We believe that universal and resilient urban water and sanitation are fundamental cornerstones of human prosperity, well-being, and economic activity. We understand that strong systems require strong policy. With the global population projected to be two-thirds urban by 2050, there is an urgent moral and strategic imperative to build the enduring systems that can support this growth and empower the local leaders who run them.
In rapidly expanding urban centres across the Global South, population growth is outpacing the provision of essential WASH infrastructure and services. Residents of low-income communities and informal settlements live without access to safe, affordable, and reliable water and sanitation. This negatively impacts health, livelihoods and dignity, and entrenches gender inequities by disproportionately burdening women and girls. Underlying these challenges are systemic failures, with change hampered by fragmented policies, weak institutional frameworks, and inadequate funding, with stakeholders often failing to unite in collaborative action. The growing threat of climate change further exacerbates the crisis and its challenges.
In response, WSUP drives inclusive and resilient urban water and sanitation systems – drawing on 20 years of expertise in addressing these complex urban challenges. By strengthening systems, we ensure that people and communities benefit from sustainable, high-quality services. We are a systems player, partner, and pioneer dedicated to making service provision work for everyone, everywhere.
Our work is guided by three core approaches that drive change across the urban WASH ecosystem:
- Pioneering practices: WSUP develops, pilots, and validates innovative solutions—from delivery models to frameworks and regulations—that enable sustainable system change. By directly testing these approaches, we de-risk adoption for others, addressing gaps where proven solutions exist but remain underused, and where evidence for innovations is still limited.
- Partnerships: We move beyond technical assistance by actively collaborating with local service providers to scale and improve services. Through trusted, close partnerships, we mainstream proven solutions via shared learning, promoting replication across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- Policies: We understand that strong systems require strong policy. We work to shape urban WASH policies, practices, and investments locally and globally, building the evidence base that mobilises finance and encourages adoption of best practices. This focus ensures policies and regulations are clarified and strengthened, reflecting funders’ expectations for responsible system-change players.
