15% of the globe’s 100 most populated cities are subject to ‘climate whiplash’ (intensifying droughts and floods) 

In addition to the above quotes from Baroness Chapman and Tim Wainwright, please see below for further quotes from roundtable attendees: 

Minister of Water and Sanitation for Malawi Abida Sidik Mia said: 

“Before we talk about attaining all and any of the Sustainable Development Goals, we must first talk about how we can improve the management of water - a resource that underpins all sectors in Malawi and around the world whether it be agriculture, health, tourism, education, mining. 

“Today I joined people from diverse backgrounds including global leaders, young people and business corporations to discuss the importance of protecting and securing clean water for all. 

“Everyone has a role to play. We must now turn today’s conversations into action. Time is of the essence. We need to act, move and run to ensure everyone everywhere has clean and safe water.” 

Rita Nishimwe, a leader from the Rwanda Young Water Professional and co-chair of the Young Leaders Roundtable, said: 

“We need climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, to ensure communities can continue to access clean water in the face of the climate crisis. It's essential to have young people in this discussion - in Africa, 70% of the population is under 30. That's why I'm happy to be co-chairing today's young leader’s roundtable and bring together young voices from around the world. We have the solutions in us -  we just need to be heard.” 

Michael Kakande, founder of Resilient40, said:  

"It's vulnerable groups who suffer most when water is scarce. It's women in poor communities who walk miles for water. And it's young people who can offer clear perspectives about what's really happening in our countries and about our future - like we did today, in the WaterAid roundtable. 

"Young leaders need to sit in the same rooms as politicians and businesses to create intergenerational, intercultural spaces and influence the climate and water policies that shape our futures. Let's move beyond paper policies to real water action."  

Amy Hepburn, CEO, Investor Leadership Network, and co-chair of the Driving Change Roundtable: 

“Water security is not just an environmental or social imperative—it is a systemic risk and strategic investment opportunity. As water scarcity intensifies due to climate change, urbanization, and increasing commercial demand, the risks to corporate operations, supply chains, and economic stability grow.

"Investors alongside strong public and private actors can play a critical role in accelerating solutions by driving capital towards sustainable water stewardship, resilient infrastructure, and innovative financing mechanisms.”  

Ewan Andrew President, Global Supply Chain & Procurement and Chief Sustainability Officer at Diageo, and co-chair of the Driving Change Roundtable said:  

"Water is a key ingredient in our products and core to our business, from farmers’ ability to grow raw materials to the efficiency of our operations around the world. So, we're investing in water security, through integrating collective action, water replenishment and efficiencies, to strengthen our resilience across our supply chains and the communities where we operate.  

“But to achieve the scale that is needed, collectively we need to do more. Moving forwards, we will continue to strive to work across different sectors, and build new alliances, to accelerate the solutions needed to safeguard our business, our communities and the water basins on which we all depend.”