After two decades of work improving water and sanitation access in underserved cities, Water and Sanitation for Urban Populations (WSUP) is stepping into its next chapter with a sweeping new strategy aimed at building climate-resilient, inclusive systems across Africa and Asia.
Formerly known as Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor, the organisation’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, unveiled as part of its 20th anniversary milestone, focuses on helping cities adapt to the growing pressures of climate change, rapid urban growth, and dwindling development funds.
At the heart of the plan is a commitment to reach low-income communities that are most at risk—places where access to clean water and proper sanitation remains elusive and climate shocks hit hardest.
“Cities are on the frontlines of climate change, and the most vulnerable urban residents are already bearing the brunt. Many of those without access to clean water and sanitation live in low-income communities, often in areas prone to flooding, making them even more vulnerable. Our new strategy is a call to action for governments, utilities, regulators, and funders to work with us to build water and sanitation systems that are resilient, inclusive, and fit for the future. Achieving real impact requires more than taps and toilets—it demands functioning systems that deliver and sustain services in the complex and challenging environments of urban slums,” said Ed Mitchell, WSUP chief executive officer.
The strategy focuses on strengthening urban systems to ensure reliable services for all residents, especially those most at risk from climate change and urban exclusion. Specifically, it looks at how WSUP will drive inclusive and resilient urban water and sanitation systems and services through pioneering practices, partnerships, and policies.
The new strategy is backed by flagship initiatives designed to accelerate impact at scale:
- Roll Out Regulation in Africa (RORA) – Supporting regulators in eight African countries to develop and enforce pro-poor water and sanitation regulations that improve service delivery for low-income communities.
- Shared sanitation for improved child health – Scaling up high-quality shared sanitation solutions, informed by WSUP’s pioneering research in Mozambique, which links improved sanitation to better child health outcomes.
- Climate-resilient and climate-mitigating WASH services — Demonstrating how urban water and sanitation systems can both adapt to climate change and contribute to climate mitigation through smart infrastructure, water efficiency, and methane reduction.
“After 20 years of impact, we know what works — but the challenges ahead demand even greater ambition, smarter financing, and stronger partnerships. Too many well-intended water projects fail within a few years because they don’t address the systemic challenges. Our work ensures that cities don’t just get new infrastructure, but also the policies, people, and institutions needed to keep services running for the long term,” added Mr. Mitchell.
Alongside its strategy launch, WSUP officially announced its name change to Water and Sanitation for Urban Populations. The new name reflects its evolution as the urban WASH specialist and systems change leader working across entire cities to strengthen urban services and climate resilience. WSUP’s driving vision is to create a world in which all city residents, especially those in informal settlements and slums, have access to affordable, safe water and sanitation services that last.
