Localizing Sdg 6 and 11 - How Water and Sanitation Utilities Shape Housing and Urban Development

According to UN Water, SDG 6 is drastically off-track with 2.2 billion people lacking access to safe water and 3.5 billion people lacking safely managed sanitation services, and more than a billion people still living in slums and informal settlements. With the UN Water Conference being held in UAE in December 2026, the event will offer a platform to showcase the critical role of water and sanitation utilities in sustainable urban development as SDG front line actors. Equitable access to water and sanitation basic services are crucial to public health, environmental protection, and to eradicating poverty and inequality in human settlements. As urbanization continues to accelerate, cities are under increasing pressure to provide basic public services. The objectives of the session are to (1) Draw attention to the challenges posed by the nexus of rapid urbanization, the global housing crisis, and emerging water bankruptcy in many cities; (2) highlight the essential role of water and sanitation service providers in achievement of SDG 6 and 11, and (3) Share practical solutions from Asia, Africa and Latin America, spearheaded by utilities and supported by financial institutions, and pathways for scale up. Discussion will cover what local governments can do to plan and respond to the increased demand for water and sanitation services, and the role of capacity development and peer-to-peer learning at the city and utility levels as practical solutions.