Exploring climate resilience pathways in Suva and Bangkok

A graphic featuring teal background and the title and dates of this event

Together with International WaterCentre, Water for Women is pleased to be joining participants at Climate Resilience Pathways: Water Security and WASH in Asia Pacific in both Suva and Bangkok from 29 April to 1 May 2025.

Last days to register! In person attendance closing 16 April

Water security, WASH, and climate resilience are deeply interconnected, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where climate challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and water scarcity are becoming more severe. Climate Resilience Pathways will explore how ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and effective water management is not only critical for health but also foundational to building resilience in the face of a changing climate.

Working collaboratively with partners across the region, this conference provides an opportunity for professional practitioners and development partners working in water, WASH, climate and GEDSI to share best practices and integrated approaches as a fundamental requirement of climate resilience, for which water security and WASH is central.

The two conferences will be connected by an innovative shared plenary across the two locations, with Her Excellency Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat confirmed as a keynote speaker for the opening plenary.

Online plenary attendance now open!

Water for Women partners will be present in both locations to share our learning from the last seven years. We’ll be delivering a range of engaging sessions tailored to each region, with many partners also delivering valuable learning across a range of themes.

Bangkok Program

Key South East Asia Themes

🌏 Water Security & Planning – Strategies to secure and manage water resources in a changing climate, balancing competing demands for sustainable development.

🌊 Risks, Resilience & Adaptation – Addressing climate-related risks, from extreme weather events to long-term environmental shifts, through innovative adaptation and risk management approaches.

🏛️ Leadership, Governance & Financing – Strengthening policies, governance structures, and financial mechanisms to drive climate resilience at local, national, and regional levels.

⚖️ GEDSI, Climate & Water/WASH – Ensuring that climate resilience strategies are inclusive, gender-responsive, and equitable, with a focus on water resources management and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.

Suva Program

Key Pacific Themes

🚰 Water & Sanitation Planning – Strengthening water supply and sanitation systems to ensure safe, sustainable, and resilient services for all.

💠 Climate-Resilient WASH – Exploring approaches to ensure WASH services can withstand and adapt to climate impacts.

⚖️ GEDSI, Climate & WASH – Ensuring that climate resilience strategies are inclusive, gender-responsive, and equitable, with a focus on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.

🌍 WASH & Water Security for Climate Resilience – Examining the connections between water security and WASH in building climate-resilient communities.

🏞️ Water & WASH Catchment Links – Strengthening the integration of water resource management and WASH services at the catchment level to enhance sustainability.

📊 Systems Strengthening: Data, Scaling Up, Financing and Capacity Development – Harnessing data, digital tools, scalable approaches, finances and skills to build more resilient and adaptive water and climate systems.

Water for Women will also be launching the new edition of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Self-Assessment Tool, otherwise known as the SAT, which represents the culmination of years of collaborative work across Water for Women, and has been co-created with the Sanitation Learning Hub. Participants have the option to join a full day training in both locations on 2nd May to explore the tool and the process. Sessions in both locations are currently full but you are able to go on the waitlist in case spots become available (through the registration process).

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The Australian Government has contributed significantly to developing best practice in water security, WASH, climate and GEDSI. Water for Women in particular has generated many important lessons in strengthening the climate resilience and inclusiveness of water security and WASH. Over the program’s lifecycle, the centrality of water security and inclusive WASH in climate adaptation and resilience has been demonstrated.

This event will be a timely opportunity to share lessons and insights on key challenges and enablers with other actors looking to strengthen climate resilience through the lens of water management and WASH.

This conference is supported by flagship DFAT Programs, in particular Water for Women Fund, Australian Water Partnership, and Mekong Australia Partnership amongst others, and is a key opportunity for the lessons learned from these programs to be shared and discussed with broader sector actors.