The 4th edition of the WASH Economics Conference, organised by the Center for Water and Sanitation (CWAS) and Faculty of planning at CEPT University, in collaboration with the Institute For Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London (LSHTM), brought together 100+ participants from across the globe on April 17–18, 2026 at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India to rethink how economic evidence can drive better WASH outcomes.
A key takeaway from the conference is WASH is not just a technical issue; it is an economic and policy priority.
From financing gaps to last-mile challenges, the discussions highlighted the need to move:
➡️ From infrastructure to services
➡️ From assumptions to evidence
➡️ From isolated efforts to system-wide solutions
Here are some key insights from the conference:
▪️ WASH needs to move higher on the policy agenda. Despite its strong links to health, economic growth and climate resilience, it continues to receive limited public investment. Strengthening economic evidence is critical to influence finance ministries and decision-makers.
▪️ It’s not just about building infrastructure, it’s about sustaining services. A significant gap exists between capital investments and funding for operations and maintenance, affecting long-term service delivery.
▪️ Access goes beyond coverage. Expanding infrastructure alone does not ensure service delivery. Last-mile challenges such as administrative barriers, affordability, and local governance constraints continue to limit access, especially for vulnerable communities.
▪️ The future of WASH lies in decentralised, user-centric, and system-based approaches. Emerging models such as microfinance, engagement with self-help groups, and local governance innovations demonstrate that sustainable and equitable outcomes are achievable when financing, pricing, user behaviour, and institutions are aligned.
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | CEPT University | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Saubiya Sareshwala
Center for Water and Sanitation
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Center for Water and Sanitation @CEPT University carries out action-research, training, advocacy to enable governments improve delivery of WatSan services
Since 2009, PAS has supported development of tools, methods and processes for performance assessment and improvement in delivery of urban water and sanitation services. It works with all levels of government: national, state and local. The PAS online performance assessment system has been implemented in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra covering more than 400 cities. Other states in India have
16/04/2026
Sessions at the WASH Economics Conference 2026!
Introducing the speakers for the sessions bringing diverse perspectives and on-ground insights from across the WASH sector.
Join us on 17th and 18th April 2026 at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and be part of these engaging discussions.
Haven’t registered yet? Register here : https://cwas.org.in/washecon2026
Join us Online : https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4twi60h_RZ-FXOXFOGaafQ?_x_zm_rtaid=V1Agoh2RTMWU11CI8QKqgQ.1776160876404.fd36a4e28f9df21f10beaef59385373e&_x_zm_rhtaid=440 #/registration
We look forward to your participation!
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | CEPT University | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Aditi Dwivedi | Arwa Bharmal | Saubiya Sareshwala
15/04/2026
💧 What role does economics play in shaping sustainable water and sanitation systems?
Introducing the panel on WASH Economics for Development, featuring distinguished panellists discussing economic approaches to advance sustainable and inclusive systems.
Join us on 17th and 18th April 2026 at CEPT University, Ahmedabad and be a part of these conversation.
Haven’t registered yet? Register now :
https://cwas.org.in/washecon2026
We look forward to your participation!
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | University | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Aditi Dwivedi | Arwa Bharmal | Saubiya Sareshwala
15/04/2026
📢 WASH Economics Conference 2026 | April 17–18 | CEPT University, Ahmedabad
We are pleased to introduce our keynote speaker Guy Hutton, Senior Economist and Financing Specialist, who will share insights on the economic aspects of water and sanitation.
Join us for the 4th edition conference is organized by the Center for Water and Sanitation along with Faculty of Planning at CEPT University, in collaboration with the Institute For Fiscal Studies and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London, brings together researchers, practitioners, and sector partners working on WASH economics.
✅ Free Registration
💻 Online participation available via Zoom
Haven’t registered yet? Register now:
https://cwas.org.in/washecon2026
We look forward to your participation!
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | University | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Aditi Dwivedi | Arwa Bharmal | Saubiya Sareshwala
13/04/2026
The IWA webinar on CWIS: Current Status and Future Priorities : Insights from Asia, organised by the International Water Association Specialist Group and the AIT Global Water & Sanitation Center, brought together diverse stakeholders from across the region to discuss the future of urban sanitation.
