Sanitation and Water for All

What Sanitation and Water for All does

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership founded in 2010 and hosted by UNICEF at its New York headquarters, dedicated to achieving universal access to clean water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The partnership mobilizes political leaders across 80+ countries through three core programs: the Heads of State Initiatives, which support presidents and prime ministers in 11+ countries with tailored national compacts; High-level Meetings convening Finance Ministers and Sector Ministers; and the Mutual Accountability Mechanism, which has accumulated over 480 commitments across all stakeholder constituencies. The partnership spans six constituencies — national governments, civil society organizations, external support agencies, private sector, research & learning institutions, and utilities & regulators — bringing together more than 450 partner organizations.

SWA's underlying 'technology' is a coordination and advocacy platform rather than a software product. Its intellectual capital consists of policy frameworks (Strategic Framework 2020-2030, Regional Roadmaps, Global Results Framework), handbooks (Finance Ministers, Parliamentarians, Human Rights), and operational tools including the WASH SDG Costing Tool deployed in 140 countries and the Climate-Resilient WASH Definition Paper. The organization operates through a small distributed Secretariat hosted by UNICEF, GWP, WaterAid, FANSA, LIS-Water, IRC, and the Inter-American Development Bank, with a Steering Committee, Working Groups, and a Global Leadership Council of former heads of state providing governance and high-level advocacy.

SWA is a non-profit partnership and does not sell products or charge membership fees. Revenue derives from institutional and private donor funding — specifically the Netherlands, French Development Agency (AFD), Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Spain, UK Government, European Commission, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Hilton Foundation. Funding amounts are not publicly disclosed. The partnership's distribution occurs through its partner network and recurring high-level convenings (Finance Ministers' Meetings, Sector Ministers' Meetings, COP engagement), with outputs made freely available across English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Name

Sanitation and Water for All

Legal name

Sanitation and Water for All

Website

https://sanitationandwaterforall.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sanitation and Water for All is a global multi-stakeholder partnership hosted by UNICEF, mobilizing leaders across 80+ countries and 450+ partner organizations to advance universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene through high-level political engagement, accountability mechanisms, and policy frameworks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Partnership / WASH Sector Coordination

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), WASH & Public Health (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) (BPADAIAG), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Water sanitation hygiene
• Global development partnership
• SDG 6 implementation
• Human rights to water
• Mutual accountability framework

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional and Private Donor Funding: SWA is funded by institutional and private donors including: Netherlands Government, French Development Agency (AFD), Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Spain, UK Government, European Commission, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Hilton Foundation. The activity plan and budget support implementation of SWA Strategy 2020-2030.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership hosted by UNICEF that convenes more than 450 partners across six constituencies (governments, civil society, donors, private sector, research institutions, and utilities) in 80+ countries. The partnership advances universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) by producing accountability and analytical frameworks, holding High-Level Meetings, and supporting Country Actions that translate commitments into measurable progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Product overview

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) operates as a global multi-stakeholder partnership hosted by UNICEF, not a traditional product company. The organization's 'offerings' consist of advocacy programs, accountability mechanisms, and knowledge resources. The core programs include the Heads of State Initiatives (political engagement at presidential/prime ministerial level), High-level Meetings (Finance Ministers' Meeting and Sector Ministers' Meeting), and the Mutual Accountability Mechanism for tracking partner commitments. These are supported by publications including the Finance Handbook, Parliamentarian Handbook, and Climate-Resilient WASH Definition Paper, along with monitoring tools like the Results Framework. The partnership also maintains a Tools Portal for financing resources and convenes a Global Leadership Council of former heads of state for advocacy. The organization unites over 450 partners across six constituencies to advance water, sanitation and hygiene through coordinated political action, mutual accountability, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Country Actions A partnership framework and process through which national governments, supported by SWA partners, develop and implement country-level WASH commitments and plans aligned with SDG 6.

