IWA Climate Smart Utilities - 2026 Recognition Programme Survey

Application Form

The International Water Association (IWA) is calling on all water, sanitation and urban water utilities to apply to its 2026 Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme. This programme aims to inspire utilities to become increasingly climate-smart and embrace the cultural shift required for a water-wise future.

The recognition programme is built around three interconnected pillars:

1. Adaptation: Improving resilience to adapt to climate change.
2. Mitigation: Assessing and aiming to reduce GHG emissions.
3. Leadership: Leading and inspiring others to take Climate Smart action for a water-wise future.

The 2026 edition of the Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme seeks to recognise ambitious and innovative utilities around the globe that are leading the way towards a low-carbon water and sanitation sector, embracing the change needed to adapt to and mitigate climate change while raising awareness among citizens and industries, engaging regulators, and inspiring other utilities to take action.

The programme is an excellent way to gain recognition and share best practices towards becoming a Climate Smart player in the water sector.

Applications are open from 18 June to 18 July 2026. Selected applicants will be notified in August 2026. Incomplete, inaccurate or late applications will not be considered.

The top three recognised utilities in each category (Achiever and Entrant) will be featured in a dedicated workshop at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE), taking place in Glasgow, from 4 to 8 October 2026.

One representative from each of these utilities will receive complimentary Congress registration. For selected utilities based in low-, lower-middle-, and upper-middle-income countries, travel and accommodation support will also be provided for one representative.

For more guidance, please refer to the IWA Climate Smart Utilities Initiative Recognition Programme Framework.

Note: We recommend that all applying utilities obtain an IWA membership to facilitate future knowledge exchange. However, you may submit your application even if you have not finalised your membership. Only IWA members will be invited to take part in the CSU Community of Practice.

1.Contact information
Register your contact information here. (Required.)

First Name:

Last Name:

Organisation:

Role at organisation:

Country of residence:

Email:

IWA Membership no. (if applicable):

2.If you are not a member, do you agree to be contacted by the IWA membership team for membership and engagement?(Required.)

Yes

I am already a member

3.Utility type (optional)
If applicable, select your utility type from the dropdown menu(Required.)

Other (please specify)

Note: Sanitation utilities are defined as service providers engages in the collection, transport, treatment and disposal or reuse of human excreta, domestic wastewater and solid waste, and associated hygiene promotion (Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, UN).

4.For which category are you applying?(Required.)

Entrant Category

Achiever Category - please download and submit the Indicators document

5.Please upload the following documents

Indicators Document – Mandatory if applying for achiever category; Contact details of relevant individuals to discuss technical content; High-quality, relevant and original pictures (optional); Any additional supporting document or resource to share with the jury (optional)

No file chosen

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