NatuReS at World Water Week 2025: Spotlight on Private Sector Participation in Sustainable Water Management
In August 2025, the NatuReS programme proudly participated in this year’s World Water Week (WWW) conference in Stockholm. Hosted annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute, WWW is a pivotal gathering for the global water sector. It brings together partners from across the globe to discuss solutions to the world’s greatest water-related challenges – this year under the theme “Water for Climate Action.”
NatuReS, through the Zambian team, had the privilege of co-convening a dedicated session on “Private Sector Investment and Participation in Sustainable Water Management and Stewardship” together with the secretariat of our flagship partnership, the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI). The session aligned perfectly with one of this year’s WWW sub-topics: Water Stewardship for Economic Growth and Environmental and Societal Protection. The event was well-attended, with diverse stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, and the public sector, including representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and GIZ headquarters.
Highlighting the role of the private sector in stewardship partnerships
The session opened with a keynote address by Mr Lars Selwig, Head of the Water and Circular Economy Division at BMZ. Mr Selwig underscored the longstanding partnership between the private sector and the programmes commissioned by BMZ, while emphasising the need to further strengthen these links. The Country Coordinator of NatuReS Zambia, LuWSI’s GIZ partner, also delivered an address, highlighting the importance of stewardship and multi-stakeholder collaboration for sustainable water resources management. She stressed that the private sector should be viewed not merely as a user of water resources or a funder, but as a partner in the stewardship journey alongside other stakeholders.
Practical insights from corporate water stewards and audience interaction
Adding valuable practical insights, Dr Duncan Tembo, Systems and Enterprise Risk Management Specialist at Zambia Sugar, a member of the LuWSI platform, presented some case studies from Zambia. Dr Tembo holds vast experience in stewardship partnerships, not only as representative of a LuWSI member company but also as Chair of the Kafue Flats Joint Action Group (KFJAG). The KFJAG is a multi-stakeholder platform working towards the sustainable management and development of the Kafue Flats ecosystem in Zambia.
His presentation showcased the adoption of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standards by Zamia Sugar, as well as the exemplary activities undertaken by companies like Zambia Breweries, ZamBeef and Manzi Valley as good corporate water stewards. Dr Tembo also discussed some of the challenges faced by the private sector and the benefits of engaging in a multi-stakeholder partnerships. Ms Chilala Haankuku from Uptime Global Consulting then presented another story from Zambia which focused on the compelling case for small-scale entrepreneurs in the WASH sector.
The session was highly interactive, featuring live polling and dynamic interactions between the audience and speakers beyond simple questions and answers. As the plenary discussed the role of the private sector, participants shared their experiences and deliberated how to create an enabling environment for them to be true partners in water stewardship and equitable natural resources governance.
Contributing to the dialogue on collaborative water stewardship
Beyond the session, the delegates from NatuReS and LuWSI were invited to a two-day side event on stewardship termed “The Waterlogues”. Building on the Global Water Stewardship Forum in Edinburgh a few months prior, AWS hosted this event alongside the Fair Water Footprint partners, WWF, the Waterlogues team, and others. It gathered global stewardship players from the private sector, public sector and civil society for a stocktake on lessons from the past decade of water stewardship and to chart a way forward amidst evolving geopolitics.
Overall, NatuReS’ participation in World Water Week 2025 was a resounding success. It fostered meaningful dialogue on collaborative water stewardship and showcased how we successfully engage private sector players in our partnerships.
