Elisabeta Poçi, Executive Director of SHUKALB, Participates in High-Level Summit on Water Security and Resilience

Elisabeta Poçi, Executive Director of SHUKALB and Board Member of the International Water Association (IWA), participated in the High-Level Summit on Water Security and Resilience during the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition, held on 8–12 December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. She moderated a panel discussion on the topic ‘’Steering urban flood management through governance and investment’’.

The Summit gathered leaders from governments, international organizations, and development partners to drive coordinated action on global water challenges. Focusing on the needs of low- and middle-income countries, discussions highlighted growing pressures from floods, droughts, pollution, and the increasing demand for safe water and sanitation—issues that could leave billions without access by 2030.

Key topics included the global and regional context for water security, scaling urban water and sanitation services, and improving governance and investment for urban flood management. A major outcome was the Bangkok Communiqué, calling for accelerated efforts to strengthen resilience and expand access.

Echoing the event’s forward-looking tone, Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, urged participants to rethink outdated policies, stating that “the policies of yesterday will not take us to tomorrow.”

Through her engagement, Poçi contributed to advancing the overall theme of the Congress, “Water, sanitation, and innovation: pathways to progress and a resilient future”, while reinforcing SHUKALB’s commitment to strategic cooperation and knowledge exchange at the highest international level.