Who we are
An international centre of excellence in
governance of water and sanitation services
We are an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening policy, regulation and management of water and sanitation services worldwide. Headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, we work with governments, regulators, utilities and development partners to support sector reforms, improve institutional performance and advance sustainable and resilient services.
Our mission
To strengthen policies, regulation and management to deliver more effective, efficient and sustainable water and sanitation services for society.
Founded by leading institutions of the Portuguese water sector
National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC)
Portuguese Association of Environmental Sector Companies (AEPSA)
Foundation for Studies and Training in Local Government (FEFAL)
Portuguese Water Partnership (PPA)
Águas de Portugal Group (AdP)
More than 125 national and international organisations supported our creation, reflecting the collaborative nature of water sector governance.
Grounded in
experience from
sector reforms
in Portugal and
around the world
We build on Portugal's widely recognised experience in reforming water and sanitation services. This transformation combined strong and stable public policies, clear institutional and regulatory frameworks, the separation of bulk and retail water services, the establishment of an independent regulator and state-owned regional utilities, and the opening of service provision to private sector participation.
This experience is enriched by the lessons and good practices gained from supporting sector reforms in dozens of countries around the world.
A global hub for
water sector reforms
Building on this foundation, we support governments, regulators and service providers across dozens of countries in designing and implementing reforms adapted to diverse institutional contexts and levels of development — from small island states and emerging economies to mature systems undergoing modernisation.
Learning from reform experiences worldwide
Across these contexts, we identify recurring governance and regulatory challenges, compare reform approaches and extract lessons on what works, what does not and why. We use this knowledge to help design and implement realistic, context-specific and results-oriented reform pathways.
Our ecosystem
We operate within a global ecosystem of actors committed to improving water and sanitation sector governance.
Governments and public authorities . regulators . utilities . development partners . international
organisations . research institutions . professional networks
What makes us different
Integrated view of
sector governance
We operate across the entire sector value chain, connecting public policy, regulatory frameworks, utility performance and financing strategies.
Think tank with practical experience
We combine strategic thinking and analytical work with hands-on involvement in reform processes across multiple countries.
Structured reform
process
Through WaterGov, we combine a structured methodology, a digital platform and technical assistance to support strengthening processes.
Learning across
countries
We transform international experience into actionable knowledge, helping countries adapt good practices to their own contexts.
Based in Portugal,
working globally.