Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, stated that utility companies play a fundamental role in the sustainable development of cities.
She noted that these enterprises face serious challenges such as aging infrastructure, financial constraints, rapid urbanization, and climate change.
Rossbach emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among utility operators to ensure the rights to water, sanitation, and adequate housing. The GEOPA initiative has promoted the principle of "operators supporting operators" for 17 years, resulting in 42 active partnerships in 2025 that improved access to water and sanitation for over 260,000 people.
