Who We Are
Cowater International is a global company that partners with governments, markets and communities to deliver lasting impact through inclusive growth, stronger institutions and resilient societies.
A Global Partner For Lasting Impact
Learn about what we doCowater International is a global company that works alongside governments, markets and communities to accelerate economic growth, strengthen institutions, and create more prosperous and resilient societies. We build partnerships that make citizens safer, richer and better served in the countries where we operate and the countries we call home.
For more than 40 years, we have combined the agility of a private firm with the purpose of a mission-driven organization. With over 2,500 projects delivered in more than 95 countries, we bring together technical expertise, policy insight and on-the-ground experience to deliver results that last. From Ottawa to Nairobi, London to Manila, our teams share one conviction: when knowledge, innovation and local leadership intersect, transformative change follows.
Our Story
In 1985 on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park, Canada, the plans and dreams of two men for a different kind of development firm quickly took shape. What started around a campfire became Cowater International — a company built on collaboration, technical excellence and a belief in locally driven change. That same spirit of curiosity and partnership continues to guide us today.
Our Difference
Impact that Endures
We measure success by the strength of the systems we help build. From modernizing public finances and strengthening governance to advancing inclusive trade and investment, Cowater’s work supports governments and communities to deliver tangible benefits that endure long after our projects close.
Ready to Deliver Anywhere
With corporate offices in Ottawa, Brussels, London, Berlin, Helsinki, Manila, Nairobi, Auckland, Madrid and Montreal, and project teams across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Europe, Cowater is equipped to step in where we are needed most. Our reach is global, but our impact is always local.
Locally Led, Globally Connected
We are Palestinian, Jordanian, Vietnamese, Ghanaian, Indonesian, and Canadian. Our people lead from the ground, partnering with governments, civil society, and the private sector to deliver context- specific solutions that reflect local realities and aspirations. We believe that durable progress begins with local leadership, and that sustainable change grows from within communities.
Driven by Purpose
We do this work because we believe in it. We believe in fairer markets, transparent governance, climate action and the power of economic opportunity to reduce poverty and instability. Across fragile, emerging and advanced economies, Cowater’s teams are united by a shared commitment to make systems work better for everyone.
Knowledge Capital, Not Just Expertise
Cowater is home to specialists who combine deep technical mastery with practical experience. We know that the best solution is the one which works on the ground – informed by global experience, adapted to local needs. Our local and international teams of economists, engineers, policy advisors, digital innovators (and so much more) work side by side to deliver solutions that are evidence-based, practical and scalable. We don’t simply manage programs; we design, test, and scale solutions rooted in evidence and powered by data, technology, and human insight.
#WeAreCowater
Working together for Greater Impact
Headquartered in Ottawa, Cowater International operates through a network of regional offices and local partners spanning Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific and Europe. Our portfolio reflects the full breadth of our expertise, encompassing inclusive growth and trade, governance and public financial management, climate resilience and environmental sustainability, democracy and human rights, security and stabilisation, infrastructure and urban development, health and education systems, and gender equality and social inclusion.
Across every sector, our teams combine technical excellence with local insight to deliver solutions that strengthen institutions, open markets, and create opportunity. Together with our clients and partners, we are helping shape more resilient economies, more transparent governments, and more equitable societies.
Everywhere we work, we bring the same philosophy: specialized knowledge, local leadership, and a relentless focus on results.