The European Union Water Operators’ Partnerships Programme (EU-WOP) is a flagship initiative designed to strengthen public water and sanitation utilities across the globe through collaboration and knowledge-sharing. The programme is coordinated by the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) hosted by UN-Habitat. It emphasizes peer-to-peer partnerships where operators from different regions work together to improve capacity, efficiency, and sustainability in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In its first phase, launched in 2020, the programme supported 22 partnerships in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, demonstrating the power of cooperation in addressing global water challenges. Building on this success, EU-WOP has entered its second, more ambitious phase for 2025–2030. This phase expands its focus to support 30 new partnerships, offering both financial and technical support. EU-WOP is more than a funding opportunity—it is a platform for utilities to learn, innovate, and enhance their service delivery in a collaborative, non-commercial manner. Through its structured design, the programme ensures utilities gain not only funding but also the tools, training, and global connections needed to deliver equitable and sustainable water and sanitation services.

The European Union Water Operators’ Partnerships Programme (EU-WOP) is entering its second phase (2025–2030) to expand the scale and impact of its mission. Designed for public water and sanitation utilities, the programme will fund up to 30 new partnerships that focus on long-term, collaborative improvements. Each Water Operators’ Partnership (WOP) will run for up to 48 months, beginning in 2026, and benefit from both financial assistance and technical guidance. Partnerships will be supported under two funding windows: the Expanding Partnerships window for projects that build on Phase 1 collaborations, and the Emerging Partnerships window for entirely new initiatives. Beyond financial support, selected partnerships will gain access to global peer learning opportunities, technical expertise, and a knowledge-sharing platform facilitated by GWOPA/UN-Habitat. Funded projects must focus on strengthening capacity in key areas such as operational efficiency, financial management, equity, and sustainability. Additionally, each project should incorporate at least one of the EU-WOP Levers—digitalization, financial linking, or human rights. The programme ensures collective ownership by requiring all proposals to be co-developed and jointly supported by consortium partners.