Overview

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At World Water Week 2025, ALTAMIRA Regenerative Finance joined the We Are Water Foundation, WASTE, FINISH Mondial, and the RETHINKING Coalition to convene a participatory workshop on one of the most pressing challenges facing the water sector:

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How do we finance water security in a world of growing climate, biodiversity, and development pressures, while public resources and concessional finance are increasingly constrained?

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The session brought together leaders from development finance institutions, utilities, water regulators, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to explore how regenerative thinking can help strengthen the investment case for water and unlock new forms of finance and partnership.  

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Our Role

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ALTAMIRA co-designed and co-organized the workshop alongside the We Are Water Foundation and WASTE & FINISH Mondial Foundation.

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Mónica Altamirano de Jong delivered the keynote on The Regeneration Paradigm: Bridging Global Goals with Local Needs and moderated the high-level panel discussion on unlocking finance for water security. Through a systems-thinking approach, the session challenged participants to rethink traditional financing narratives and identify leverage points capable of accelerating investment in water resilience.    

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Why This Conversation Matters

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Water security sits at the intersection of climate adaptation, ecosystem health, public health, food systems, and social equity. Yet despite its central importance to sustainable development, water remains significantly underfunded and often struggles to attract investment compared to other sectors.

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The workshop explored how a regenerative approach can help reposition water—not as a standalone sectoral challenge—but as a strategic investment opportunity that simultaneously advances climate, biodiversity, social justice, and economic resilience objectives.  

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Bringing Together a Global Coalition

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The event convened experts and leaders from organizations including:

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• Agência Nacional de Águas e Saneamento Básico (ANA), Brazil

• KfW Development Bank

• African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA)

• IFAD

• WaterAid

• FINISH Mondial

• ROCA Group

• The RETHINKING Coalition

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Together, participants represented perspectives from policy, development finance, utilities, sanitation, impact investing, and water governance.    

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Key Themes

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Water as a Nexus Investment

The discussion highlighted water’s role as a bridge between development, climate, nature, and social agendas, emphasizing the need to strengthen its visibility and attractiveness within investment portfolios.

From Barriers to Breakthroughs

Participants examined systemic barriers that continue to limit private sector engagement in water security and adaptation, while identifying practical leverage points capable of mobilizing additional capital.  

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Innovative Finance

The workshop explored emerging financing models including:

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• Blended finance

• Impact investing

• Outcome-based financing

• Public-private-civil society partnerships

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These approaches were discussed not as isolated instruments but as components of broader systemic transformation.  

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Collective Intelligence and Systems Change

Through panel discussions and breakout groups, participants worked together to identify opportunities to redesign economic, governance, and financing frameworks that shape water investments globally.  

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From Dialogue to Action

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A central insight emerging from the workshop was that solving the water financing challenge requires more than new financial instruments. It requires new ways of understanding systems, designing partnerships, and originating investments.

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The workshop reinforced the need for mission-driven and place-based approaches that connect local water challenges with broader climate, biodiversity, and development objectives. These ideas continue to inform ALTAMIRA’s work on regenerative investment planning and the development of investment portfolios capable of delivering multiple outcomes simultaneously.

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Key Takeaways

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• Water security should be positioned as a cross-cutting investment opportunity rather than a standalone sector.

• Systems thinking can help reveal leverage points that traditional project-based approaches often overlook.

• Regenerative approaches can strengthen the strategic and financial case for water investments.

• Collective action and multi-sector partnerships are essential to mobilize capital at scale.

• New financing mechanisms must be paired with new investment origination processes.    

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Looking Ahead

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The workshop marked another step in a broader effort to rethink how water investments are planned, financed, and implemented. Building on conversations initiated at COP16 and expanded through collaborations within the RETHINKING Coalition, the event contributed to a growing movement seeking to align finance with regenerative development pathways and long-term water resilience.

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Related Links

📄 Full Event Programme

https://www.wearewater.org/en/initiatives/stockholm-world-water-week-2025/  

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🤝 Meet the Partners