Matt Damon and Gary White to Announce Major Commitments at the United Nations Water Conference to Accelerate Progress on Safe Water and Sanitation

Water.org Group co-founders Matt Damon and Gary White will participate in the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, where the organization will announce major commitments and partnerships to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation worldwide. The 2026 UN Water Conference – only third in 50 years and the first held by two nations from the Global South – will bring together government leaders, international organisations, financial institutions, businesses, innovators, youth, media and civil society to advance global progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6: clean water and sanitation for all.

When we talk about water, we are talking about far more than a basic human need. We are talking about whether a child can go to school, whether a family can build a better future, whether a business can grow and whether an economy can create jobs and opportunity. Water is at the heart of human development and economic prosperity, yet it remains significantly underrepresented in global investment decisions. We need to change that. Mobilising finance for water must become a shared priority, bringing governments, investors, financial institutions and the private sector together to turn the scale of the challenge into an opportunity for lasting impact. The 2026 UN Water Conference will help to create the connections and partnerships that help make this happen. We welcome the Water.org Group’s commitment to advancing innovative financing and expanding access to safe water and sanitation. Ultimately, investing in water is investing in people, in livelihoods and in our collective future.

His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UAE’s Head of the 2026 UN Water Conference

“Families living without safe water are already spending billions every year just to cope. The issue is not a lack of money. It is where that money flows,” said Matt Damon and Gary White, co-founders of the Water.org Group. “At the UN Water Conference, we will be joined by partners who share our belief that putting that spending to work for lasting solutions can bring safe water and sanitation to millions more people. We are grateful to the United Arab Emirates and Senegal for bringing the world together on water.”

Over the course of 7-10 December in Abu Dhabi, Water.org Group will also participate in Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), engaging with leading global financial institutions, investors and decisionmakers. Across both platforms, Damon and White will take part in high-level discussions, partnership signings and strategic engagements focused on mobilizing capital, scaling innovative financing solutions and expanding access to safe water and sanitation for communities around the world.

Further details on the Water.org Group’s announcements, partnerships and programme engagements will be shared in the coming weeks. Promo video: https://youtu.be/lhYnIr6DivY

For the latest schedule of Water.org Group events, visit: https://water.org/un-water-conference/

About Water.org Group
The Water.org Group brings together Water.org, WaterEquity and WaterConnect around one shared vision: safe water and sanitation for all. Together, they bring philanthropy, investment and project development to the water crisis, with a range of solutions that address different financing needs. Together with local partners, the Water.org Group has catalysed more than USD8.6 billion and reached more than 95 million people with access to safe water or sanitation. Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, the Group has spent more than 30 years pioneering market-driven solutions to the global water crisis.

Learn more at water.org