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GWPO at COP31
At COP31, GWPO Moves Country-Led Investments Towards Finance
Event
UN Climate Change Conference – COP31
Dates
9–20 November 2026
Location
Antalya, Türkiye
Convened by
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
As world leaders gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), from 9 to 20 November 2026, attention will turn to how climate commitments can be translated into concrete action, with adaptation, accessible finance and implementation high on the agenda.
At COP31, GWPO will advance country-led, climate-resilient water investment programmes and the partnerships needed to finance and implement them, supporting the GWP Strategy ambition to leverage US$15 billion in water investments by 2030 and mobilise USD 500 million directly for countries and partners.
A GWPO delegation, led by Mr. Alex Simalabwi, GWPO CEO and GWP Executive Secretary, with Anjali Lohani, Global Head – Water & Climate Resilience Investments, will engage with governments, financing institutions and partners to advance water investment opportunities and develop financing partnerships. Through the Global Water Investment Platform (GIP), a G20 Presidential Legacy initiative, GWPO will help Parties advance water priorities in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and investment programmes towards funded investments.
GWPO delegation
Alex Simalabwi
GWPO CEO and GWP Executive Secretary
Anjali Lohani
Global Head – Water & Climate Resilience Investments
GWPO’s key messages for COP31
GWPO urges UNFCCC Parties to:
1
Put water at the heart of climate resilience action. Translate water priorities in NDCs and NAPs into country-owned investment programmes that deliver the Global Goal on Adaptation.
2
Match adaptation ambition with accessible finance. Scale grants and concessional finance for water resilience, strengthen project preparation and mobilise private investment where appropriate – while protecting affordability and inclusion.
3
Carry COP31 momentum into concrete delivery. Advance water investment programmes and financing partnerships towards the 2026 UN Water Conference, using platforms such as the GIP to connect political leadership with measurable results.
NDC Partnership: 10 years of collective action
GWPO will join hands with the NDC Partnership to celebrate 10 years of collective action to raise NDC ambition and implementation. Since 2020, GWPO has delivered 16 projects across 12 countries with funding from the NDC Partnership, providing accessible, catalytic support for countries, along with technical assistance from GWP Regional Water Partnerships.
16
projects delivered by GWPO with NDC Partnership funding
12
countries supported since 2020
10
years of NDC Partnership collective action
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Regional stories on NDC enhancement and implementation are being prepared and will be added here through November.
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Snapshot of support offered by GWP through the NDC Partnership
Water on the COP31 agenda
COP31 provides an opportunity to connect climate change commitments at global, regional and national levels with the financing, institutions and partnerships needed for implementation.
Four key issues are particularly relevant to water:
Global Goal on Adaptation – moving towards implementation and measurable results. Following the adoption of 59 Belém Adaptation Indicators at COP30, attention is turning to their practical application. Water is directly represented through indicators concerning water scarcity, resilient water and sanitation infrastructure, basin adaptation planning and safe and affordable services.
NDCs and NAPs – translating climate priorities into investment programmes. The implementation agenda extends beyond the submission of updated NDCs to the support required to deliver them alongside NAPs, including investment preparation and financing partnerships.
Climate finance – implementing the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and scaling adaptation support. Discussions concern the goal of at least US$300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035, alongside efforts to scale financing and at least triple adaptation finance by 2035.
Aligning financial flows with climate resilience. COP31 will consider implementation of Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement, concerning the alignment of financial flows with low-emission, climate-resilient development, and its complementarity with Article 9 on climate finance.
Next stop: Abu Dhabi
GWPO's engagement at COP31 will build momentum towards the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, taking place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 8 to 10 December.
On 9 December, GWPO expects to co-convene an event for the Global Water Investment Platform (GIP) Blended De-Risking Facility. Hosted in Namibia, the Facility is a catalytic, country-led vehicle designed to support the early-stage work that turns national priorities into investment-ready projects and connects them with new sources of public and private finance.
Alongside the event, the GWP Technical Committee will present a new essential paper on finance, led by Technical Committee Chair Jae So and Global Technical Envoy Dr Alex Money.