The COVID-19 pandemic put into stark reality the critical role that access to clean and affordable water and sanitation plays in human health and economic prosperity. It also added a layer of ambiguity around the sustainable financing and servicing of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) globally, especially for developing countries. As COVID-19 continues to devastate communities around the world, examining where WASH systems have proven resilient provides important insights for future investments and innovation. To take stock of the pandemic’s impact on the WASH sector, the Wilson Center and Circle of Blue launched WASH Within Reach: 50 years, $400 billion, and a global pandemic later – water, sanitation and hygiene define a moment in human history. The project interviewed over 50 authorities on five continents, hosted a public dialogue on the status of achieving universal access to WASH, and convened a private roundtable to assess the status of WASH and explore a forward-thinking agenda for the sector. This policy brief provides an overview of the project’s findings and recommendations.