Second Edition – Launched July 2025
Purpose and Audience
This report outlines the challenges and opportunities in building water resilience: the technical, organisational and institutional capacity to adapt to climate shocks and external stresses on the water system, to protect people and nature from the risks, and to help repair the damage. It explores the interconnected problems facing decisionmakers and offers a range of tried and tested solutions, illustrated with practical case studies from around the world, with a focus on low- and middle- income countries (LMICs).
The BEI Water Resilience Working Group produced this new edition in July 2025 in response to the significant shifts in the geopolitical and funding landscape since the first edition was published a year ago. This updated edition re-examines how policymakers and delivery partners can strengthen water resilience in an increasingly complex world, and explores a range of additional issues:
- Innovative project and blended finance models
- The critical link between energy and water security
- The role of governance and political leadership
- Practical tools for decision-making under uncertainty
The paper aims to meet the needs of a range of agencies seeking rapid insights and technical support relating to water resilience. The audiences for whom this paper has been developed include:
- UK Government (FCDO, DBT, Defra, etc.)
- Water/Wastewater Companies and Utilities
- Government departments and ministries around the globe with responsibility for water supply and environmental protection
- Bilateral Development Agencies
- Multilateral Development Banks
Our aim is to showcase the unique capabilities of BEI members who offer services to governments, utilities and the wider economy to help build water resilience, both in the UK and around the world. The report provides practical examples of these specialisms and how they are put into practice to solve real-world problems.
We believe that the organisations highlighted here can be a significant part of the solution to the existential water challenges that the world now faces and look forward to facilitating a productive dialogue between those who are working to make a positive difference.
British Expertise International
British Expertise International (BEI) is the leading business development network for UK-based companies exporting expertise in infrastructure, capacity building and international development services, with a focus on the fast-growing, emerging and developing international markets of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.
BEI works closely with the UK and foreign governments to help members understand international markets and the opportunities they present through a wide range of activities. BEI members range from some of the UK’s largest companies to some of the smallest, but all share a common goal of exporting the best of UK expertise in professional services.
BEI’s Climate Change programme helps explore and deep dive into the scale of the challenges that are facing governments, institutions and organisations as a result of anthropocentric climate change, engaging with key stakeholders such as government departments, foreign representatives, international financial institutions, multi-lateral agencies and funding bodies.
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