This webinar cuts across different IWA’s initiatives, programmes and communities. It is jointly organised by IWA’s Inclusive Urban Sanitation Initiative in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat).

UN-Habitat’s vision is “a better quality of life for all in an urbanising world”. UN-Habitat is implementing the “Scaling Citywide Inclusive Sanitation Systems (CWIS)” project which aims to ensure everyone benefits from safely managed sanitation. As part of this project, UN-Habitat launched the Global Report on Sanitation and Wastewater Management in Cities and Human Settlements. The report highlights the fact that wastewater and faecal sludge management remain on the fringe of urban development hindering the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. In many countries, systemic under-prioritisation of wastewater and faecal sludge management has led to sanitation systems that are not fit for the purpose of excreta and wastewater collection up to treatment services. With five inspiring case studies, the report demonstrates that cities are beginning to develop the economic, institutional and regulatory measures required to ensure the agriculture sector and wider society can benefit from treated wastewater.

During the webinar, discussions will focus on how governments, city planners and their development partners can accelerate progress in the achievement of SDG 6.2 by bringing sanitation and wastewater management to the heart of urban planning and development.