What Asia Water Council (AWC) does

The Asia Water Council (AWC) is a non-profit membership platform organization founded in March 2016 and headquartered in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. It convenes 181 member organizations from 27 countries across six colleges — Governments, Multilateral Development Banks and Export Credit Agencies, Public Organizations, Enterprises, Academia and Research, and International Organizations and Civil Society — to address Asia's water security, flood and drought management, integrated water resources management, and water-energy-food nexus challenges. Its core offerings are the triennial Asia International Water Week (AIWW) flagship event, a demand-based Water Project Program that has delivered 29 projects across 10+ countries between 2016 and 2024, and cooperative projects with OECD, UNDP, GCF, GGGI, IWRA, and FAO. The AIWW 2024 in Beijing drew 1,300+ participants from 68 countries and 10+ cooperation agreements.

Underlying technology includes AI-based flood forecasting and early warning systems for the Mekong River Tributary Basin (GCF-funded), cloud-based water risk management platforms, and the Smart Water City KPIs and certification system developed with K-water and IWRA and piloted in Busan Eco Delta City and Semarang City. The Smart Water Cities work won the first Crystal Drop Award in Asia in 2023. AWC also operates the AWC Young Professionals (AWCYP) sub-organization for next-generation engagement.

The business model is a non-profit subscription-plus-grant hybrid. Annual membership fees range from $300 (academia, international organizations) to $3,000 (governments in higher-GDP countries), with MDBs and enterprises at $900 and $1,000 respectively, and exemptions or reductions for Least Developed Countries. AIWW is financed by membership contributions, sponsorships, and hosting grants from the host country. Additional revenue comes from cooperative project funding channeled through multilateral partners. The organization has 6 employees at headquarters, a 29-member Board of Council, a Bureau led by President Dr. Seogdae Yun (also CEO of K-water), and operates under the formal patronage of the Korean Ministry of Environment.

Name

Asia Water Council (AWC)

Legal name

Asia Water Council

Website

https://asiawatercouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Asia Water Council (AWC) is a Korea-headquartered non-profit water platform founded in 2016 that convenes 181 member organizations across 27 Asian countries to address water security, flood, and drought challenges through triennial conferences, demand-based projects, and partnerships with multilateral organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Water Cooperation / Water Resources Management

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Water Supply (4941), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Data Management, LIMS & Compliance Software (ELN, eDMS, reporting automation) (EUANAJAE)

Keywords

• Water resources management
• Integrated water management
• International water cooperation
• Water policy advocacy
• Water infrastructure projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Daejeon

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees collected from 181 member organizations across 6 colleges. Fee structure varies by organization type and country's GDP per capita classification. Governments may be exempted or pay $1,000-$3,000 depending on GDP; MDBs/ECAs pay $900; Enterprises pay $1,000; Academia/Research and International Organizations pay $300. A 15% discount is available for 3-year upfront payments.
2. AIWW Hosting Grants and Sponsorship: The Asia International Water Week (AIWW) budget is financed by members' contribution in the form of membership fees, sponsorship, and hosting grant for the AIWW. The triennial event brings together 1,300+ participants from 68 countries and includes Expo & Fair components.
3. Water Project Implementation: AWC implements demand-based water projects that provide technical and policy solutions for identified water issues in collaboration with members, financial institutions, enterprises and academia. Projects span 2016-2024 covering 29 projects across countries including Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Asia Water Council (AWC) is a non-profit membership platform that organizes the triennial Asia International Water Week (AIWW), implements demand-based water projects providing technical and policy solutions across Asian countries, and runs international water cooperation programs with partners such as OECD, UNDP, GCF, GGGI, IWRA, ADB, and the World Water Council. The organization sells tiered membership across six colleges (Governments, MDBs/ECAs, Public Organizations, Enterprises, Academia/Research, and International Organizations/Civil Society) and develops smart water technology programs including AI-based flood forecasting and Smart Water City certification.

Product overview

AWC operates as a platform organization rather than a traditional product company. Its core offerings include the triennial Asia International Water Week (AIWW) as its flagship event platform, the Water Project Program for demand-based technical and policy solutions, and the AWCYP youth engagement program. The organization also manages the Smart Water Cities Certification program and various Cooperative Projects with OECD, UNDP, GCF, GGGI, and IWRA. Membership is structured across six colleges providing access to networking, events, and project involvement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AWC Young Professionals (AWCYP): A sub-organization of AWC that provides an international platform to support and promote interests and engagement of young professionals in the water sector and raise Asia's water issues on the global front

