More than 2.2 billion people globally lack clean drinking water. As climate shocks and geopolitical tensions intensify, water stress has emerged as one of the defining global challenges of this decade, particularly in underserved, last-mile rural communities. Historically, investment has prioritized building infrastructure over the long-term capacity, technical expertise, and accountability structures required to sustain quality services. This reliance on volunteer-based models and one-off grants has left a critical gap: a shortage of private entrepreneurs investing in professional, cost-effective rural water solutions.
What will it take to unlock entrepreneurial capital for last-mile drinking water services? Ahead of the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi in December 2026, this panel draws on proven, scalable financing models from telecommunications and energy to examine what is transferable to water — and what isn’t. Panelists will make the business case for viable, entrepreneurial water service models capable of delivering safe, reliable drinking water to the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The Hilton Foundation is a programming partner for the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit.
