World Water Week – putting the puzzle together

Under the theme “Water for People and Progress”, participants from more than 180 countries came together in late August in Stockholm/Sweden and online at World Water Week, organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Governments, businesses, financial institutions, scientists, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and communities brought different perspectives to a shared challenge: how to turn knowledge and ambition into results that improve people’s lives.

From commitments to implementation

With the 2026 UN Water Conference approaching in December, the shift from commitments to implementation ran through the Week. The Interactive Dialogues taking place during World Water Week contributed directly to preparations for Abu Dhabi, while governments, financial institutions and other partners explored how political ambition can be translated into priorities, programmes and investment.

Investment – a tricky topic

Finance was a major part of that conversation, but discussions went well beyond the need to mobilise more money. Speakers explored what makes investment possible: strong institutions, better planning, reliable data, appropriate financial instruments and effective water governance. Business discussions similarly highlighted growing evidence that water risks affect supply chains, investment decisions and economic resilience.

The Water Forward initiative provided one example of this shift towards implementation, connecting national water priorities with the finance, capacity, data and governance needed to turn them into action.

Governance is key

Again and again, discussions returned to governance. Water challenges cannot be addressed by technology, finance or individual actors alone. Decisions about how water is allocated and managed, who participates in those decisions and how competing needs are balanced ultimately determine whether solutions work.

People at the centre

Across the Week, another message was clear: solutions work better when they respond to the realities and needs of the people they are intended to serve. Different perspectives were not simply represented in the audience but brought into discussions about the decisions ahead – from governments, businesses and financial institutions to scientists, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, communities and young professionals.

Recognising outstanding people and their exceptional ideas

The Week also provided the setting to celebrate people and ideas advancing water solutions. The Stockholm Water Foundation, which is responsible for the Stockholm Water Prize and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, celebrated Professor Kaveh Madani and Moroti Adegboyega.

2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate Professor Kaveh Madani with H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. 
Photo: Jonas Borg – Stockholm Water Foundation

Kaveh Madani is Director of the UN University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), and lead author of the report Global Water Bankruptcy, which questions the idea that water crises are simply the result of drought, climate change or physical scarcity. In the report, Madani shows that water challenges are also shaped by overuse, governance and political choices. As he emphasised during the session “Meet the Laureate”, technology and innovation are essential – but not sufficient on their own.

Young Nigerian student Moroti Adegboyega received the 2026 Stockholm Junior Water Prize. His winning project, called Ecoferroquatics, is an AI-guided robot that uses biodegradable ferrofluid, a magnetic liquid and magnets to find and remove plastic from water without harming marine life. In testing, the system outperformed a simple sieve at collecting the smallest, microplastic-scale particles that can slip through conventional screening. The project points towards a new approach to tackling plastic pollution while protecting marine biodiversity and public health, the Foundation stresses.

Moroti Adegboyega, winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, with H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. 
Photo: Jonas Borg – Stockholm Water Foundation

In addition, the 2026 Hoover Medal was awarded to Gary White, CEO and Co-founder of the US nonprofit organisation Water.org Group. The Hoover Medal is one of the engineering profession's highest honours, awarded since 1929 to engineers whose achievements have significantly improved humanity through technical achievement and service.  As noted on conferring the award, White’s work has helped demonstrate how finance can enable people to invest in their own water and sanitation solutions – a powerful example of what can happen when people are placed at the centre of change.

From people to planet

The event was concluded with the announcement of the theme of next year’s World Water Week –“Water for Human and Planetary Health”. The 2027 Week is to look at the connections between water and public health, ecosystems, climate, biodiversity, food security, peace and economic resilience.

Professor Johan Rockström, joint director^[ of the Potsdam Institute Professor Johan Rockström speaking at the closing ceremony.
Photo: World Water Week

In the closing ceremony, Professor Johan Rockström, joint director^[ of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany,  built on that theme with an update on the planetary boundaries, showing that humanity has now transgressed seven of the nine boundaries defining a safe operating space for humanity. Water connects across many of these systems, including climate, biodiversity, land, nutrients and ecosystem health. The participants were confident that, with collective action across sectors, countries and communities, there is still a window to change direction.

The organisers’ conclusion is that moving from ambition to implementation does not depend on finding one missing solution. Rather, it all boils down to connecting the pieces which we already know matter: knowledge, governance, finance and cooperation. And it depends on recognising that progress for people and a healthy planet are not separate ambitions. Water connects them.

(SIWI/sri)

More information:

• SIWI’s Insight Brief with six policy priorities from World Water Week 2026
• News and stories about World Water Week 2026 at SIWI’s Website
• World Water Week website