Quantifiable outcome

• To meet Targets 6.1 and 6.2 of SDG 6, capital financing would need to triple to US$ 114 billion per annum (World Bank)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF hosts the core of the SWA Secretariat at its New York headquarters. SWA CEO Catarina de Albuquerque served as the first UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation. UNICEF provides institutional hosting and operational support for SWA operations.
• Global Water Partnership (GWP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWP hosts strategic Secretariat positions as part of the distributed secretariat model. GWP-Southern Africa specifically mentioned as a hosting partner.
• End Water PovertycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnd Water Poverty hosts strategic Secretariat positions as part of the distributed secretariat model supporting SWA operations.
• Freshwater Action Network (FANSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFANSA hosts strategic Secretariat positions as part of the distributed secretariat model. FANSA (Freshwater Action Network South Asia) mentioned specifically.
• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDB hosts strategic Secretariat positions as part of the distributed secretariat model supporting SWA operations.
• IRC WASHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRC hosts strategic Secretariat positions and supports the Heads of State Initiatives. IRC WASH is a key partner in water, sanitation and hygiene systems strengthening.
• WaterAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterAid hosts strategic Secretariat positions as part of the distributed secretariat model. WaterAid is also a key supporter of the Heads of State Initiatives.
• LIS-WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIS-Water hosts strategic Secretariat positions as part of the distributed secretariat model supporting SWA operations.
• Green Climate FundstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWA worked with the Green Climate Fund to strengthen their Water Security Guidelines and annexes, incorporating robust references to water supply and sanitation for climate finance alignment.
• COP Water for Climate PavilionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWA serves on the Steering Committee of the COP Water for Climate Pavilion - a coalition of over 70 organizations spanning water and sanitation, food systems, nature and biodiversity. SWA was a core partner of the first ever Water for Climate Pavilion.
• WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWA uses JMP data for tracking progress on water, sanitation and hygiene since 1990 as part of its Results Framework monitoring.
• UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWA uses GLAAS data as a key data source for its Results Framework and monitoring activities.
• UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWA engages with UNSGAB on global water security initiatives. Former OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría was involved in the International Task Force on Financing Water for All and UNSGAB.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WaterAid: Major international NGO focused exclusively on WASH, working across 30+ countries with similar donor base and policy advocacy mission. Both SWA and WaterAid operate in the WASH space with overlapping country coverage.
• UN-Water: UN inter-agency coordination mechanism for all water- and sanitation-related work across the UN system. Most direct comparable as a multi-stakeholder water coordination body with overlapping membership and mandates.
• Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC): Global partnership focused on sanitation and hygiene for the most vulnerable, also hosted by a UN entity (UNOPS). Closely comparable partnership model with overlapping WASH advocacy and accountability focus.
• Global Water Partnership (GWP): International network supporting integrated water resources management, also a strategic hosting partner of SWA. Overlapping membership with SWA and similar convening model for water stakeholders globally.
• Water.org: Global nonprofit co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White focused on WASH financing through water credit and microfinance. Comparable mission of expanding WASH access with strong donor support from Gates Foundation and others.
• End Water Poverty: Civil society coalition of 90+ organizations advocating for universal WASH access. Also a hosting partner of SWA with directly overlapping civil society mobilization mandate.

Others

• WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP): Official UN mechanism for tracking global progress on WASH, used by SWA for its Results Framework. Adjacent data and accountability role with similar stakeholder ecosystem.

Emerging players

• IRC WASH: Dutch WASH think tank and implementation organization that chairs SWA's Steering Committee. Highly comparable focus on WASH systems strengthening with research-to-policy translation mandate.

Broad incumbents

• World Bank Water Global Practice: World Bank's global unit managing $30B+ WASH portfolio across 150+ projects. Larger established player with overlapping WASH financing and policy mandate but broader infrastructure scope.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Program: Major philanthropic funder of WASH innovation and R&D globally with $200M+ annual WASH grants. Both grantee and convener in the WASH space with overlapping partner ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sanwatforall
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtV7gBc3W6qB8S2bWSyVBFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SanitationAndWaterforAll
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sanitationandwaterforall

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sanitation and Water for All