Breaking Silos: Ministers Unite to Align Water, Climate, and Development Agendas

A Ministerial Dialogue at the Sector Ministers' Meeting in 2022.

In a recent closed-door virtual dialogue, ministers of water, sanitation, health, and environment came together to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: How to integrate climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, natural resource management, and essential services like water and sanitation in a world facing growing climate stress.

From the outset, speakers emphasized the urgent need for coordinated action. In the face of climate disruption and increasing demands on natural resources, safeguarding water and sanitation services is not just a development goal—it’s a global imperative. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative leadership on this agenda, acknowledging the complexity of working across sectors, institutions, and financing systems.

At the heart of the discussion was a simple but powerful question: “What does breaking silos mean in your context?”

Responses revealed a shared understanding that integration is not a technical checkbox—it is a political choice. Ministers described efforts to harmonize national strategies, reform policy, and strengthen inter-ministerial coordination to align climate and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) priorities. Some pointed to national adaptation plans that now embed water and sanitation as a core climate issue, while others highlighted cross-sectoral governance at the highest levels, including through Heads of State Initiatives.

A strong message ran throughout the discussion: climate-resilient services must reach everyone. Special attention was given to the need to prioritize vulnerable and marginalized populations—ensuring that as countries scale up access, no one is left behind.

Several countries shared inspiring examples:

💧 Cross-sectoral platforms that unite ministries, civil society, and financiers behind a shared investment vision.

💧 Development of business units in rural areas to create economic opportunities linked to water and sanitation.

💧 Strengthening coordination at the basin level to manage resources more effectively in the face of climate variability.

However, challenges remain. Financing was repeatedly cited as a major barrier. While national strategies and policies are increasingly integrated, international funding mechanisms have yet to catch up. There is a call for global financing frameworks to better respond to the realities of climate-affected and resource-constrained environments.

The dialogue closed with a collective sense of urgency—and optimism. Ministers recognized that political leadership, coherent policy, and integrated approaches are the key to unlocking sustainable finance and ensuring resilient services.

As attention now turns to the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid, this dialogue was an important stepping stone—a moment to build momentum, consolidate commitments, and accelerate action where it matters most.

Because breaking silos isn't just an ambition—it's how we secure a sustainable future for all.