GWP is also launching its new website — www.gwpo-gwp.org — reflecting its evolving role in advancing climate-resilient water investments, building on over two decades of track record advocating for improved water governance and integrated water resources development and management.
The announcement of the new GWPO Transition office was made in Cape Town ahead of World Water Day, on 20 March 2025 by Hon. Pablo Bereciartua, Minister of Infrastructure, City of Buenos Aires -Argentina and Chair of GWP’s Global Board (Steering Committee), during a High-Level preparatory event for the upcoming Africa Water Investment Summit that will be convened by South Africa and African Union in the Context of South Africa's G20 Presidency in 2025. Hon. Pemmy Majodina, South Africa Water and Sanitation Minister hosted the event that was attended by H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania and Board Chair of GWP Southern Africa, along with other global leaders.
“On behalf of GWP and our 2800 partners worldwide, I am pleased to announce the establishment of the headquarters of the GWPO Transition Office in South Africa,” said Bereciartua. “This office will be crucial in mobilising climate resilient water investments across developing regions in the global south and will play an instrumental role in the Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments, aimed at leveraging at least USD 15 billion in climate-resilient water investments by 2030. The Transformation Agenda also includes a Global Transformation Council (GTC), comprising former, current Heads of State and other global leaders to lead engagement with G20 leaders to prioritise climate resilient water investments”.
Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania and Co-Chair of GTC, stressed the urgency of action. “We are less than six years away from 2030, and we must act now to unlock financing for water investments,” he said.
Her Excellency, Retno L.P. Marsudi, UN Water Envoy and former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Indonesia underscored the importance of turning commitments into action. “We must ensure that political commitments are matched with concrete investments and innovations to drive sustainable water solutions,” she said in a video message.
Hon. Pemmy Majodina, South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation,also a member of the GTC highlighted the significance of water’s formal inclusion in the G20 process. “Water is now included in the G20 Interministerial Committee, a critical step in elevating the water agenda within global discussions,” she said.
Henk Ovink, former Dutch Water Envoy, commended the focus on mobilising commitment at the highest level of global leadership. ‘I’m honoured and happy to accept my participation in the GTC alongside President Jakaya Kikwete, Honourable Pemmy Majodina, and other members to work closely with the G20 leaders to make water an anchor and cornerstone for sustainable development,” said Ovink.
Hon. Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, President of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW), Minister of Water and Sanitation, Republic of Senegal, and Co-Host of the UN 2026 Water Conference committed support of African water ministers on the continent to the African Water investment Summit and ensuring the outcomes feed into the UN 2026 Water Conference that will be held in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Speaking at the event, HE Mahash AlHameli, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa (Co-Host UN 2026 Water Conference), stressed the importance of technology in addressing water challenges and committed UAE support to the G20 processes.
Alex Simalabwi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GWPO and GWP Executive Secretary welcomed the establishment of the GWPO HQ Transition Office in South Africa as a key step in the Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments.
“This is also part of our efforts to elevate water to the G20 agenda and support the G20 Chair–South Africa’s leadership and other G20 members that attended the Cape Town event, including South Africa Chair of the G20 Sous-Sherpa, Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Argentina, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom, GIZ–development agency of Germany (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), and representatives of partners: World Bank, African Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, UNDP, UNICEF, IWMI, WMO.
Following consultations with GWP Founding Partners, we are confident that the decision of the GWP Board to undertake the Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments in response to global climate emergency is the way to go, said Simalabwi. “This will be supported by our new GWPO HQ Transition Office in South Africa, the Global Transformation Council (GTC), four decentralised GWPO Technical Support Hubs to work with and support countries, together with the GWP Regional Water Partnerships across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America & Caribbean and Europe”.
Since its announcement in in February 2025, the GWP Transformation Agenda has been welcomed by GWP Partners including the GWPO founding countries and organisations; Sweden, Netherlands, Pakistan, Argentina, Chile, Hungary, The World Bank, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, in a consultative discussion with GWPO CEO, Alex Simalabwi, also welcomed the importance of addressing water at the highest level of political leadership and stressed the importance of Gender equality, strategic foresight and ‘outlook’ on water.
Meike van Ginneken, Water Envoy for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in a video message, commended the African Union and South Africa for their commitment in following the recommendations of the High Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa to mobilise domestic and international finance for water and engage the G20 leaders.