Aerial view of terraced rice fields with vibrant green patches and small structures scattered throughout.

About WRG

2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) advances global water security through public-private collaboration. We bring together governments, businesses, and civil society to develop sustainable solutions across three areas: water for food, water for cities, and water for the planet. Our expertise lies in building partnerships and facilitating collaborative action, providing strategic insights to improve decision making, and innovating on new models at the interface of markets, technology, and financing.

WRG was launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 in Davos, Switzerland, to help reduce the gap between global water demand and supply by 2030. Since then, we have built a network of more than 1,000 partners across the private sector, governments, and civil society, and have launched water security initiatives in 13 countries. Together with our partners, we have facilitated $1.6 billion in financing for water-related programs and achieved 1 billion m3 in water impact through reductions in freshwater abstraction and discharge of untreated wastewater.

WRG is now a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank’s Global Department for Water and funded by partner contributions. We are uniquely positioned to create impact, bringing together both the public and private sectors. We catalyze innovation in water management by developing and testing projects that demonstrate strong potential for transformative impact. Once proven successful, these initiatives are scaled and replicated through broader World Bank financing and other funding mechanisms, unlocking substantial resources to drive sustainable change. WRG operates across the globe, partnering with countries across Africa (South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda), Asia (India, Bangladesh), Latin America (Colombia), and Central Asia and the Middle East (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan) to tackle critical water challenges.

To learn more about our work, explore our detailed sections on What We Do and How We Work.

Young banana plants under drip irrigation system in Madhya Pradesh, India. What we do
Aerial view of wastewater treatment facility with an engineer working on-site. How we work

The Evolution of WRG

2008

WRG is established as an informal collaboration at the World Economic Forum, bringing together leaders from the public, private, and civil society sectors to address the looming global water crisis.

Logo of the World Economic Forum.
2010

WRG publishes its first groundbreaking report, Charting Our Water Future, which underscores the need for collaboration across public, private and civil sectors to improve water security.

Indian boy smiling and drinking water from a communal faucet.
2012

The partnership officially becomes the 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) and enters a formal arrangement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), expanding its ability to engage with countries in addressing water challenges

Delegates seated at a conference table with microphones and notepads, engaging in discussions.
2013-2015

WRG gains momentum by launching country platforms in India, South Africa, Mexico, Bangladesh, Mongolia and Kenya with the design of concrete programs and projects on the ground, demonstrating the potential of its multi-stakeholder approach to tackle water issues at scale.

Group discussion on sustainable water initiatives.
2017-2019

WRG expands its influence with new platforms in Tanzania, Vietnam, Brazil, and Peru, while scaling its programs in existing engagements.

A large group of attendees posing for a group photo in an indoor venue.
2018

WRG transitions to the World Bank Group as a multi-donor trust fund, significantly enhancing its capacity to mobilize financial and technical resources for water security efforts globally, allowing it to expand its impact.

Panel of delegates seated at a conference table, one speaking into a microphone during discussions.
2020

WRG celebrates over a decade of pioneering collaboration, with a renewed focus on driving innovations, strengthening partnerships, and preparing for future water security challenges.

Asian farmer carrying harvested rice stalks with a smile.
2024

WRG sharpens its focus on three thematic areas: Water for Food, Water for Cities, and Water for Planet. This refocusing better enables WRG to achieve its goal of scaling its impact globally by improving water efficiency in agriculture, strengthening urban water resilience, and reducing water pollution. WRG is also commissioned to help set up a new country platform in Rwanda.

Aerial view of a wastewater treatment facility, surrounded by greenery and water bodies.
Annual Report 2023

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

Executive Summary

Discover the key highlights and achievements from the past year in our 2023 Annual Report.

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