Strategic themes

Water utilities are currently facing significant challenges, including climate adaptation, insufficient sanitation coverage, and sometimes the expansion of service areas to accommodate the influx of new (displaced) residents. To remain relevant for our Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOP) partners, VEI wants to address these issues effectively. In the coming years specific focus will be given to the following three strategic topics: Climate Adaptation, Sanitation and Crisis Resilience.  

VEI is uniquely positioned to support utilities, ensuring that services remain resilient and effective.
Through long-term partnerships and the Water Operator Partnership (WOP) model, VEI understands the priorities and operational needs of utilities and works alongside utilities to strengthen their capacity, even amidst natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and migration pressures.
VEI offers sustainable, peer-to-peer support that bridges the gap between immediate humanitarian needs and long-term development goals. By leveraging its expertise and partnerships, VEI ensures that utilities can adapt to challenges, safeguard public health, and maintain essential services for all, including the most vulnerable populations.

Climate Adaptation

As climate change continues to disrupt water availability, quality, and utility operations globally, VEI recognizes the urgent need to transition its approach while remaining steadfast in its mission to support water and sanitation utilities worldwide. In many countries where VEI is active, the impacts of climate change exacerbate existing challenges, making it vital for utilities to balance achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) with ensuring financial sustainability and climate resilience.

Particularly in the Global South, utilities face compounded difficulties due to urbanization, economic disparities, and heightened climate vulnerability. VEI is uniquely positioned to assist these utilities by attracting climate adaptation funding, supporting operational resilience in the face of changing conditions and promoting integrated water resource management, including catchment protection and cross-sector collaboration.

VEI is committed to evolving its operations to remain impactful in a rapidly changing climate landscape. By integrating flexibility, fostering collaboration, and adopting long-term planning, VEI will not only help utilities navigate climate challenges but also continue improving access to water and sanitation services for communities worldwide.

Sanitation

Globally, approximately 50% of wastewater is discharged into the environment untreated, leading to unsafe hygienic conditions in cities, particularly in densely populated, low-income areas. This exacerbates the prevalence of waterborne diseases and contributes to the pollution of groundwater and surface water resources.

However, wastewater is more than just a challenge—it represents an untapped resource within the water-energy-food nexus. Treated wastewater can support irrigation, supplement drinking water production, and provide valuable nutrients for fertilizer. Organic material in wastewater, for instance, can be used to produce energy-efficient briquettes, which reduce reliance on traditional charcoal and combat deforestation.

Many of VEI’s partner utilities are striving to address backlogs in wastewater management. VEI is expanding its role to support partners with expertise in the operation and maintenance of wastewater systems, guidance in setting up sustainable fecal sludge management practices, leveraging treated wastewater as a resource to enhance sustainability and resilience and leveraging expertise and building partnerships.

To advance these efforts, VEI will draw on Dutch expertise in wastewater management and sanitation. This includes collaborations with partners and in addition, VEI is actively pursuing new partnerships with financiers and other stakeholders to secure resources for impactful projects.

Poor sanitation services are a significant public health and environmental threat, but wastewater also holds the key to valuable resources. By addressing both challenges and opportunities, VEI ensures its work remains relevant and impactful, helping utilities worldwide transition to sustainable, resilient wastewater management systems.

Crisis Resilience

Cities face mounting challenges from natural disasters like cyclones and floods, rapid urbanization driven by forced migration, massive displacement, and outbreaks of waterborne diseases. These crises, many of which are becoming prolonged, strain the ability of utilities to provide essential water and sanitation services, impacting the health and well-being of urban dwellers.

Traditional humanitarian responses, while effective in immediate relief, often lack cost-efficiency, long-term sustainability, and integration into national systems. In contrast, VEI’s expertise lies in supporting utilities - the entities officially mandated to provide water and sanitation services. By working in partnership with these providers, VEI ensures sustainable solutions that benefit both displaced populations and host communities.

To achieve lasting impact, VEI fosters collaborations between the humanitarian and development sectors, enhancing utilities’ capacity to maintain service continuity during crises, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks and support displaced populations within urban areas by:

Preparing for and Responding to Natural Disasters
VEI helps utilities build resilience against shocks from natural disasters like cyclones and floods.

Preventing and Addressing Waterborne Disease Outbreaks
VEI supports utilities in reducing the risk and impact of disease outbreaks.

Supporting Displaced Populations in Urban Areas
VEI ensures that displaced people living in cities or refugee camps have access to sustainable water services.