Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health

What Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health does

Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health (GIWEH) is an independent, Geneva-headquartered non-profit research and training organization working at the intersection of water, environment, and health. Founded in 2007, it operates across 25+ countries and structures its work around three programmatic pillars — Knowledge (digital public goods, toolboxes, policy briefs), Capacities (training programmes, fellowships, institutional strengthening), and Projects (water diplomacy, technology transfer, green economy) — delivered for governments, UN agencies, and communities facing water and environmental challenges.

The organization's technical footprint is built around applied research outputs, convening platforms, and capacity-building curricula rather than a proprietary software stack; toolboxes and policy briefs function as reusable knowledge assets that anchor its convening and advisory role. It holds UN ECOSOC consultative status since 2017, has delivered 45+ projects, 50+ convenings, and claims to have trained 10,000+ individuals with a broader outreach cited at 10M+ people, with India cited as an active geography.

Its business model is a non-profit, grant- and programme-funded operating structure rather than a commercial pricing model. There is no disclosed revenue, ARR, or per-programme pricing; income is effectively a function of institutional grants, government partnerships, and project-level programme funding routed through foundation and multilateral channels. Founder & Director Nidal Salim leads the organization, which sits at 11–50 employees.

Name

Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health

Legal name

Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health

Website

https://giweh.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health is a Geneva-based non-profit research and training organization, founded in 2007, that delivers knowledge, capacity-building, and project programmes on water, environment, and health for governments, UN agencies, and communities across 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Environmental Development Services

NAICS

International Affairs (928120), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

Keywords

• Water resources management
• Environmental policy research
• Capacity building training
• Sustainable development consulting
• Public health initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

GIWEH is an independent, Geneva-based non-profit research and training organization that delivers integrated programmes at the intersection of water, environment, and health. It operates through three mutually reinforcing pillars—applied knowledge products (toolboxes, policy briefs, open digital public goods), capacity building (training, fellowships, institutional strengthening), and on-the-ground project delivery (water diplomacy, technology transfer, green economy initiatives)—for governments, multilateral institutions, and communities worldwide.

Product overview

GIWEH operates as a three-pillar organization offering integrated services across water, environment, and health domains. The core offerings consist of Knowledge Products and Tools (toolboxes, policy briefs, and open digital public goods), Capacity Building Programs (training, fellowships, institutional strengthening), and Project Delivery Services (water diplomacy, technology transfer, green economy). These three pillars are designed to be mutually reinforcing, with knowledge informing capacity building, and both supporting project delivery on the ground, from village-level interventions to transboundary basin management. The organization works across 25+ countries with 45+ projects, having trained 10,000+ people and reaching 10M+ people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Knowledge Products and Tools

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ people trained and 10M+ people reached
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• International Union for Conservation of Nature: International organization working on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, with strong water and ecosystem programs. Comparable to GIWEH in environment mandate, knowledge products, and Geneva presence, but at much larger scale.
• World Water Council: Marseille-based international policy organization focused on water issues at the highest political level, including the World Water Forum. Comparable to GIWEH in policy advocacy and convening role, but larger scope and more government-aligned.
• UN-Water: UN inter-agency coordination mechanism for freshwater and sanitation issues, comprising 30+ UN entities. Comparable to GIWEH in mandate area but operates at intergovernmental scale and is not a peer-sized organization.
• World Resources Institute: Global research organization with major programs on water, climate, and sustainable development. Comparable to GIWEH in producing knowledge products and engaging in water/environment policy, but at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Global Water Partnership: International network spanning 180+ countries focused on integrated water resources management. Comparable to GIWEH in operating model (network-driven, Geneva-adjacent, knowledge and capacity building) and multi-country footprint.
• IRC WASH: International NGO focused on WASH systems, sector learning, and capacity strengthening with strong research orientation. Comparable to GIWEH in combining applied knowledge, training, and field implementation in WASH.
• International Water Association: Global membership-based organization connecting water professionals across research, capacity building, and standards. Comparable to GIWEH in its focus on knowledge products, training, and practitioner network development in the water sector.
• Stockholm International Water Institute: Independent water policy institute based in Stockholm that produces knowledge, hosts convenings (World Water Week), and supports capacity building across the global water sector. Closely comparable to GIWEH in operating model, scale, and integrated mandate.
• WaterAid: International non-profit working on water, sanitation and hygiene with operations in many of the same developing-country contexts as GIWEH. Comparable in mission, donor-funded NGO model, and project-based delivery approach.

Regional players

• Water Research Commission: South African research organization funding and coordinating water-related research. Comparable to GIWEH in water research and capacity-building mission but operates regionally within South Africa rather than globally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/giweh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-institute-for-water-environment-and-health-giweh-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health