Center for Water & Sanitation

The Center for Water & Sanitation (CWAS) strengthens urban water and sanitation services by providing assessment frameworks, toolkits, and monitoring systems. It enables local governments and service providers to measure service levels, track performance, and improve delivery through the Performance Assessment System (PAS), used by over 1000 cities. Its web-based system collects and analyses data on water supply, sanitation, and waste management, ensuring equity and sustainability. CWAS also facilitates capacity-building workshops, policy development, and decision-support tools, helping cities enhance their infrastructure and service efficiency. Through structured assessment reports and improvement plans, it supports reliable data-driven reforms and strengthens urban governance.

The Center for Water & Sanitation (CWAS) advances urban sanitation by supporting national, state, and local governments in delivering inclusive and sustainable sanitation services. It focuses on policy development, citywide sanitation planning, and implementation to achieve safely managed sanitation beyond toilet provision. Through its work on open defecation-free initiatives and faecal sludge management, it helps cities enhance sanitation infrastructure and service delivery. CWAS also develops decision-support tools, conducts research, and facilitates capacity-building to strengthen sanitation governance and contribute to national and global sanitation goals.

The Center for Water & Sanitation (CWAS) works to strengthen climate resilience in urban water and sanitation by addressing challenges such as extreme weather, floods, and droughts. It develops frameworks, toolkits, and monitoring systems to help cities adapt and mitigate risks while supporting sustainable service delivery. Through research, policy advocacy, and technical assistance, it aids governments in implementing climate-responsive WASH solutions. CWAS also fosters knowledge exchange via academic conclaves, webinars, and workshops, enhancing the understanding of climate finance, urban water security, and environmental sustainability.

The Center for Water & Sanitation (CWAS) enhances urban water security through resource management, governance, and service delivery improvements. It supports local governments with frameworks, toolkits, and technical assistance to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water. Conducting studies, preparing service level improvement plans, and promoting sustainable water use help cities strengthen water infrastructure. CWAS also fosters participatory groundwater management, facilitates capacity-building, and collaborates through the WASH Governance Hub to improve governance and efficiency in water systems.

The Center for Water & Sanitation (CWAS) strengthens financial capacity for water and sanitation by conducting research, policy advocacy, and municipal finance assessments. It identifies funding gaps, explores innovative financing mechanisms, and develops business models to support sustainable service delivery. CWAS collaborates with governments to improve revenue streams, assess financial resources, and enhance municipal autonomy. It also promotes sanitation credit and private sector investment to expand funding options. Through budget briefs, strategic planning, and capacity-building, it helps cities secure resources for effective infrastructure development and service improvement.