Our capacity-building work reached over 60 million people, with 3.5 million benefiting directly from our support. While not every effort can be measured immediately, these interventions lay the foundation for long-term impact. By 2030, we aim to double the number of people directly affected.
Our roots
Amsterdam
World Waternet was born in 2007 out of Amsterdam’s unique approach to water. In our home city, one public organisation, Waternet, manages the entire water cycle: from the drinking water that flows from your tap, to the sewage beneath your feet, to the rivers, canals, and dikes that protect the city.
This integrated model, shaped by the municipality of Amsterdam and the regional water authority Amstel, Gooi and Vecht, proved so effective that we knew it could spark change far beyond the Netherlands.
Water challenges know no borders
That’s why World Waternet was founded: to share this expertise with partners worldwide. From day one, our mission has been simple yet bold, to connect Dutch water cycle knowledge with local expertise abroad, helping water operators build resilient, future-proof systems. With 200+ water specialists and decades of hands-on experience, we set out on a journey of collaboration, determined to strengthen water organisations and bring safe, sustainable water services to millions.
Our story
2025
Start of the project: Smart Urban Water Management Jordan
2025
Start of the project: WaterWorX Jordan
2025
Start of the project: Yatta Water Supply Project
2024
Start of the project: ECDD GIRE Burkina Faso
2024
3.5 milion people impacted
2024
Start of the project: Makandra Project Suriname
2024
Start of the project: Partnership SWM Suriname
2024
Start of the project: IWRM4Wash Tanzania
2023
Start of the project: Shalla water and soil conservation Ethiopia
2020
Start of the project: WaterWorX Palestinian Territories
2020
Start of the project: Blue Deal Palestinian Territories
2019
Start of the project: Blue Deal Abbay Ethiopia
2019
Start of the project: Blue Deal Waste Water Ethiopia
2018
Start of the project: Blue Deal Ghana
2018
Start of the project: Blue Deal Upper Tana Basin
2018
Start of the project: Operational Resilience Lao PDR
2017
Start of the project: WaterWorX Morogoro Tanzania
2017
Start of the project: WaterWorX Nairbobi Kenya
2017
Start of the project: WaterWorX & EU-WOP Mali
2009
GWOPA and the WOP model
Prince Willem-Alexander (UNSGAB Chair) announced the launch of GWOPA, and with it, the term WOP, Water Operators’ Partnership, became popularised and adopted by World Waternet, which is now a member of the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA)
2007
World Waternet is created
In 2007, Waternet, Amsterdam's water cycle company, was founded by merging the drinking water management division with the Water Board Amstel, Gooi and Vecht, creating the first and only water company in the Netherlands where every part of the water cycle is integrated. Under the creation of Waternet lay the Dutch commitment to allocating 1% of revenue towards international projects. Thus, Waternet began capacity-building work in Egypt, Suriname and Indonesia.