The Future of Water

On the 27th of February the Hungarian Water Partnership brings together 200 global experts - presidents and executives of leading national and international water associations, policymakers, regulators, financiers. It offers a unique opportunity not only to engage in substantive discussions on pressing global water issues but also to establish new partnerships, strengthen networks, and exchange best practices with peers from across Europe, Africa, and beyond.

The Forum will provide space for dialogue on water sector reforms, global challenges, financing, and resilience-building, complemented by a signing ceremony, curated networking opportunities, and a guided visit to Planet Budapest 2026’s immersive exhibition.

THE FUTURE OF WATER –

INNOVATIVE RESPONSES TO GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGES

27^TH OF FEBRUARY 2026

Agenda

9:30 - Welcome words

• Dr. János Áder - Former President of Hungary, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Blue Planet Foundation (To be confirmed)
• Dr. Blaise Moussa - President of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) 
• Dr. Károly Kovács - President of the Hungarian Water Partnership

10:00 – 11:30 - Introduction of the Hungarian Water and Sanitation Sector

• Keynote speech:
  Prof. Dr. András Szöllősi-Nagy - Doctor of Science of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Water Conflict Management, Secretary General of the Paris based UNESCO International Hydrological Programme, Rector of the UNESCO-IHE Institute of Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands (To be confirmed)
• Dr. Károly Kovács - President of the Hungarian Water Association (HWA) - Hungarian Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Developments
• Mr. Bálint Horváth - Secretary-General of the Hungarian Water Partnership - Hungarian Water Sector Innovations Beyond Borders
• Mr. Péter Kovács - Water Director of Hungary - Hungarian General Directorate of Water Management

12:00 – 13:30 - Session 1: Global water challenges

• Keynote speech 1:

Dr Csaba Kőrösi - Strategic Director of the Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation and former UN General Assembly President 

Where is water headed in the world?

• Keynote speech 2:

Hungarian contributions to solving global water challenges – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary (To be confirmed)

• Panel 1 - Discussion on global water challenges
  • EU Water Commission (To be confirmed)
  • Prof. Harsha Ratnaweera – President, European Water Association (EWA)
  • AfWASA
  • Dr. Rose Christine Kaggwa - Director, African Water and Sanitation Academy (AWASA) 
  • Mr. Géza Csörnyei - Central European Steering Committee, Global Water Operators Partnership 
  • Kala Vairavamoorthy - Executive Director, International Water Association (IWA) 
  • Mr. Zhang Rui - Deputy Director, ASEMWater

13:30 – 14:30 - Business Lunch and Networking

14:30 – 16:00 - Session 2: Financing Global water challenges

• Panel 2 - Funding for projects supporting SDG 6
  • Keynote speech: Mr. Winston Yu - Practice Manager for Water, World Bank
  • Keynote speech: Zoomlion Ghana Limited
  • Moderator: Mr. Bálint Horváth - Secretary General, Hungarian Water Partnership  

• Panel discussion on financing water developments
  • African Development Bank (To be confirmed)
  • EXIM Bank (To be confirmed)
  • Hungarian National Bank 
  • Stefania Ciraolo - Head of the EIB Group Office in Hungary, European Investment Bank 
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (To be confirmed)
  • Mojabeng Monyamane - Head of Municipal Sectors Coverage Division, Development Bank of Southern Africa

• Panel 3 – How to respond to the challenges and utilize funding opportunities - best practices and lessons learned by national and regional associations and their case studies
  • Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (VWSA)
  • Myungsoo Yoo - Vice-President, Korean Water and Wastewater Association (KWWA) 
  • Dr. Nicoleta Sanda Brisan - President, Representatives of ECO-Innovation Cluster for SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT (CLEMS) 
  • Teodor Popa - Incoming Vice-President, International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube River Catchment Area (IAWD)
  • German Water Partnership (To be confirmed)
  • Péter Kovács - Director-General, Hungary Helps Agency 

16:10 - Ceremonial Signing of Cooperation and Partnership Agreements

16:30 - Guided visit of the PLANET Budapest 2026