Aasim Mansuri from the CWAS team moderated the discussion, which emphasised the need to strengthen governance and shift from access and infrastructure-based approaches to service-level, systems-based sanitation delivery.
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | CEPT University | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Aditi Dwivedi | Arwa Bharmal
09/04/2026
The 6th Cohort of the Online Certification Course on Leadership Development for Citywide Inclusive Sanitation with a Climate-Resilient Approach, organised by Administrative Staff College of India and Asian Development Bank Institute.
Aasim Mansuri from the CWAS team delivered a presentation on Strengthening Climate Resilience in WASH & CWIS. The presentation highlighted practical approaches to embedding climate resilience within WASH systems, including adaptive service delivery and strengthening institutional capacities to respond to climate uncertainties.
Asian Development Bank Institute
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | CEPT University | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Aditi Dwivedi | Arwa Bharmal
09/04/2026
Join us today for an engaging discussion on the current status and future of urban sanitation in Asia.
The upcoming webinar, CWIS Current Status and Future Priorities: Insights from Asia organised by the International Water Association Specialist Group on Sanitation and Water Management in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and the AIT Global Water & Sanitation Center, will bring together voices from utilities, regulators, cities, development partners, and academia.
The session will explore how Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) is being understood and implemented across South and South-East Asia, while sharing regional insights on what is working, key challenges, and opportunities to strengthen sustainable urban sanitation beyond 2030.
Aasim Mansuri from the CWAS team will be moderating the session, facilitating dialogue among diverse stakeholders and guiding key conversations on the way forward.
🗓️ Date - 9th April 2026 | ⏰ Time - 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM IST
🔗 Register now for the webinar : https://www.iwa-network.org/learn/cwis-current-status-and-future-priorities-insights-from-asia
We look forward to your participation in this important conversation on advancing inclusive and sustainable urban sanitation.
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | CEPT University | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Aditi Dwivedi | Arwa Bharmal
06/04/2026
The Jal Samvad organised by Global Water Innovation Centre for Action (GWICA) and CSRBOX served as a platform for dialogue and exchange, bringing together NGOs, practitioners, researchers, and industry partners to reflect on pathways towards basin-level water resilience.
Upasana Yadav and Priyadarshini Choudhary from the CWAS team presented their work on urban water management and water security and actively engaging with diverse stakeholders to share experiences and insights during the consultation.
The discussions ranged from community-led watershed management and groundwater recharge to landscape restoration and urban water solutions reinforcing the idea that water is not just a resource, but a shared responsibility. Key reflections highlighted the importance of community ownership, cross-sector collaboration, integrating local knowledge with scientific approaches, and scaling impact through collective action.
CEPT University CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav
03/04/2026
The Faculty Development Program on Pedagogy Shifts in Civil Engineering Education, curated and organised by CEPT Professional Programs (CPP) and the Faculty of Technology, CEPT University at CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
Aasim Mansuri from the CWAS team participated as a juror, engaging closely with participants and contributing to the discussions through thoughtful feedback and insights.
CEPT University CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav
31/03/2026
The Center for Water and Sanitation (CWAS), CRDF, CEPT University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Planning, CEPT University, organised the Ideas for Urban Lakes – Student Competition to encourage young minds to develop innovative, inclusive, and practical solutions for improving lake health and governance in India.
The competition was structured around three themes.
1. Tech4Lakes
2. Communities4Lakes
3. Design4Lakes
A total of 40 entries were received, with 14 teams finalised and 8 teams emerging as winners. These collective efforts reflect not only innovative thinking but also highlight the importance of sustained engagement, collaboration and action in transforming urban lakes into resilient and thriving ecosystems.
CEPT University CEPT Research and Development Foundation
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav | Aditi Dwivedi | Arwa Bharmal
26/03/2026
This , the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), in collaboration with Adani Foundation, hosted a convening on Water and Gender: Where water flows, equality grows.
Aasim Mansuri from the CWAS team presented Moving Towards Water Secure Cities in Gujarat, sharing insights from CWAS’s extensive work in addressing water challenges across water-scarce cities, highlighting key learnings, innovative approaches, and on-ground interventions.
Centre for Environment Education Adani Foundation
Meera Mehta | Dinesh Mehta | CEPT University | CEPT Research and Development Foundation | Aasim Mansuri | Dhruv Bhavsar | Upasana Yadav
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