The Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) was a major contributor at the Climate Resilience Pathways: Water Security and WASH in Asia Pacific conference, held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. From April 29th to May 1st, the event, organized by the International WaterCentre and Water for Women, became a crucial platform for practitioners and policymakers. GWSC was at the forefront, leading high-level discussions, sharing expert insights, and showcasing groundbreaking technological solutions each day of the event.

Day 1, April 29: Setting the Stage with Strategic WASH Lessons

GWSC kicked off its participation by hosting the session, “Strengthening strategies to support SDG6: WASH security lessons from Asia.” Moderated by GWSC Deputy COO Hendra Gupta, the discussion delved into the foundational elements of achieving sustainable sanitation. Co-Director Prof. Sangam Shrestha introduced the center’s work on data governance, while Deputy COO Isha Basyal shared critical lessons on implementing holistic Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS). The session also featured insights from Mr. Shahidul Islam of SNV and concluded with a dynamic interactive workshop where participants collaborated to solve real-world WASH challenges.

The GWSC Team on the Strengthening strategies to support SDG6.


Co-Director Prof. Sangam Shrestha introducing GWSC and the session.


Mrs. Isha Basyal, Deputy COO, on planning for CWIS.


Mr. Shahidul Islam, Sector Leader – Water, SNV on Strengthening Governments.

South East Asia Group participates in interactive group activity.
Europe group discussing on the interactivy group activity.
Group member explains their actions based on the activity.
South Asia Group deep in discussion.
 

Day 2, April 30: Extending Influence in Key Regional Discussions

The second day saw GWSC experts lending their voices to crucial partner-led panels. Prof. Thammarat Koottatep contributed as a panelist in the “Inclusive and climate-resilient WASH in South Asia” session, sharing his deep expertise on technology and resilience. Simultaneously, Dr. Vineeta Thapa, GWSC’s GEDSI Lead, brought a critical perspective to the “Water as a tool for peace” session, highlighting the intersection of water security, social equity, and conflict prevention.

Co-Director, Prof. Thammarat Koottatep stressing that technological innovations alone are insufficient to solve WASH challenges.
Dr. Vineeta Thapa talking on Water as a Tool for Peace.
 

Day 3, May 1: Showcasing the Future with Digital Sanitation

On the final day, GWSC steered the conversation toward the future with its session on “Transforming Sanitation Services with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Services.” Led by Prof. Thammarat Koottatep and Research Associate Sichu Shrestha, the presentation highlighted how open-source, GIS-based digital tools are revolutionizing urban sanitation. The session provided a compelling look at data-driven decision-making, using real-world case studies to demonstrate how DPI can significantly enhance urban services and build smarter, more resilient cities.

Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, Co-Director, giving an introduction to the session.
Mrs. Sichu Shrestha, Research Associate, on The IMIS Platform for Data-Driven Decision
Mrs. Isha Basyal, Deputy COO, on introducing the next speaker..
Ms. Shrija S Rao, Program Manager, eGov on unlocking Development Potential with Digital
Public Infrastructure (DPI).
Mr. Fraser Goff, Regional Technical Lead, Water Aid on mWater and Papua New Guinea’s National MIS.
Dr. Rajib Das, Consultant, CFAR Empowering Vulnerable Communities through IVRS: Leveraging Technology for Climate-Resilient, Inclusive WASH Services.
 

A Showcase of Innovation: GWSC’s Poster Presentations

Throughout the conference, GWSC’s poster presentations provided a tangible look at its pioneering work, bringing theory into practice.

  • Climate-Resilient Technology in Indonesia: One poster detailed a pilot project in Yogyakarta and Solo demonstrating the Reinvented Toilet (RT). It showcased how decentralized sanitation can treat wastewater effectively, enable water reuse for agriculture, and build community resilience to climate change.
  • Standardized Performance Testing: Another poster highlighted the critical role of the AIT Testing Laboratory in ensuring the quality and reliability of decentralized wastewater solutions. By providing scientifically validated data, the lab empowers policymakers, fosters market trust, and accelerates the adoption of effective, climate-resilient technologies across Southeast Asia.

A Collaborative Path Forward

GWSC’s dynamic, multi-day engagement at the conference demonstrated a comprehensive approach to tackling the world’s most pressing water and sanitation challenges. By seamlessly connecting high-level policy, digital innovation, and proven on-the-ground technology, the Center reaffirmed its leadership in building a sustainable, inclusive, and water-secure future for all.