The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and the World Economic Forum have signed a partnership to accelerate water innovation and help practical solutions reach wider adoption, the organisations said on Thursday.
The two-year agreement, which runs through September 2028, aims to strengthen the policies, financing, market demand and partnerships needed to scale water solutions, they said.
The partnership will bring together government, industry, finance and civil society leaders to support investment, share knowledge and expertise, and develop pathways for adopting water innovations.
The organisations will also use major international water conferences and forums to promote collaboration on innovation, investment and implementation.
“Water is a key pillar of development, prosperity, and resilience,” said Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, vice-chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative.
He said the partnership would support the development and adoption of practical solutions to address global water scarcity.
Ayesha Al Ateeqi, chief executive officer of the initiative, said addressing water scarcity required innovators, policymakers, industry and investors to work together.
Larry Fink, co-chair of the World Economic Forum, said the partnership could use the forum’s ability to bring together leaders from business, government and finance around water scarcity.
Sebastian Buckup, managing director of the World Economic Forum, said water remained under-resourced and under-invested despite its importance to energy, food, industry and urban development.
The partnership will focus not only on technology but also on financing, policy, market development, knowledge sharing and cross-sector collaboration, the organisations said.
