Dr. Monika Weber-Fahr
The Global Water Partnership (GWP) Steering Committee announced the appointment of Dr. Monika Weber-Fahr (pictured above) as GWP Executive Secretary, effective May 7, 2018. Weber-Fahr joins GWP after 20-plus years in the development field, with diverse experiences in creating and sharing knowledge across global networks and communities. Weber-Fahr succeeds Rudolph Cleveringa who is retiring.
“At the start of the UN International Decade for Action – Water for Sustainable Development, we are excited to bring in someone with hands-on experience in innovation and in building strong partnerships,” said Dr. Oyun Saanjasuren, GWP Chair, as she announced the unanimous decision to appoint Weber-Fahr. “Monika’s strengths in translating knowledge on complex issues into pragmatic actions will help shine a light on how the GWP multi-stakeholder partnership brings about excellence in integrated water resources management.”
With a background as an economist, Weber-Fahr began working in development in 1994 with the World Bank. Building communities and partnerships around knowledge and collaboration became a passion that she pursued across multiple projects in areas related to sustainable development and the field of education. For the International Finance Corporation (IFC), she built the Global Business Line for Sustainable Business Advisory, working with the private sector to pursue people-planet-profit opportunities, including on water efficiency and new clean water technologies.
Most recently, Weber-Fahr worked as Chief Operating Officer at Sustainable Energy for ALL (SEforALL), an international NGO promoting access to clean, affordable, and modern energy, where she built organizational management structures and supported day-to-day operations serving a broad network of public-private partnerships.
In accepting the position, Weber-Fahr is passionate about GWP’s unique local to global reach, noting the network’s credible platform for changing the way water is managed. “Good water governance is not optional anymore,” she said. “With growing risks of water pollution, groundwater exploitation, and rainfall variability, we need to come together around the values we hold dear to take decisions on limited resources, mindful of all options and how they influence each other. We need to bring new knowledge, data, and technologies to this critical task, with the centrality of water allowing us to connect with partners across all SDGs and the climate agreements. I am honoured and humbled by the opportunity to serve GWP in its mission to ensure a water secure world for all, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable communities.”
Saanjasuren noted that Weber-Fahr would be taking over as the GWP network begins developing a new strategy. The current one concludes at the end of 2019. “We are grateful that Rudolph brought increased clarity to GWP’s comparative advantage, as well as a strong focus on core functions at the global secretariat, a foundation Monika will build on,” said Saanjasuren.
Weber-Fahr holds a Ph.D. in Business Economics, a M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in Economics, a Diploma in International Relations, and a Diploma in Corporate Governance.