Strengthening Governance for Climate-Resilient WASH Systems

Blue graphic featuring the cover of this learning brief featuring an illustration of a person weaving a blanket with colourful threads

As the effects of climate change are increasingly being felt across the globe, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) stakeholders are working to strengthen the climate resilience of WASH sector development. A central part of this effort is to integrate climate risk and resilience into WASH governance systems. This is a key way for the sector to transition to climate-resilient inclusive WASH development and contribute to broader resilience and sustainable development goals.

However, integrating climate risk and resilience into WASH governance systems is a new reform area in most settings. Although many frameworks for climate risk and resilience and WASH governance exist, few consider climate risk and resilience as part of how governance should be performed.

To contribute to learning on how best to do this important work in different contexts, under Water for Women's Learning Agenda partners explored two more specific questions:

• How do governance systems for climate-resilient inclusive WASH commonly integrate consideration of climate risks and resilience?

• What lessons from promising practices can we share to support strengthened climate risk integration?

This brief shares their learnings and insights, including eight promising practices from Water for Women projects that can help to guide this process. It is part of a series that delves into the broader questions of what climate-resilient inclusive WASH development looks like, and how inclusive WASH strengthens climate resilience.

Who is it for?

This learning brief is intended to support WASH and wider development sector actors and partners to better understand and integrate climate risk and resilience into WASH governance systems to support development outcomes and broader sustainable development goals.

A thumbnail of the cover of this learning brief featuring an illustration of a person weaving a blanket with colouful threads

What does it include?

A review of guidance and good practice for integrating climate risk and resilience into WASH governance systems in existing conceptual frameworks
Eight promising practices for integrating climate risk and resilience into WASH governance systems that have emerged from the practical experiences of Water for Women partners
Spotlights featuring promising practice examples from Water for Women projects

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Citation: Water for Women. (2025). Learning brief: Strengthening Governance for Climate-Resilient WASH Systems. https://www.waterforwomenfund.org/en/news/strengthening-governance-for-climate-resilient-wash-systems.aspx

This learning brief was authored by Fraser Goff, WaterAid Regional Systems Strengthening Technical Lead, and Aaron Buncle, Water for Women Climate Adviser. We thank all Water for Women partners and teams whose work generated the insights and lessons shared within this learning brief.

Thank you in particular to the learning group members who shaped the learning synthesis process, identified and defined the lessons presented, and reviewed analysis and reports: Turea Wickham, World Vision PNG, WfW PNG WASH Consortium Coordinator; Gabrielle Halcrow, SNV Multi-Country Project Manager, Climate Resilient Rural WASH; John Kelleher, Plan International Australia Senior WASH Program Manager; Lynn Foden, Thrive Networks/East Meets West Strategic Adviser; Regina Souter, International WaterCentre Acting Director; Naomi Carrard, University of Technology Sydney - Institute for Sustainable Futures Research Director; Santosh Nepal, International Water Management Institute International Researcher, Water and Climate Change; and Caroline Hardiman, WfW Grants Administrator. Finally, we thank Bianca Nelson Vatnsdal and Mia Cusack (WfW Communications) for leading the graphic design and editing process of this brief.

Water for Women acknowledges the Australian Government’s support via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in providing funding to our partners to support climate-resilient, inclusive WASH projects and research across the region and sharing valuable inputs through this learning brief.