This 60-minute session opens with a 15-minute keynote, followed by in-depth dialogue taking place at 50 roundtables. 

Water governance isn’t just about rules, it’s also about who makes them, who funds them, and who benefits. How can we support an “enabling environment” in contexts with fragmented institutions, limited budgets, or competing priorities?

Sub-themes:

• Policy meets reality: What are the biggest gaps between national water strategies and on-the-ground execution? Where do you see regulations helping or hindering innovation? Map the disconnects.
• Financing fairness: Water projects fail when costs and benefits aren’t shared equitably. What funding models have you seen bridge divides between public good and private gain? How can we design blended finance or revolving funds that attract investment and ensure access for all?
• Data as a team sport: Real-time water data is a game-changer, but only if it’s shared, trusted, and usable. Who owns the data? Who pays for it? What platforms or tools can break down data silos? What’s on your wish list for open, actionable data?
• Trust and power: Governance isn’t neutral but shaped by who has a seat at the table. How do we ensure marginalised voices (e.g., small-scale farmers, indigenous groups) influence decisions? What accountability mechanisms actually work?

Outcome: each table outlines the top five priorities for creating enabling environments that Partners for Water could incorporate in its next programme period.