Barcelona bids to host UN water resources unit

27 May, 2012

Barcelona is competing with Istanbul and Delft close to Amsterdam to become the water capital of the world.

The city council has presented its candidacy to host the permanent headquarters of the World Global Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) created by the General Secretariat of the UN to promote co-operation between public and private management of the world’s water and sanitation resources.

GWOPA was set up in 2007 and until now has been hosted by the UN-Habitat based in Nairobi.

The bid is supported by the Spanish government which has said it will provide €1 million for the project. So far private companies have pledged €100,000 if Barcelona is awarded the bid.

A decision on which city will be chosen for the new headquarters will be made later this year.