On April 15, 2026, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced its participation in the Water Forward coalition, launched on the same day by the World Bank, to ensure better water security worldwide.
The Water Forward coalition aims to reach one billion people by 2030, coordinating various public policies, financing mechanisms, and international partnerships for the development of water infrastructure. It seeks to improve access to water, sanitation, and resilience to climate change. Currently, over two million people still lack access to clean water globally, while water resources face increasing pressure due to climate change and related extreme events like droughts. Water is fundamental to human health, food security, energy production, and economic development, with 1.7 billion jobs worldwide dependent on water access.
Water Forward focuses on three key areas: water for populations, water for food, and water for the planet. The initiative aims to support coordinated policies, provide technical expertise and financing to address institutional gaps hindering water access. It also seeks to encourage private sector investments in the water sector to enhance its impact through more structured regulatory frameworks.
This initiative is led by fourteen countries and supported by various partners such as multilateral development banks, private investors, and philanthropic organizations.
Within Water Forward, the EIB commits to contributing to the water supply security for 300 million people by 2030. As the largest multilateral donor for water projects globally, the EU through the EIB can bring its expertise to deploy large-scale solutions tailored to local needs, including sanitation, irrigation, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, among others, alongside other multilateral partners like the Asian Development Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Additionally, the EIB will assume the presidency of the multilateral development institutions family next year, with water and resilience being one of the five major priorities guiding its presidency.
Context: The European Investment Bank (EIB) joins the Water Forward coalition to enhance global water security through coordinated efforts and investments.
Fact Check: The initiative aims to reach one billion people by 2030 and improve access to clean water, sanitation, and climate resilience, addressing the challenges posed by water scarcity and climate change impacts.
