Multi-level governance: Strengthening WASH Systems for Climate Resilience

Climate change increasingly disrupts access to safe water and sanitation — through water scarcity, flooding and pressure on infrastructure. Resilience in the WASH sector depends not only on technical solutions, but on strong governance across all levels: from national policy and regulation to local implementation and community engagement. This session explores how multi-level water governance can help WASH systems adapt to climate risks. The panel brings together Egyptian stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Local Development, EWRA, the Ministry of Housing (/ HCWW), a representative of the Governorate level to discuss how multi-level governance supports climate adaptation in the WASH sector. The discussion will explore: • How national policies, regulation, and standards help embed resilience into water and sanitation services; • The role of local authorities in identifying climate risks, ensuring service continuity, and responding to emergencies; • The importance of coordination between ministries, regulators, utilities, and governorates. As part of the discussion, VNG International will share an example from its ongoing work in South Sudan, where local and national actors are working to align WASH service delivery with national reforms. The panel discussion will conclude with a Q&A session, opening up the discussion to the public.