Ensuring Economic and Financial Stability through Resilient Systems

AGWA, together with Moody’s and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), hosted a session on Ensuring Economic and Financial Stability through resilient systems in the COP30 Resilience Hub. The 10 November session aimed to identify systemic solutions for reducing financial instability by identifying both hazards and resilience as core components of economic planning and investment frameworks, while also exploring how investments in water resilience can serve as a foundational strategy for economic security, adaptation, and transformative development.

Through the lens of Water Resilience for Economic Resilience (WR4ER) and Water for Future programmes, the session reframeD water not as a cost, but as a high-return investment with far-reaching economic, social, and environmental benefits, making a compelling case for early, integrated investments. Speakers showcased real-world examples where water resilience efforts have protected livelihoods, reduced fiscal risk, and catalyzed inclusive development. From drought-prone regions of Brazil to rapidly urbanizing centers in Latin America and elsewhere, speakers explored how integrating water-smart strategies into public budgets and investment pipelines can strengthen economic and fiscal resilience in the face of climate uncertainty and systems thinking.

Discussions sought to confront systemic barriers, such as misaligned incentives, fragmented governance, lack of data and disclosure, and financing gaps, and spotlight opportunities to unlock greater investment through blended finance, public-private partnerships, and risk-informed planning. Speakers came from national governments, financial institutions, technical experts, and local leaders, emphasizing systems thinking, equity, and cross-sector collaboration.

Speakers and Panelists included:

  • John Matthews, Executive Director, AGWA

  • Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

  • Rahul Ghosh, Global Head of Sustainable Finance, Moody’s Ratings

  • Mathilde Mesnard, Deputy Director for the Environment Directorate and Co-ordinator for Climate and Green Finance, OECD

  • Carolina Grottera, Director for the Ecological Transformation Plan at the Executive Secretariat, Ministry of Finance of Brazil

  • Franz Rojas, Head of the Water Agenda, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Chuck Chaitovitz, Vice President, Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, US Chamber of Commerce

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