Access to safe water and sanitation is fundamental to public health, yet billions of people still lack reliable services with significant consequences for health systems, human capital, and economic productivity. A growing body of evidence shows that even relatively low-cost water quality interventions can deliver outsized gains by reducing child mortality, improving early childhood development, and strengthening human capital.
This event will bring together senior policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to examine a critical question: if the evidence on the links between water and health is so strong, why does progress still fall short? Sector debates continue to reflect persistent trade-offs between expanding access and ensuring service quality, and between infrastructure investment and long-term system performance.
Speakers will draw on experience across government, development finance, and implementation to share practical insights into what it takes to deliver measurable, lasting results. The discussion will explore ways to better coordinate policy, funding, and incentive structures with enhancements in water quality, service reliability, and the ongoing performance of water systems, with the goal of advancing public health outcomes.
As water shortages worsen and communities face increasing challenges, this discussion will emphasize water’s role as a vital public health solution and a powerful tool for safeguarding lives, supporting livelihoods, and fostering resilient human development.
Keynote Address
Saroj Kumar Jha, Global Director for Water, World Bank Group
Panelists
Meike van Ginneken, Water Envoy, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Michael Kremer, University Professor & Director, Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago; co-recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics
Ashok Meena, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of India
Moderator
Leah Rosenzweig, Director, Market Shaping Accelerator and Senior Fellow, CGD
Closing Remarks
Richard Damania, Chief Economic Advisor in the Planet Vice Presidency, World Bank Group