Products and services

• AWC Membership Program Tiered annual membership program providing networking, AIWW access, voting rights at General Assembly, project involvement, and access to AWC research materials and newsletters for member organizations across six colleges.
• Asia International Water Week (AIWW) Triennial water event organized by AWC that brings together water stakeholders to discuss Asia's water issues, release joint statements, seek water projects, exhibit water technologies, and build water networks. Features plenary sessions, thematic sessions, the Water Project Business Forum, and the Expo & Fair.
• AWC Water Project Program Demand-based water project implementation service that develops technical and policy solutions for identified water issues, including project concept paper development and submission to MDBs for funding, in collaboration with AWC members and partners.
• Cooperative Water Projects with International Organizations Collaborative water projects with international partners including OECD (National Dialogue on Water in Asia), UNDP (Mekong River Basin management), GCF (AI Flood Forecasting), GGGI (Central Asia flood/drought management), and IWRA (Smart Water Cities).
• Smart Water Cities Certification Program Global certification system for smart water city standards, including KPIs for Smart Water City, certification protocols, and pilot testing in Busan Eco Delta City (Korea) and Semarang City (Indonesia).
• AWC Young Professionals (AWCYP) Sub-organization providing an international platform to support and promote the interests and engagement of young professionals in the water sector and raise Asia's water issues on the global stage.
• AWC Newsletter and Publications Regular newsletter publications and featured publications including brochures, program books, AIWW outcome white papers, and water research delivered to AWC members documenting Asian water issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ participants from 68 countries engaged at 3rd AIWW 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• GGGI (Global Green Growth Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2024Strengthening Climate Resilience through Smart Techniques in Flood and Drought Management in Central Asia (2024-2027) - Partnership Agreement signed July 10, 2024. AWC's main task is piloting innovative smart water pumping and water gates systems in Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan. Excess surface water from floods stored for irrigation during drought seasons to support rural employment.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Enhancing Integrated Water Management and Climate Resilience in Vulnerable Urban Areas of the Mekong River Basin (2021-2025) - A collaboration between Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea, UNDP, and AWC. Project aims to strengthen climate and disaster resilience in vulnerable regions of Lao PDR and Cambodia through improved risk assessment and integrated water resources management. Spans three key outputs: water-related climate risks assessment, enabling environment development, and funding proposal development.
• IWRA (International Water Resources Association)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2020Smart Water Cities Project (2020-2023) - Collaboration between IWRA, K-water, and AWC. Three-phase project analyzing smart water solutions for Busan Eco Delta City (Republic of Korea). Developed KPIs for Smart Water City certification system, piloted in Korea and Semarang City, Indonesia. Completed December 2023.
• OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020National Dialogue on Water in Asia (2020-2026) - A collaboration between Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea, OECD, and AWC. The partnership establishes them as key project partners providing guidance on water-related policies, financing approaches, institutional arrangements, and technologies to facilitate achievement of water-related SDGs in Asia. Work includes identifying policy priorities, financing options, and technologies aligned with policy priorities and financing strategies.
• GCF (Green Climate Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablishment AI-based Flood Forecasting-Warning System for the Mekong River Tributary Basins (3 Years) - AWC is developing a GCF-Funding Program to establish an AI-based Integrated Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System in the Mekong Tributary Basin. Addresses gaps in existing systems that do not cover entire basin areas and have inadequate prediction accuracy.
• World Water Council (WWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWC actively cooperates with World Water Council for implementing joint projects. AWC President Seogdae Yun serves as Board of Governor of World Water Council. AWC was elected to WWC Board of Governor in 2018. AIWW is held one year prior to World Water Forum to support preparatory process.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWC cooperates with Asian Development Bank for implementing joint projects and participates in Water Project Business Forum at AIWW events. ADB participates in MDB sessions at AIWW.
• International Water Resources AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWC actively cooperates with IWRA as one of the key international water-related organizations. IWRA is represented on AWC's Board of Council and Special Committee for Water for Ecosystem.
• UNESCO (i-WSSM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWC collaborates with UNESCO International Water Security Network (i-WSSM) represented on AWC's Special Committee for Knowledge Base & Dissemination. UNESCO-iWSSM is an AWC member.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO participates in AWC's Special Committee for Water-Energy-Food Nexus. Collaborates on joint projects addressing water, food security, and sustainable agriculture in Asia.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Water Council: Global multi-stakeholder water platform headquartered in Marseille, France. Most direct peer as AWC's President holds a Board of Governor seat and AWC aligns its AIWW cycle one year prior to the World Water Forum for preparatory purposes.
• Global Water Partnership (GWP): International network of organizations working on integrated water resources management, with regional partnerships and a global secretariat in Stockholm. Highly comparable membership-based governance model and IWRM focus, though globally rather than Asia-focused.
• International Water Resources Association (IWRA): Global professional association for water resources. Direct comparable as an existing AWC partner and member, with shared academic/government membership base and joint Smart Water Cities Project execution.

Broad incumbents

• Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI): Leading water policy institute that hosts World Water Week annually. Comparable as a convener of international water dialogue, applies expertise to water governance, and partners with AWC's overlapping stakeholder base.
• International Water Association (IWA): Global membership association connecting water professionals and utilities worldwide. Comparable membership and convening model, with a broader utilities-and-professionals focus versus AWC's Asia-centric policy-and-projects emphasis.
• UN-Water: United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for freshwater-related issues. Comparable convening and policy advocacy function across global water governance, with which AWC aligns via Asia-to-World statements.

Regional players

• Mekong River Commission (MRC): Intergovernmental organization for the Mekong River Basin. Comparable as a regional water cooperation platform, with overlapping projects (Mekong climate resilience with UNDP) and shared member governments in Southeast Asia.

Emerging players

• WaterAid: International non-profit focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries. Comparable NGO/membership-based funding model and Asia regional presence, with stronger WASH-specific mandate.

Others

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) - Water Sector: ADB's Water Sector Group and Urban Development/Water Operations finance large-scale water infrastructure across Asia. AWC is positioned as a project originator and convener that feeds ADB's deal pipeline; an essential ecosystem counterparty rather than direct competitor.
• Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI): Intergovernmental organization supporting green growth in developing countries. Direct AWC partner on Central Asia flood/drought program (2024-2027); comparable intergovernmental, multi-country project-execution profile but with a broader climate-green growth mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@asiawatercouncil2017
• Facebookfacebook.com/asiawatercouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asia-water-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/asiawatercouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Asia Water Council (AWC)