History

Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) was founded in 1991, growing out of the first Stockholm Water Symposium, a scientific conference organized alongside the city’s Water Festival, which celebrated the restoration of Stockholm’s waterways.

From the start, SIWI aimed to connect science, policy, and practice, showing how water underpins sustainable development, peace, and prosperity.

1990s

2001

2009

Early 2020s

Mid 2020s

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1990s

Established in 1991, the Stockholm Water Symposium evolved from a scientific meeting to address sanitation, governance, climate impacts and social dimensions of water. This led to the establishment of SIWI by Stockholm Vatten och Avfall, the City of Stockholm’s municipal water and wastewater utility.

2001

Established as a platform connecting science, policy and practice, SIWI marked a major milestone in 2001 when the Stockholm Water Symposium became World Water Week. The new name reflected its global reach and diverse community, and we strengthened our role as convenor of a leading international forum for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

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2009

After becoming an independent foundation in 2009, we expanded our role in global water governance, advancing policy advice, multistakeholder processes and science-based programmes. In 2014, UNESCO designated the International Centre for Water Cooperation, hosted by SIWI, as a Category II Centre.

Early 2020s

SIWI strengthened its role in global policy processes and water governance advisory work. At the same time, World Water Week evolved with global agendas such as the SDGs and climate resilience, and between 2020 and 2022 introduced digital and hybrid formats, greatly expanding accessibility.

Mid 2020s

In the mid-2020s, SIWI initiated a major organizational renewal, updating our strategy and structures to strengthen collaboration, sharpen thematic focus, and respond more effectively to increasingly urgent global water challenges.

1990s

2001

2009

Early 2020s

Mid 2020s

YOUR INFORMATION

1990s

2001

2009

Early 2020s

Mid 2020s