19/04/2026
Global South WASH Financing & Sustainability Conference 2026 Concludes!
The Global South Conference on WASH Financing & Sustainability (April 1–3, Lalitpur, Nepal) successfully brought together nearly 300 sector leaders, practitioners, and partners from across the Global South.
Jointly organized by the Society of Public Health Engineers Nepal (SOPHEN) and Water Forum Nepal (WAFON) in collaboration with the Government of Nepal—Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS) and Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM)—the conference provided a vital platform to address a key challenge: WASH financing remains under-prioritized despite its significant social, environmental, and economic benefits.
The event featured keynote sessions, panel discussions, and technical presentations, with opening remarks from Mr. Sharad Adhikary and closing reflections from Mr. Suman Prasad Sharma, Convenors of the conference.
Key takeaways:
🔹 Strengthening country-led financing frameworks
🔹 Promoting equity and inclusion
🔹 Leveraging blended finance and partnerships
🔹 Ensuring accountability and local ownership
🔹 Advancing sustainable and business-oriented WASH models
As highlighted by Mr. Adhikary, the momentum generated from this conference must be carried forward at national, regional, and global levels to strengthen investment and accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Sharma emphasized the need for innovative, inclusive, and sustainable financing, alongside stronger cross-sector collaboration to achieve universal access to WASH.
The conference concluded with a shared declaration, reinforcing commitment to continued collaboration, knowledge sharing, and action toward achieving the SDGs.
Thankful to all participants, partners, and contributors for making this conference a success.🙏
